Created on: 9/13/2006
A Little Redneck and a Lot of Red White and Blue
by Tim Baugh
Where in California can you find a town who’s biggest fund raising organization is a gun club? How can it be that this town‘s most popular annual event is Independence Day? And why have people increasingly flocked to join in on the fun? It may be that Bridgeport is one of the last outposts of the Wild West in the state that was nicknamed golden and offers an intrigue and a taste of times past.
The Fourth of July Parade in Bridgeport has clearly become a patriot’s destination on our nation’s birthday. The annual event attracts among others many out of state folks, vacationers, campers, fishing enthusiasts, people of all political influences, cowboys, ranchers, many happy children and the hearty people of Bridgeport itself.
Our parade is probably similar to many across the country in small towns. There is always the United States Marine Corps out in front setting the stage for the different themes being expressed. Everything from school children, old tractors and car guys to small business and local government to law enforcement and the fire department will be found displaying banners and flags and throwing candy. The day clearly reminds me of simpler times.
The Bridgeport Gun Club was chosen to be the Grand Marshall for 2006 and was very proud to accept the honor. The club’s float was a sight for sore eyes; a dump truck pulling a low boy trailer. The display included a black powder canon, deer antlers and skins, clay targets, duck decoys and members all decked out in single action shooting attire. We sported a fine hunting dog with its owners and a beautiful Browning shotgun, a town matriarch with her deer rifle of a few years past and kids throwing candy. Walking out ahead was one of Bridgeport’s first ladies dressed to the hilt with the best of deer hunting garb complete with a slung rifle, pistol on hip and carrying the old stars and stripes.
One of the favorite holiday activities is the trap shoot that is held at the new official range just east of town overlooking the beautiful local reservoir and surrounding mountains. With the large turn out it is necessary to limit the amount of events one can enter so that all can have a turn. An IPRA rodeo is also organized by the gun club for the fourth that brings cowboys and spectators from around neighboring ranches and communities. Kids, clowns and bulls; riders with ropes, dust, thrills and spills are the order of the day.
Two of our largest annual fund raisers are the Gun Rights Dinner and the Ducks Unlimited Banquet. With some of the proceeds we sponsor a Junior Pheasant Hunt. It is a cooperative effort with the California Department of Fish and Game that takes place in the late fall with many joining in on the hunt by providing dogs, being a spotter or getting a hot lunch prepared.
We have a passion for the shooting sports here in Bridgeport and make no bones about it. Are we politically correct? Well let’s see. We love our country, are proud to be American believe in family and friends and support the second amendment. I guess so.
This article has been re-printed with permission of the author.
|