ETNA GREEN — Guns were blazing as the largest event at Paradise Pass Regulators started today, Sept. 11.

The Single-Action Shooting Society Indiana State Championship weekend has cowboys from all over the U.S. gathering to enjoy the weekend and get shooting.

With over 200 participants, 36 classes and 14 stations, there’s no lack of things to do out at Paradise Pass Regulators, but when there is down time, participants can enjoy the community that the sport has created. “People come for the shooting and stay for the people,” said Deuce Stevens, who is currently the world-record holder for the two-handed pistol at Cowboy Action.

“SASS shooting is the great equalizer. You could walk up to a range, and see a surgeon shooting next to a plumber, and they are loving it.” It was obvious that while everyone was geared up to shoot, people were there to be with one another and the goal was to enjoy cowboy culture with whoever was interested.

When someone signs up for the Hoosier Ambush, they chose a codename to go by the entire weekend, and the goal is to stay in cowboy-character for the duration of the three-day event. I even got my own cowboy codename: Flashin’ Tom. In addition to shooting and codenames, people are even graded based on their costumes.

For many folks out at Paradise Pass, Cowboy Action is not only an event, its a lifestyle. Stevens told me his son has been a member of SASS since he was 2 days old, and his daughter since she was born. For them, cowboy culture is not just a hobby, but a way of life. It is their culture and they love it.

Usually, to compete in anything above state-level championships, one has to be a SASS member, but for Hoosier Ambush, all you have to do is have the guns. The event is a great starting point for anyone interested in Cowboy Action, or single-action shooting.

This is not the only shooting event at the venue, as the first Saturday of every month, you can find members of SASS shooting and spending time together. The dedication required is fervent, but from what it seems, its fairly easy to be dedicated to something as fun as shooting with your best friends once a month.