Membership
Renewals
only open during
JAN & FEB

DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER AT GMSA?

PLEASE READ ALL OF THE INFORMATION BELOW - THIS IS A COMPETENCY TEST

Please read all of the information on this page before asking questions, Our view is that if the new member candidate can not, will not or does not have the time to read and comprehend the onboarding processes outlined below, we do not want to share our range with them!

We own and operate a gun club and guns can be dangerous if handled improperly. The ability to read, understand and accurately follow written instructions is a mandatory skill with guns. Most of our range rules and safety notices are posted on signage in and around the ranges; members and guests to our range must be able to read and understand these signs in order to be safe and stay safe.

GMSA holds gun safety above all else and we believe that safety begins with reading comprehension.

Please read the following information in it's entirety before firing off your questions via email. We play with toys that can be dangerous if operated by the inexperienced and will cause death and destruction if operated in the wrong direction. Please understand that if the new member candidate can not, will not or does not have the time to read and comprehend written instructions contained within our application packet, we do not want to share our range with them! This is the competency test mentioned above. Simply put, past behavior is a proven indicator for future behavior and with guns, the operator must "know" before he pulls the trigger and launches a projectile. Most of our safety rules are posted on signage in and around the club ranges; members and guests to our range must pay attention and read these signs in order to be safe and stay safe.

There is no room to ask questions after you've pulled the trigger and squealing "I did not know that" is a pathetic excuse after the fact.

The best way to prevent a misunderstanding, is to get a GOOD UNDERSTANDING BEFOREHAND, and more often than not, a good understanding can only be achieved by reading and comprehension. If you cannot do this, GMSA might not be the club you you.

We have zero tolerance for " I thought so's and I didn't know's" WHEN IT COMES TO GUNS, YOU MUST KNOW BEFOREHAND AND THE WAY TO "KNOW" IS BY READING SAFETY RULES AND PROCEDURES!

IF YOU TAKE SAFETY SERIOUSLY AND TAKE THE TIME TO READ AND COMPREHEND INSTRUCTIONS, GMSA WILL BE A GREAT FIT FOR YOU! WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHARE OUR RANGE WITH ANYONE WHO TAKES GUN SAFETY SERIOUSLY, WHO MEETS OUR PREREQUISITES FOR MEMBERSHIP AND WILL TAKE THE TIME TO READ, AND CAN UNDERSTAND AND CAN FOLLOW WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS.

Our onboarding process is simple, it just requires a little reading. Please READ FIRST - BEFORE ASKING QUESTIONS!

BEFORE YOU PROCEED WITH APPLYING FOR MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

You must have three (3) GMSA sponsors with club voting privileges prior to completing and submitting your application.
These sponsors are going to vouch for YOU so you should know them personally for a period of time.
Two (2) of the three (3) sponsors must accompany you to the monthly meeting and confirm that you are a citizen in good standing in your community, are a safe and responsible gun owner and that you have the will and are able to follow posted club rules and procedures.
The 3-member sponsorship policy is not negotiable and no exceptions will be made.
Membership application packets must be completely filled out. If there is a blank on the form, something should be written there. Also, your address on your drivers license must match what is on your weapons license...yes, just like when you fill out form 4473.
Our application is very simple and written in plain words but please be advised that:
PARTIALLY FILLED OUT APPLICATIONS(you skipped some sections)
IMPROPERLY SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS(you sent it certified mail-direct delivery-adult signature required)
APPLICATIONS WITH EXPIRED CREDENTIALS(sorry but a GWL that expired 3 months ago is no longer VALID)
WILL BE DISPOSED OF WITHOUT ANY ACTION (you will not receive confirmation that we ran it through the paper shredder)

If you don’t know any current members at GMSA, a very good way to meet members and obtain sponsors is to attend and possibly participate in a few GMSA monthly matches. There are various events scheduled on almost every weekend that are listed on the GMSA calendar of events. These events are open to non-members. When you participate in these events, introduce yourself to the Safety Officer or Match Director and inform them that you are applying for membership to GMSA and are seeking sponsors. Look for a GMSA member and get to know him or her. Be certain that your sponsor has club voting privileges, (not an associate member, corporate member or spouse member), and don't forget to obtain the name and telephone number of your sponsors for your membership application. Let them know that you will need at least two of them to attend a club meeting with you.

You will very likely need to attend/participate in more than one event. Please understand that this is not a busy-body exercise to make you go out and collect signatures from a total stranger who might be guilted into being your sponsor.

YOUR SPONSOR should personally know YOU! A sponsor would be the kind of guy or gal that you might-would give the key to your house to, and tell them that they are welcome stop by your house anytime they want, night or day and especially while you were away at work...because this is exactly the position that GMSA is in - when we give a gate key to a new member...Having a gate key to GMSA gives unfettered access to our clubhouse and 36 wide-open acres of places to shoot in the wrong direction - if you don't read, won't read or can't read our posted rules and procedures.

It is a sad reality but that ONE person who don't read, won't read or can't read and follow our posted club rules and procedures can shut OUR entire club down with careless or uninformed behavior.

If you are still having trouble figuring out what a sponsor is, look at it this way, someone who is going to sponsor you is going to personally vouch for you, your ability to safely handle guns, your ability to follow club rules and regulations and your general character as a good citizen of the community and a fair minded sportsman because his or her club is in your hands once you get a key. Your sponsor should know you and trust you...trust you with a loaded gun when theirs is unloaded and in a holster...because that's what happens at a gun club. We all must know and trust that the other guy can safely handle a loaded gun when we are at point blank range. Our very lives are entrusted to our club members while on the range. This is why we don't give a gate key to just any ol' soul.

ABOUT OUR CLUB:

The Georgia Mountain Shooting Association, Inc. (GMSA) is a Not for Profit Georgia Corporation, and has attained Not for Profit status with the IRS. The Corporation leases its shooting facilities from GMSA Limited Partnership (GMSA LP), a Georgia Real Estate Partnership whose partners are members and past members of GMSA. The purpose of the GMSA Limited Partnership (GMSA LP) shall be to own, develop, maintain, manage, lease and operate real property for the limited and exclusive purpose of maintaining a range facility for Georgia Mountain Shooting Association, Inc. and its members.

Membership in GMSA requires that all new-first time applicants to be SPONSORED by no less than three (3), current GMSA members with club voting privileges, who are in good standing with the club and their yearly club dues were paid on time. (The first quarter of the current club year)
Spouse members and corporate members of GMSA do not have voting privileges cannot sponsor new applicants
TWO (2) of the three applicant sponsors MUST PHYSICALLY ATTEND the monthly club meeting that the applicant is to be voted in. These sponsors must address the club membership and officers and personally confirm that they have seen the applicant shoot and that he or she has demonstrated to them (the sponsors) that the applicant can safely handle firearms and has the ability to read, understand and follow all club rules and procedures.
New Member Applications must include the name, and phone number of all three sponsors who are current GMSA members in good standing. Sponsors must have club voting privileges and must have paid their club dues on time. (The first quarter of the current club year)
In addition to GMSA member sponsorship, GMSA also requires a one time initiation fee of $300, plus first year annual dues of $100 (first year dues are pro rated according to what quarter of the year in which you apply - see application), and 10 hours of documented range work before December 31 of your first year. After your first year, annual dues are $300 with a $200 credit given for ten (10) hours of range work. If a new member fails to perform, or document their range work hours, the total cost for being a member of GMSA and NOT helping out with range work is $300. (EFFECTIVE JAN 2023)

The first year, $300 initiation fee does not prepay any future yearly dues. It is an initiation fee only, yearly club dues come due after December 31st in your first year as a GMSA member.
The 10 hourrange workrequirement is not waived for members joining late in the year. IE: Oct, Nov or Dec.
Your first year dues are pro rated by the quarter but work requirements are not.
The three (3) GMSA-member sponsorship requirement is not negotiable, there are no exceptions to this policy.
We require that all first time applicants be members of The NRA and also furnish no less than two (2) of the following credentials as proof of a clear background and the eligibility to own and posses firearms. (a) Valid Weapons License from the state of Georgia or a state physically bordering Georgia (address must match your DL) (b) A valid state issued drivers license (address must match your weapons license) (c) Active Law Enforcement identification (no reserve officers) (d) Active US Military Personnel identification (no civilian contractors)

Our new member packet lists complete requirements, procedures, instructions and a full schedule of prorated dues.
(club membership dues, work requirements and membership prerequisites are voted on annually by the membership and are subject to change)

If you have a valid CWL, CCP from a state bordering Georgia, we accept those as well but otherwise (if not) you will need to pay for a background check from a law enforcement agency physically located here in Georgia and submit the results to the club officers. THE ADDRESS ON YOUR CWL OR CCP MUST MATCH THE ADDRESS ON YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE.

If you have current (unexpired) law enforcement credentials, police, sheriff or deputy (but not a reserve officer) or are active US Military or National Guard (not a civilian contractor), you may use your current, unexpired Military or LE identification card in lieu of a GWL, Georgia Weapons License.

In other words, if you are active military and have a picture ID or other credentials that would currently allow you un-escorted access to a military base or installation, or LE credentials that would currently allow you to carry a firearm into a Georgia courtroom, this ID can be used in lieu of a GWL or CWP for GMSA membership.

As mentioned above, membership in GMSA requires that you are now or will simultaneously become a member of the National Rifle Association when you become a member of GMSA. The club's $1,000,000 liability insurance policy is obtained through the club's affiliation with the NRA, and requires that all GMSA members to be NRA members.

To apply for membership, you must complete the New Member Packet submit it, (all forms required) together with appropriate GMSA Dues and $300 initiation fee to the GMSA Treasurer or any Club Officer.

This New Member Packet (Membership Application) is available to be downloaded and printed by following the link below.

You must have three (3) GMSA sponsors with club voting privileges prior to completing and submitting your application.

Includes forms, instructions and procedures to join GMSA.

1- Please click on the link above (crosshairs)

2- Hover your cursor to the middle-right of your screen

3- Download the membership application (see example to the right and above this text)

4- Print out your application and read the second page for instructions.

New member orientation procedures click here.

BEFORE YOU PROCEED WITH SEEKING MEMBERSHIP INTO OUR CLUB, PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

>>>You must have three (3) sponsors with club voting privileges before submitting your application

>>>You must be a current NRA member to join GMSA.

>>>You must remain a member of the NRA in order in order to maintain your GMSA membership! (yearly proof of membership is required to get a new gate key)

click here to join the NRA.

Completed forms should first be emailed to the executive committee(see new member packet for address)for review and once you receive confirmation that the application is complete, mail paper copies of your forms and sufficient funds to cover your club dues and initiation fee to:

Georgia Mountain Shooting Association
Attn: New Member Packet
PO Box 188
Eastanollee, GA 30538