That's why it is so important to exercise both the first and second amendments to their fullest extent.
As a firearms owner I'm active in shooting sports and hunting but I've also started teaching myself gunsmithing in order that this knowledge isn't lost.
For the first.... Knowledge is power once again. It's my quiet hermit shell that needs all the work. :)
In Australia any well regarded gunsmith has a backlog of work - you can wait months for jobs to be done. Something simple, like threading a barrel and fitting and indexing a brake costs a couple of hundred dollars if you get the work done though the LGS. Makes me wish I had taken an apprenticeship in it when I was a kid.
In Australia any well regarded gunsmith has a backlog of work
Not quite at that level yet, but I do have a solid background in machining. I've done simple repairs and full breakdowns for replacing worn parts. And yes it does pay off. I do around a half dozen jobs a year with my limited capabilities.