Posted on 07/03/2011 11:37:30 AM PDT by marktwain
TORONTO - Until a few weeks ago, the only things I knew about guns were from police reports and violent movies.
I had never picked one up, been near one or heard the echoes of shotgun blasts. And quite frankly, I was pretty afraid of them.
I know the Chinese invented gunpowder, but firearms have never been standard in my family.
In fact, guns have been the source of several heated arguments between my boyfriend Dave, who often heads home to Kincardine to shoot guns with his friend. They dont go hunting, but rather shoot targets puddles, broken TVs, frozen hams often with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. Its just what you did if you grew up in the country.
But when I think of guns, all I see is a killing tool something that (aside from the hunting industry) shouldnt really be necessary. Maybe thats naive.
When Dave thinks of guns, all he sees is math and physics. The idea of a bullet going over 300 metres per second.
So, when hed go out shooting, Id nod and smile but I didnt really want to know much more of it. I was stubborn and felt I was right.
A good friend of mine, Jess, admitted she went to Sharon Gun Club and told me about the women-only course. She convinced me it was a good idea to try it and to keep an open mind. She said because she was around other women, it made her feel that much more comfortable.
When we arrived at the clubhouse and could hear the gunshots, I became very nervous.
I remember when it was my turn to shoot the first gun a .22-calibre semi-automatic pistol. My hands perspired as I approached the table.
Our instructor demonstrated how to gingerly pick up the pistol and how to fold my hands around the grip properly so that my thumb wouldnt get busted when the slide moved back.
He told me to breathe and relax, keep legs apart in a strong stance. Look down the sight and make sure its lined up with the target. And when youre ready, put the finger on the trigger and slowly squeeze.
Bang!
The first thing I thought was, Wow, that was so easy and then, That was pretty cool.
We rotated through the seven different guns. I found the scope hard to deal with, even though the red dot was supposed to make it easier on us.
I still couldnt get over how loud the blasts were. But it didnt matter because I was having a blast as we progressed onwards. I was pleased and surprised my groupings were close together.
I didnt feel powerful despite holding a powerful weapon. I know its force and respected what it was.
My favourite handgun was the centre-fire semi-automatic pistol because it was amazingly light to pick up, easy to handle, but had a strong and unexpected kick-back when it fired.
I was also a fan of the pump action shotgun because when fired quickly three times, makes you feel like you could hold your own during the Zombie Apocalypse.
I left Sharon Gun Club that day feeling much more open-minded and understanding of target shooting.
I came home with my cardboard target under my arm and Dave greeted me. He took one look at it and said, Youre deadly.
And after listening to me excitedly chatter about the guns we shot and the reactions, he sort of leans back and puts his feet up.
Well, I dont want to say ... I told you so, but ... I told you so.
Yes, boyfriends can be right sometimes.
I suggest a .22 to start with.
none should be non.
but rather shoot targets puddles, broken TVs, frozen hams
Do you think she meant poodles!
I am one of those women, I could of typed that myself. I was afraid, but I was more afraid of the election results of 2008. So I began my journey quite like this woman.
Let me say, the gun range is scary at first, awesome right after you fire that first shot. I no longer fear any weapons, I respect them.
And I dig the heck out of them. My Mom, bless her, right before she passed, called me Annie Oakley. I was proud of that, and I still am. God Bless the Second Amendment!
Equally important is the follow-up. Not just one day, come out and shoot, see ya later; a follow-up day (or two) shortly thereafter, during routine range ops, where ladies or novice shooters can come to the range and be escorted by a club rep, and brought into the shooting culture. Most guys won't want the escort, most ladies will appreciate it, but everyone will benefit from it.
Sure, it's a little work for the club volunteers, but the payoffs are tremendous in terms of community and political support for our North American shooting heritage.
Shameful! The idea of empowering a woman to be able to stand toe-to-toe with a bad guy. Who would think of doing such a thing...(sarc)
Reading your post just gave me goose bumps, LOL!
It is simply amazing to me how so many people can fear something that doesn’t do any harm to anyone unless put into the wrong hands.
Good for you Annie Oakley!
the club I shoot at lets women shoot for free on fridays. so far haven’t been able to persuade mrs vader to go, although she likes blasting away with a 22 rifle at our place in the mountains.
“Every club should have a day committed to non-shooters — ladies, especially. Ours has one annually, and the turn-out is fantastic”
You’re on to something. Shooting is not very expensive. So you just have volunteers pay for the range and ammo, and then invite non-shooters to join in the fun. Each non-shooter gets assigned to an experienced shooter and finally gets their hands on some real hardware.
That’s how grass-roots politics is played. These new shooters will have a much tougher time being suckered in by the anti-gun crowd.
I stood there with the Smith & Wesson that I did buy, and I shook, and I had sweat running down my face, and I almost put it down. But something inside me told me, I needed to do this. It took me probably 5 minutes or so to shoot it, I will admit that.
Now it takes me seconds to shoot it, I shoot better than my sister that has owned a gun for a couple of decades. I never shake anymore, I am not frightened, I'm protected now.
That's what women need to know..once you do this, and I admit it isn't easy, you are protected. That's the best piece of mind I could buy.
And we’ll have fun, fun, fun til Dadddy takes the AK away. LOL! Welcome to the club.
Or maybe you meant nun shooter. But it looks like the sisters have already had a lot of range time.
LOL! And if you go to Gateway Pundit you see Jim Holt with an AK..now thats a weapon..I gotta try that one, and I know where one is..
Yea, I gotta try that one!
See girls, all it takes is one trip to the gun range! I cant urge you enough to try it!
I’ll loan you my AK 74. The fiancee’ just put a holographic sight on it for me. Its so much easier to acquire the target. Dead accurate out to 200 meters and it just looks bad. You will love shooting one.
Im in but I just have to get the owner of it to bring it out..that might just be easier than I think since she is very close to me.
Ill remember that..maybe talk her into looking into that sight too. :)
And the great thing is that almost any woman who learns to shoot is automatically on our side.
Every conservative female patriot needs to be armed, and every armed woman probably is one.
Guess I have been lucky Wife wise when it comes to firearms, Married over 50 years and she is still a bigger gun nut than I am. She was when we got hitched and a look at the his and hers in the gun safes makes it undebatable she has more of them than I do.
70 years old and she still reloads her own ammo and when we go out in the desert on ATV’s, she can spot where others have been shooting and is a brass scrounger extraordinaire.
Canada ping!
It’s one thing to shoot paper targets but is she willing to shoot another human being who is threatening her or her family? Any hesitation on her part could get her or her family killed.
I am trying to find a Rhino .357 revolver for my wife to shoot. It looks like it has minimal recoil and if so, would be perfect for home defense for her.
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