Gun range newbie: A personal tale

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | 01/17/2013 | Emily Babay

[Kid Shelleen]

When reporting about guns, I'm often asked whether I've fired one myself.

"Just once," I'd reply, not elaborating to say I found my trip to a Virginia shooting range terrifying.

So when I was sent to see how gun shops and shooting ranges around Philadelphia were faring amid the debate over firearms, I was prepared for the same question.

But I wondered: Would shooting again change my ambivalence about guns? A Gallup poll found 47 percent of U.S. adults say they have a gun in their home or property.

[Kid Shelleen]

I think this is a pretty fair article ..

[crosshairs]

Who can go to the range now with ammo out of stock and skyrocketing in price?

[grobdriver]

A Gallup poll found 47 percent of U.S. adults say they have a gun in their home or property.

Another 43% are lying...

[Da Coyote]

Agree, not a bad article at all.

And, that Ruger is a hoot to shoot.

[Abathar]

My mom is the woman she quotes in this article, very similar results when they finally get to shoot one.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20130116/NEWS19/130116038

[Puppage]

YOUR MOM ROCKS!!!

[DBrow]

“But I can’t say I loved shooting, or that I’ll be doing it again soon. Still, the experience has informed my reporting.

Having loaded and re-loaded a gun myself, I better understand why magazine capacity is key to a shooter’s ability to fire lots of bullets quickly.

Having felt, with my own hands, the differences among various bullet sizes, I better understand why bullet caliber can affect a firearm’s power, even though caliber isn’t generally addressed in assault weapons bans.

I better understand where gun advocates come from when they describe people who shoot firearms recreationally, with no intent to aim a gun at a person.”

[556x45]

‘Am I a firearms expert now? No. But with gun violence and gun policy likely to stay in the news for the foreseeable future, I don’t regret the first-hand experience.’

A reporter who bothered to become educated rather than babbling talk points, thats rare indeed.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

100 mini-mags for $8.50 if you can find them.

You Ruger Mark fans, Gunblast.com has videos at the shot show for a new device enabling easy take down on this UN-maintainable beast.

[pabianice]

.22LR.

[Puppage]

But I wondered: Would shooting again change my ambivalence about guns?

My wife grew up in Brooklyn, NY. Her brother was shot in the leg for his bike growing up. She didn't want a gun in our house.She admitted that her opinion was formed by what she saw in the media....guns were always bad.

Any way, being the smart gal that she is, she said "Well, maybe I should at least try it." Fast forward to today....she's had her CCW permit for 8yrs and loves to shoot.

[hinckley buzzard]

It is a good article. The reporterette obviously learned something about guns and gun enthusiasts. Didn't take much either.

[zagger]

Well, she is a more honest reporter than most. At she is making a half hearted attempt to learn something. Most so called “journalists” just use their creative writing skills and make up gun facts as they go along.

There sure is a wide gulf between people who are familiar with firearms and people who have never operated a gun. It is hard to put yourself in their shoes.

[Abathar]

Yes she does. I loaned her my .340 Weatherby magnum so she could show her the difference between “assault” rifles and a high powered hunting rifle Saturday also.

That young woman actually shot it too, I’m glad I didn’t unscrew the recoil suppressor like I joked I was going to, I never thought a newbie would have the guts to climb behind it after she heard the first guy fire it, I was surprised.

[444Flyer]

"...I better understand where gun advocates come from when they describe people who shoot firearms recreationally, with no intent to aim a gun at a person.”

The Range~

(Because with golf, you have to dress up, comb your hair, wear funny shoes and wait too long for the next hole.)

[Resettozero]

Another 43% are lying...

Shhhh.

[Puppage]

I never thought a newbie would have the guts to climb behind it after she heard the first guy fire it, I was surprised.

It's funny. I used to get surprised by that, too. However, after taking gun haters to the range to try it out,after I start them out on a .22 they almost always skip over the .9mm and want to shoot the .45. LOL

Who'd of thunk it?

[GOP_Party_Animal]

ping

[ansel12]

Having loaded and re-loaded a gun myself, I better understand why magazine capacity is key to a shooter's ability to fire lots of bullets quickly.
Having felt, with my own hands, the differences among various bullet sizes, I better understand why bullet caliber can affect a firearm's power, even though caliber isn't generally addressed in assault weapons bans.
I better understand where gun advocates come from when they describe people who shoot firearms recreationally, with no intent to aim a gun at a person.

Something that people don't point out about magazine capacity, is that in reality, the number one use of guns is target practice, and recreational shooting, the primary use of guns requires full size magazines.

That gun shop owner has already had a productive year as an effective political activist, he deserves a friendly email.

[arthurus]

Well, maybe 40%.