January 26, 2013
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Went to the shooting range
Today was Roger’s birthday and he wanted to go to the shooting range. We took his son with us. I didn’t shoot. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. However, I did stand behind the window and watch them shoot the targets (targets were free, outlines of bodies cost $$). They both used small semi-automatic pistols. Can’t really remember what they used. Roger used some kind of Ruger I think, and Ben used a Beretta. Anyway, watching them I started getting over some of the weirdness I felt. It was like a sport or game – shooting at the target.
I decided next time I want to try. I also sent an email to the instructor at this range:
Hi Jeff
I was at the shooting range today with my husband and son, but I just watched. A little background:
I have only fired a gun once in my life – I was 14 years old and shot a coke can off the back fence from about 100 feet with a rifle (that shot bullets). I never touched a gun after that. As I got older, I sort of became a pacifist. (Seriously, I can’t even kill a bug – I put them outside.) But now that I am getting a little older (57 this year) I am thinking I need to learn to hold and shoot a gun in case I ever need to defend myself. Unfortunately, I get weird around guns.
So at the range today, I talked to one of the girls behind the counter and she suggested I contact you for some instruction. I watched my husband and son shooting at targets and it didn’t seem so bad. In fact, I was thinking it was something I could do. I think going and watching them was something I needed to do to get over the initial weirdness I feel around guns. And I seriously do want to be able to defend myself if I ever need to. BUT I don’t want to do anything without proper instruction. Like how to hold a gun, what type of gun I should purchase, how to conceal it (I am planning on getting a CCW and CPL), how to clean it, safety issues, etc. She said you would give private instruction. Can you give me a little information about the type of instruction you give, or from what little I’ve told you, what your recommendations for me would be?
Thanks!
So I’m hoping to hear back from him soon. I will keep my blog updated with my progress.
Comments (3)
I used to love shooting air rifles at the arcade. I have shot a pellet rifle. I might even enjoy range shooting if I’d ever try it. I suppose it would depend on whether I was with someone who loved guns and shooting. I don’t know that I could defend myself with a gun, but I suppose the more you know about handling one, the more comfortable you get with one, then the more confident you’ll become. Thank you for sharing this journey. It’s enlightening to see the process of your change of thoughts, and what’s behind them.
I think you are going about this in the right way … and look forward to reading about this journey.
You’ve taken a great attitude about the learning of firearms and in doing so you’ve grown! Congrats. I’m sure curious as to what the actual gun you feel most comfortable shooting will be. I tried several handguns and the 22 pistol was the one I felt I handled instead of the gun handling me. Good luck…marilyn