Courage

[Subdeacon Joe]

and Some Lessons For Us

 

That young lady has it.

 

Quote

She told me that even though she didn’t know what she was going to do, she knew she better figure out how to shoot the gun before she has to shoot the robbers tonight. That’s why she was there by herself at the shooting range. It didn’t matter that she was by herself, that she was the only woman in the room, or that she knew nothing about guns. She had babies to protect and was going to figure out how to do it, come hell or high water.

 

It got me thinking about the courage and commitment that this woman was displaying. How many people would intentionally place themselves into a situation where they know they will be the outsider and probably look stupid and inept to all the other “experts” at the range? Not many. The woman had guts.

 

Quote

The whole experience gives me pause. How many times have you been at the range and looked down your nose at somebody shooting a HiPoint or Jennings? How many times have you silently thought “idiot” when someone fumbles with their gun? How many times have you looked askance at shooters using the “wrong” grip? I know I do all of those things almost every time I’m at a public shooting range…but I won’t do it anymore. What if those “idiots” are really just people like this woman…inexperienced, poor, and without anyone to teach them how to do things right? By the luck of the draw, this woman pulled up a chair next to a professional firearms instructor at the range. She could have just as easily sat next to “Bubba” who will tell her that her gun is a piece of shit and that there’s no way she could ever learn to defend herself in an hour.

 

[Eyesa Horg]

Excellent story, thanks. Too bad Greg didn't have more time. Hope that lady didn't need her gun that night.

[Subdeacon Joe]

6 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

Excellent story, thanks. Too bad Greg didn't have more time. Hope that lady didn't need her gun that night.

 

Thanks.   I think those of us who grew up with firearms as normal,  everyday things,  or maybe didn't get introduced to them in their late teens and have now been shooting for decades,  forget how intimidating they can be to people who weren't introduced to them until well into adulthood,  and know only what they see in entertainment or the very anti-gun Big Corporate Press. 

 

Also that not everyone can afford the Walthers, Wilson Combat,  Smith and Wesson, or even Rugers we love.   Some can only afford a used Raven or Jennings. You make do with what you can afford. 

[Eyesa Horg]

My experience is that way too many ladies are introduced by Bubba and therefore are scared to death of guns. I've managed to convert a few by starting live fire with a .22 instead of Bubba's +P 45. The good news is, we're seeing a lot more women learn to shoot.

[Rip Snorter]

The thing that really frosts me is the idiot who starts a girlfriend or a young teen with magnum with full house loads. Interesting to me is that many of the "teachers" demonstrate marginal shooting skills.  I always started with dryfire and a 22 revolver next, every one I taught can / could shoot, the kids best since I had longest to work with them.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

59 minutes ago, Rip Snorter said:

The thing that really frosts me is the idiot who starts a girlfriend or a young teen with magnum with full house loads. Interesting to me is that many of the "teachers" demonstrate marginal shooting skills.  I always started with dryfire and a 22 revolver next, every one I taught can / could shoot, the kids best since I had longest to work with them.

I worked for a long time... on and off a total of 16 years... in gun shops in California.  I can't count the number of times some macho boyfriend, husband, and even a few fathers came in with their ladies and wanted to get her some super gun of the day (even a .50 Desert Eagle for a 5'4" teen age cutie. ) I always suggested that they go to the cafe at the other end of the lot and have pie and coffee on my tab.  Most did.  I worked with the ladies and ended up selling literally hundreds of .38 Special 4" revolvers.  S&W, a few Colts, Rossi, Charter Arms, you name it.  About half were new and the rest used, all good serviceable guns.  Sometimes I'd get a 2" or 6" request from the ladies but not all that often.

 

We had a burned out unlikeable old Former Gunnery Sergeant working there who, for some reason I never could figure out, had a way with the ladies when it came to instruction.  If they bought a gun he offered 10 hours of instruction at a local range.  We found out that generally the WORST person to teach someone to shoot is as a close friend or a family member.  Too much machoism,  reluctance to get harsh with them, a lack of patience, and surprisingly  a lot of misinformation got in the way.  Not everyone had an Evil Roy or China Camp to work with them.

 

We ticked off a lot of the men until I explained why it was a better choice that huge semi-autos and magnum revolvers they were touting.  Most understood, some few walked away and never came back.  Their loss and worse, the lady's loss.

 

What was fun was every now and then some of the guys would come back in and but a .38 or .357 gun because they shot the lady's gun and liked it.

 

We also managed to sell guns to them for their kids, or some other kinds of guns altogether for defense, hunting, or recreation, even upgrades or "one like this but prettier."  One mother of two teenagers bought a used Browning Broadway and became a champion clay pigeon hunter with a room full of trophies.  

 

Got lots of word of mouth customers. too.

 

My wife picked out her own Charter Arms Undercover and when each of our two kids turned 21 she gave them one like hers...and Undertaker taught them all to shoot.

Edited January 1 by Forty Rod SASS 3935

[Rye Miles #13621]

When I worked part time in a gun shop/range there were many times guys brought in their wives or girlfriends to shoot for the first time. Unbelievable how they start them off with .45’s , .38’s or even 9mm. One girl came out from the range crying and went into the car. Her boyfriend came out a while later and said he let her shoot his SW .44 mag. He said they were .44 specials!🙄

We told him he should have started her off with a .22 for heavens sakes!😡

Edited January 1 by Rye Miles #13621

[Calamity Kris]

When I moved to St. Louis by myself in 2013, I knew I was going to get my CCW and a pistol for my protection.  I lived in a marginal area and wanted to make sure I could handle my own.  I won't bore you with morons who tried to sell me a gun so big and heavy you couldn't conceal it in a duffel bag, or the clowns that treated me like I was inexperienced and had no idea how to shoot or what I needed.  Let it suffice to say I finally found a gun shop that listened to me and treated me with politeness and respect.  I purchased a couple of handguns from them for that very reason.

[Subdeacon Joe]

43 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

One girl came out from the range crying and went into the car. Her boyfriend came out a while later and said he let her shoot his SW .44 mag.

 

One time I did that.  A lady had  come into the shop/range to see about taking her son in for his birthday.  I think it was his 16th.  She had never shot before, and was disappointed that the range time didn't come with instruction.  I was asked to give her some quick instruction.  Went through all the safety stuff, then the parts of pistols and revolvers, sight alignment, sight picture etc.  Started her with a Ruger Single Six, then a Browning Buckmark.  Target was at 5 yards, standard B16 25 yard target with a 5" Shoot N See on it.  Did well with the .22s.  Move up to a Beretta in .32 ACP, then to a 92FS 9mm.  More than she was comfortable with.  Bad flinch.  Told her that she could do it.  And to prove it I was going to put a gun in her hand that I knew was too much for her at that point, but not by much.  Ruger Blackhawk .44 Mag.  Range reloads so they were "mild" for a .44 Magnum.  Had her dry fire a few times to get the feel of it.  Loaded one round, told her that I would hold my hand over her wrists just in case the recoil got away from her.  

She was nervous, but when she fired she controlled the recoil well, didn't even touch my hands, and put the shot into the X ring.  "See?  None of the Hollywood stuff happened.  Now, one more."  Loaded for her, that one she really flinched.  Put it at 6 o'clock at the edge of the Shoot N See. But she controlled it.  Which I pointed out. Then back down to the 9mm.  Flinch was gone and she enjoyed it.  Even firing strong hand unsupported.  

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

When I was born my training started: don't EVER down-play a woman.  Mom was strong and made everyone know it.  Three of her four sisters were farm ladies and could hold their own.  My wife was as independent as a hog on ice and learned to shoot better than I could as long as she didn't get "over gunned".  My daughter is still as tough as any woman I ever knew.

 

It was a lesson that I carried with me into the gun business and hopefully passed on.

 

And don't challenge them on the range.  Some of them will "take you to school".....right in front of your friends.  "Embarrassing" won't even began to cover it.  

Edited January 2 by Forty Rod SASS 3935

[DocWard]

I read the article many years back, when I was working behind a gun counter myself. I believe it should be required reading for all gun store personnel, and maybe posted on the door of every gun range, along with the reminder "We Were ALL Beginners Once."

 

I lost track of the times a guy came in with a female, whether wife, girlfriend, sister or mom, to buy a pistol ostensibly for her protection and use. He then proceeded to recommend exactly what he would use, or he wanted, which was clearly impractical for her, and often outside her budget. Like others here, I managed to make a few of them quite angry. I also sold a few far more reasonable firearms.

[Subdeacon Joe]

44 minutes ago, DocWard said:

"We Were ALL Beginners Once."

 

Way back when,  in my first karate class, the Sensei asked, "Who Is the most important person in here?" We all gave the expected answer that he was.  He then proceeded to tell us , no, it's the rank beginner.   Without those beginners,  especially those who stay with it for decades, it dies out.  

[DocWard]

2 hours ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

 

Way back when,  in my first karate class, the Sensei asked, "Who Is the most important person in here?" We all gave the expected answer that he was.  He then proceeded to tell us , no, it's the rank beginner.   Without those beginners,  especially those who stay with it for decades, it dies out.  

 

Having earned my black belt, that truly hits home.

[Subdeacon Joe]

 

 

 

[watab kid]

On 1/1/2025 at 2:47 PM, Subdeacon Joe said:

and Some Lessons For Us

 

That young lady has it.

 

 

 

as a range officer at our range i didnt look down on anyone - if they were looking=like a safety issue or having trouble we offer help , we are careful not to be pushy in the help we are forceful on the safety but explain what is expected , have helped a lot of folks like her over the years i did that , im still a range oficer but seldom on the range these days - i work the counter , checking folks in , 

[Eyesa Horg]

Colion for ATF

Edited January 3 by Eyesa Horg
Typo