Read part 1 here.
It hurt.
The first time I pulled the trigger, my life was changed forever. My dad's Mossberg shotgun went off in my nine year old hands and the recoil really, really hurt.
Like I felt it for days after, y'all.
I say that my life was changed, though, because my curiosity was gone.
We were at the gun range with maybe 4 or 5 of my dad's guy friends, all of them bringing their own firearms, and not one of them accidentally discharged. No one got hurt. And my curiosity was wiped away because I felt how hard I had to pull to squeeze the trigger. It was not an easy feat for my small hands. Sure, it was probably easy for my dad, but for me, I had to really squeeze to get the gun to go off. And just like my dad said it should, it surprised me when it went off. I guess because, in my mind, I thought I only had to move the trigger back a few millimeters for it to fire. That was not the case. So as I was pulling it back, I thought, wow, you really have to want to shoot this gun to get it to discharge.
My curiosity, my timidness, my anxiety was gone. With one shot. Dad asked me if I wanted to shoot it again, and I politely told him, "No, thank you." I remember going back and climbing into the back of his pick-up, and sitting there for the rest of the day thinking about how my shoulder felt like it was dislocated.
It was my first crash course in recoil. One that I desperately needed and am so thankful I got.
I didn't fire another gun until I was maybe twelve. This time it was a little .22 pistol which went off with a little bit more ease than the shotgun did. The recoil was light, and it was a great gun to use while perfecting my sighting technique.
My parents built a gun range directly on their property, which was subject to different regulations since we lived outside city lines. We shot often. As an only child, I knew my parents room was loaded down like Fort Knox with firearms, and my dad often had me help him clean them.
Guns were just a part of my life. It wasn't uncommon for there to be one at the dinner table with us when I was in high school.
I never worried about safety. My dad always carried a firearm for personal protection, so I never feared for my surroundings or worried about getting robbed when I was with him. When we watched the news at night, my dad would take his gun out of his holster and lay it on the coffee table. I remember hearing story after story of robberies, car-jackings, murders, and thinking to myself those things could happen to anyone, but I know my dad wouldn't go down without a fight. That was comforting.
As a latch-key kid, I was often home for 2 to 3 hours a day without my parents. I had to walk about three quarters of a mile down our dirt road from the bus stop to the house. My dad constantly questioned me about what would I do in certain scenarios, and how would I protect myself in certain situations. What would you do if someone tried to take you? Punch them in the nose. What would you do if you were home alone and you heard someone breaking in? I would grab your gun and protect myself. My personal favorite, when we were out at a restaurant one night-identify all of the exits without looking around. Well there's the one we came in through, and there's a second in the back by the restrooms, and I'd imagine there's a shipping door in the back of the kitchen. Always questioning, always mentoring, always guiding. That was my dad.
He instilled a sense of personal responsibility for my own safety in me from a very young age. My dad taught me that it wasn't a cop's responsibility to make sure that I was safe while walking down the street, but instead, my own. He taught me that by being aware of my surroundings, I can reduce the likelihood that I will become a victim of an assault or something far worse.
And naturally, when the time came that he could legally equip me with a firearm, he did just that. My dad gifted me a Beretta 92-FS and a box of ammo for my 18th birthday. And naturally, when I got my own apartment in a college town with considerable amount of crime, I never worried, because I knew that I was capable of protecting myself in my own home.
Owning a gun, to me, was no different than owning a drill. It was a tool I could use to accomplish a job. That job was protection.
Thankfully, I have never been put into a position where I have ever had to use it.
But I'm so thankful that I've always had the choice.
I obtained my concealed carry permit when I was 24, and my Beretta 9mm was just too big to carry for personal protection.
So for the first time ever, I went and purchased my own firearm.
Part 3 coming soon.
Showing posts with label guns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guns. Show all posts
Four Rules for Gun Safety
Today I took my "license to carry" course for our new state.
It was really quite an experience. I have always really enjoyed firearms-people might call me a little bit of a gun nut, and that's fine. I'm okay with everyone knowing that this is something I'm passionate about. I'm also passionate about a person's God given right to defend themselves, by all justifiable means. In today's world, guns and self defense are a hot topic. You can be absolutely skewered in today's Court of Public Opinion if you are caught having to justify yourself and your use of force-especially if it becomes deadly force.
So in order to familiarize myself with our new state laws, I decided to retake the license to carry class. I certainly didn't have to, but I wanted to make sure I was covered under the fullest extent of the laws here, should I ever need to use deadly force. That meant having an in-state resident license. This matters because in January, my state will allow in state residents with an in-state permit to carry their firearms openly. I have no desire to carry my firearm openly, but it makes it less of a hassle to have an in-state license.
I say today was "quite an experience" because I actually did learn quite a bit, and I got to see things from the side of some of my more liberally bent friends (I do still love you guys). Number one, I learned that some of my friends are partially correct when they say it is too easy to get a firearm. I say that because there were clearly some newbies out at the range today. I also learned that only a staggering 8% of concealed carry holders take additional classes after they take their CHL course. So that means they go buy a gun, they take one class and then they put their gun in a bedside table and never pick it up again, unless they need it to defend themselves. That's kind of scary! As gun owners, we never know if we will be put in a position where we have to use deadly force-but we need to be prepared if we do. Having additional training makes it easier to react in those stressful situations when adrenaline is pumping. Having additional training keeps you proficient with your weapon, and gives you confidence behind the trigger.
Today also made me realize that not everyone grew up around guns like I did. In that, I mean that the natural ability to handle a gun has not been modeled to everyone by someone who loves them and wants them to be protected, like my dad did for me. Today made me realize that yes, there are some people out there who need to have a little bit more training before they start carrying a firearm. Does it mean they shouldn't have one? Absolutely not. Everyone has the right to self defense-but they also have the right to educate themselves on gun safety. They owe it to their loved ones, neighbors, and fellow citizens to follow up on additional training, and to hold themselves accountable with their weapon. It's actually paramount to preserving our gun culture that we are educated and making smart decisions with our weapons. It's also paramount that we model these behaviors to our friends and family.
That begin said, I want to add to the discussion four very practical, very applicable rules of gun safety. The term "rules" does not mean "laws". You won't find this in any state penal code. It's more of a set of guidelines for gun safety. Think like the 10 commandments of being a Christian, except less wordy.
1. Thou shalt treat every gun as if it's loaded.
I'm going to stop with the thou shalt. But you absolutely should treat every gun as if it has a live, chambered round in it. If you treat every gun as if it is loaded, you'll never be surprised if the gun "goes off".
2. Never, ever, EVER, point the gun at something you wouldn't be prepared to destroy.
This one is tough, because you can do it without even realizing you're doing it. I like to pretend that there's a laser beam shooting out of the tip of the barrel, and its trajectory can destroy anything it crosses. So when I lay it down on a table in front of me, I'm aware of what is in front of it. If I'm loading it or activating the decocker on the side of my Beretta 92, I'm watching where the front of the gun is pointing simultaneously. If I'm handing the gun to my husband so he can put it back in the safe, I'm passing it to him with the muzzle pointed down between the two of us, instead of back at myself, while also watching the floor because that's where our children are playing. Constantly be aware of what you're pointing the gun at every moment you're handling it, and you'll never have an accident.
3. Always be sure of your target, and know what is behind it.
This one is two part. First, always know what you are shooting. So if you wake up at 2:00 in the morning to a strange sound, don't just grab your gun and start firing through a wall. It's likely that you'll injure a member of your own family. If it's dark in your home, turn a light on before you pull the trigger. Your 5 year old isn't breaking any laws by getting a drink of milk from the refrigerator at 12:00 in the morning. You will be if you unknowingly shoot them. Always, always, always identify your target.
Secondly, know what is behind your target. Contrary to popular belief, bullets don't hit a person and then explode upon impact. Some will fragment, but several different types of bullets will go through a person or object and out the other side, and continue on with enough speed to injure another. It depends on several factors: the caliber of the gun, the type of bullet, the grain of the bullet, and the distance between the object being shot and the tip of the barrel. So if you shoot something, you absolutely need to consider what is behind it. Drywall will not always stop a bullet. Also, there's a high probability that if you shoot something, you'll miss. What is behind your target, plus a 5 or 6 degree shift each direction if you mess up? I ask this because most houses have a split floor plan. If you're standing in the doorway of your master bedroom, shooting into your living room because someone is in your house, where are your children sleeping? Chances are they're behind your target. And what is the relative location of your neighbor's home? As a gun owner, you have to consider this every single time you pull the trigger.
4. Keep your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to pull it.
This is one reason why I have such an issue with the Amy Schumer SNL gun skit. Through out the entire video (where she is subsequently making fun of gun owners), she has her finger on the trigger. I realize that it's satire, but if there's any way to identify yourself as a person who is truly uneducated about firearms, that's it. This finger on the trigger position has been perpetuated by Hollywood and while her point was to degrade gun owners, she in turn added herself to the list of people who demonstrate and further spread these bad habits. People who have little to no firearm experience watch that video, go out and buy a firearm and think it's okay to walk around with their finger on the trigger. Thich contributes to things like negligent discharge and shooting your neighbor while you were "just cleaning your gun". Never put your finger on the trigger unless you intend to fire the weapon. While handling a firearm, you should keep your finger outside of the trigger guard, resting on the side of it directly below the slide until you are ready to shoot. Even when we are at the range, I will keep my finger outside of the trigger guard until my sights are aligned-then I move my finger over and fire. Don't be like Amy Schumer, please.
These four, seemingly simple but significant rules will help keep you and your family safe-especially if you are new to the firearm world. I would highly encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about firearm safety to sign up for the NRA's basic pistol or basic home defense course before purchasing their first firearm. There are also many training schools that offer women only classes, so you can go and learn how to safely use a firearm with your girlfriends. Developing safe gun habits are critical to the safety and security of not only ourselves, but our children and those around us!
Be well (armed)!
-C
It was really quite an experience. I have always really enjoyed firearms-people might call me a little bit of a gun nut, and that's fine. I'm okay with everyone knowing that this is something I'm passionate about. I'm also passionate about a person's God given right to defend themselves, by all justifiable means. In today's world, guns and self defense are a hot topic. You can be absolutely skewered in today's Court of Public Opinion if you are caught having to justify yourself and your use of force-especially if it becomes deadly force.
So in order to familiarize myself with our new state laws, I decided to retake the license to carry class. I certainly didn't have to, but I wanted to make sure I was covered under the fullest extent of the laws here, should I ever need to use deadly force. That meant having an in-state resident license. This matters because in January, my state will allow in state residents with an in-state permit to carry their firearms openly. I have no desire to carry my firearm openly, but it makes it less of a hassle to have an in-state license.
I say today was "quite an experience" because I actually did learn quite a bit, and I got to see things from the side of some of my more liberally bent friends (I do still love you guys). Number one, I learned that some of my friends are partially correct when they say it is too easy to get a firearm. I say that because there were clearly some newbies out at the range today. I also learned that only a staggering 8% of concealed carry holders take additional classes after they take their CHL course. So that means they go buy a gun, they take one class and then they put their gun in a bedside table and never pick it up again, unless they need it to defend themselves. That's kind of scary! As gun owners, we never know if we will be put in a position where we have to use deadly force-but we need to be prepared if we do. Having additional training makes it easier to react in those stressful situations when adrenaline is pumping. Having additional training keeps you proficient with your weapon, and gives you confidence behind the trigger.
Today also made me realize that not everyone grew up around guns like I did. In that, I mean that the natural ability to handle a gun has not been modeled to everyone by someone who loves them and wants them to be protected, like my dad did for me. Today made me realize that yes, there are some people out there who need to have a little bit more training before they start carrying a firearm. Does it mean they shouldn't have one? Absolutely not. Everyone has the right to self defense-but they also have the right to educate themselves on gun safety. They owe it to their loved ones, neighbors, and fellow citizens to follow up on additional training, and to hold themselves accountable with their weapon. It's actually paramount to preserving our gun culture that we are educated and making smart decisions with our weapons. It's also paramount that we model these behaviors to our friends and family.
That begin said, I want to add to the discussion four very practical, very applicable rules of gun safety. The term "rules" does not mean "laws". You won't find this in any state penal code. It's more of a set of guidelines for gun safety. Think like the 10 commandments of being a Christian, except less wordy.
1. Thou shalt treat every gun as if it's loaded.
I'm going to stop with the thou shalt. But you absolutely should treat every gun as if it has a live, chambered round in it. If you treat every gun as if it is loaded, you'll never be surprised if the gun "goes off".
2. Never, ever, EVER, point the gun at something you wouldn't be prepared to destroy.
This one is tough, because you can do it without even realizing you're doing it. I like to pretend that there's a laser beam shooting out of the tip of the barrel, and its trajectory can destroy anything it crosses. So when I lay it down on a table in front of me, I'm aware of what is in front of it. If I'm loading it or activating the decocker on the side of my Beretta 92, I'm watching where the front of the gun is pointing simultaneously. If I'm handing the gun to my husband so he can put it back in the safe, I'm passing it to him with the muzzle pointed down between the two of us, instead of back at myself, while also watching the floor because that's where our children are playing. Constantly be aware of what you're pointing the gun at every moment you're handling it, and you'll never have an accident.
3. Always be sure of your target, and know what is behind it.
This one is two part. First, always know what you are shooting. So if you wake up at 2:00 in the morning to a strange sound, don't just grab your gun and start firing through a wall. It's likely that you'll injure a member of your own family. If it's dark in your home, turn a light on before you pull the trigger. Your 5 year old isn't breaking any laws by getting a drink of milk from the refrigerator at 12:00 in the morning. You will be if you unknowingly shoot them. Always, always, always identify your target.
Secondly, know what is behind your target. Contrary to popular belief, bullets don't hit a person and then explode upon impact. Some will fragment, but several different types of bullets will go through a person or object and out the other side, and continue on with enough speed to injure another. It depends on several factors: the caliber of the gun, the type of bullet, the grain of the bullet, and the distance between the object being shot and the tip of the barrel. So if you shoot something, you absolutely need to consider what is behind it. Drywall will not always stop a bullet. Also, there's a high probability that if you shoot something, you'll miss. What is behind your target, plus a 5 or 6 degree shift each direction if you mess up? I ask this because most houses have a split floor plan. If you're standing in the doorway of your master bedroom, shooting into your living room because someone is in your house, where are your children sleeping? Chances are they're behind your target. And what is the relative location of your neighbor's home? As a gun owner, you have to consider this every single time you pull the trigger.
4. Keep your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to pull it.
This is one reason why I have such an issue with the Amy Schumer SNL gun skit. Through out the entire video (where she is subsequently making fun of gun owners), she has her finger on the trigger. I realize that it's satire, but if there's any way to identify yourself as a person who is truly uneducated about firearms, that's it. This finger on the trigger position has been perpetuated by Hollywood and while her point was to degrade gun owners, she in turn added herself to the list of people who demonstrate and further spread these bad habits. People who have little to no firearm experience watch that video, go out and buy a firearm and think it's okay to walk around with their finger on the trigger. Thich contributes to things like negligent discharge and shooting your neighbor while you were "just cleaning your gun". Never put your finger on the trigger unless you intend to fire the weapon. While handling a firearm, you should keep your finger outside of the trigger guard, resting on the side of it directly below the slide until you are ready to shoot. Even when we are at the range, I will keep my finger outside of the trigger guard until my sights are aligned-then I move my finger over and fire. Don't be like Amy Schumer, please.
These four, seemingly simple but significant rules will help keep you and your family safe-especially if you are new to the firearm world. I would highly encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about firearm safety to sign up for the NRA's basic pistol or basic home defense course before purchasing their first firearm. There are also many training schools that offer women only classes, so you can go and learn how to safely use a firearm with your girlfriends. Developing safe gun habits are critical to the safety and security of not only ourselves, but our children and those around us!
Be well (armed)!
-C
Are You Thinking About Buying A Gun, Ma'am? Part 1
I was seven, maybe eight years old when my dad forgot to put his gun away for the first time. We lived by ourselves in a small 2 bedroom home with minimal furnishings, so the gun stuck out like a sore thumb. I walked into the kitchen and there it was; cold, hard steel laying on the other side of the room. It was a Ruger GP100 .357 magnum. I recognized that it was a revolver from watching Western movies with him. I knew only two things about that gun: that you could pop the barrel out and spin it, and not to touch it. I knew that even in all of my curiosity that I was not to pick it up.
So I stood paralyzed in fear, as its trajectory blocked the path between myself and the kitchen, where a snack was awaiting. I stood there. Staring at it. Wondering if it could just accidentally go off. I pictured it firing by itself in my mind.
I was interrupted only by my Dad coming in from the garage, and he noticed quickly that it was out. He said, "Don't touch that, it'll kill you," in his stern voice. I remember thinking, I know, Dad.
I remember it like it was yesterday.
Later that evening I remember asking my dad why he had guns in the house. I told him I thought they were dangerous and that they scared me. He asked me why, and I told him I was scared because a gun could kill me.
At first he laughed! I was struck by the sound. But then he said something that changed my entire perception of guns.
He quizzed me. Where do you always point the gun? In a safe direction, until you're ready to fire. Where do you put your finger when you hold a gun? Never on the trigger, until you're ready to shoot. What do you do if you pull the trigger and the gun doesn't go off? Buy better ammo.. er, wait for 10 seconds for a misfire, and then discharge and reload. What do you always need to be aware of before you fire? What is behind your target. How do you... the questions went on. When I finally couldn't take it anymore, we went to the range.
Like a dance we had rehearsed, armed with a shot gun, protective eye wear and headphones, I prepared to stand behind the trigger and pull it for the first time. He was standing right behind me, showing me how I should position the gun, and warning me about the recoil.
I did as he said, took a deep breath in and steadied myself, closed one eye and BOOM!!
Part 2 to follow.
So I stood paralyzed in fear, as its trajectory blocked the path between myself and the kitchen, where a snack was awaiting. I stood there. Staring at it. Wondering if it could just accidentally go off. I pictured it firing by itself in my mind.
I was interrupted only by my Dad coming in from the garage, and he noticed quickly that it was out. He said, "Don't touch that, it'll kill you," in his stern voice. I remember thinking, I know, Dad.
I remember it like it was yesterday.
Later that evening I remember asking my dad why he had guns in the house. I told him I thought they were dangerous and that they scared me. He asked me why, and I told him I was scared because a gun could kill me.
At first he laughed! I was struck by the sound. But then he said something that changed my entire perception of guns.
"Not by itself, it can't. It's no different than a screw driver. It's just a tool, boo."Less than a year or so later, I found myself out at the gun range with him, firing my first gun. This was preceded by weeks worth of preparation; I asked a lot of questions, he answered a lot more. He asked me questions to make sure I was listening. I felt like I got a crash course in gun handling and ownership before I ever had a gun in my hands.
He quizzed me. Where do you always point the gun? In a safe direction, until you're ready to fire. Where do you put your finger when you hold a gun? Never on the trigger, until you're ready to shoot. What do you do if you pull the trigger and the gun doesn't go off? Buy better ammo.. er, wait for 10 seconds for a misfire, and then discharge and reload. What do you always need to be aware of before you fire? What is behind your target. How do you... the questions went on. When I finally couldn't take it anymore, we went to the range.
Like a dance we had rehearsed, armed with a shot gun, protective eye wear and headphones, I prepared to stand behind the trigger and pull it for the first time. He was standing right behind me, showing me how I should position the gun, and warning me about the recoil.
"The gun should surprise you when it goes off. Center yourself, align your front and rear sights, put your finger on the trigger, and pull back slowly."
I did as he said, took a deep breath in and steadied myself, closed one eye and BOOM!!
Part 2 to follow.
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