Girls With Guns

By Nancie, Guest Blogger and Gun Girl

[Note from Susan:  Since I'm crazed by my fast-approaching deadline, I sent out a plea for someone to write this week's Wednesday post in my place, and Nancie bravely volunteered--thank you, chica!  I asked her to talk about some of the stories she's always sharing with me about her work, which I think you'll find intriguing, though I might add that guest bloggers' opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Book Tarts.]

On Thursday nights, I do something that some people find interesting though others are shocked by it, earning me odd looks usually reserved for horrific car crashes.  What could I possibly be doing that causes this wide range of reaction? 

I teach safe firearm handling and shooting to women.

The very thought of women handling firearms will send many running for cover, cowering with fright, as does the subject of firearms in general.  People who know me have a real hard time with the fact I own a gun--not because they're anti-gun, but because they've known me for years and the thought of a proven "walking disaster" owning a gun scares them more than jumping out of a plane without a parachute. 

I am the ultimate klutz.  Yep, I admit it.  I'll be called on it if I deny it, so why bother?  Bruises of unknown origin are constantly present on my flesh. I trip up the stairs, fall down the stairs, and stumble over invisible objects with frightening regularity.  I run into closed doors at least once a week.  I'm not allowed to touch the propane grill in the backyard nor handle any sharp implements in the kitchen, and I throw, well…..like a girl. 

When you put all that together, I guess I understand why family, friends, and even acquaintances are terrified at the thought that I own firearms and teach other women how to shoot (and do it--gasp--safely).  A few pals have closely scrutinized the documentation verifying that I am indeed a firearms instructor and have proclaimed it to be fake.  Except it's not.

The students at my Thursday night sessions are a vastly diverse group of women: doctors, lawyers, business owners, homemakers, retired professionals, a former Broadway dancer, police officers, and others who all share a passion for shooting.  The experiencing of the group ranges from never having touched a gun to life-long shooters who hold records from competitions around the U.S. 

If you ran into these women on the street, you'd have no idea they liked to shoot and were extremely good at the sport.  Guns are a topic not discussed in most circles, so people are often surprised when they discover the increasing number of women who are regular shooters, who put stickers on shooting accessories, and whose green military ammo cans are painted pink or yellow or with flowers.  We refer to our guns as "cute," which makes the men on the firing range more than a little nauseous.  Oh, yeah, and we name our guns.

But don't let that fool you. 

The image of our group from the male perspective is interesting.  They think we only shoot .22 pistols while discussing recipes and fashion tips, and worry about breaking our nails.  Some assume we're a bunch of militant females seeking acceptance in the male-dominated world of firearms. 

Those assumptions are all wrong...well, okay, we do discuss girlie things, like clothes, shoes, jobs, boyfriends, husbands, and kids.  But mostly we discuss firearms.  Yes, our target boards scare men and make them cringe because we decorate them with bright balloons, paper plates painted with bulls-eyes in colorful hues that aren't found in nature, and, of course, our paper targets are pastel.  So we adorn our shooting bags with smiley faces and embroider cute sayings and names on them?  You have a problem with that? 

Our handguns range from .454 Casull revolvers to AK-47s, shotguns, and rifles with enough power to rattle your teeth when you're standing ten feet away.  We take our shooting seriously; but, unlike the men, we have a support team that bursts into cheers and chants your name aloud when you have a great night on the range.   

Last year, a few of the guys decided to challenge us to a shoot-off and took us out to the desert.  Three guys and three girls loaded up two vehicles and went to their shooting spot.  The tone for the challenge was set soon after we got there when Debbie, who had only been shooting for five months, hit the pop can with one shot.  It was the same can that Mister-No-Woman-Can-Out-Shoot-Me had been trying to hit...and couldn't do it.   

We wore those men out in a couple of hours!  They were leaning on the bed of the truck, looking wiped out, and whining, "Aren't you ready to leave yet?"

To which we replied, "Are you kidding?"  Then we checked the back of the SUV for supplies.  "We've still got almost 2,000 rounds of ammo left.  We're just getting started." 

Funny, but they've never invited us to shoot with them since.

Several of us women volunteers meet up when we can, and we'll shoot on the range when it's open to the public and mostly occupied by men.  This is always fun for us, as they roll their eyes, making digs about our brightly colored target board.  "What, no confetti?  Did you forget the streamers?  You ladies bring a cake to go with the party balloons?" 

Aren't they creative with their snarky remarks?  But we don't care, we just smile and get ready to shoot.  The crowd of men behind us grows as we start firing, though we never really notice them, being that we're focused and serious about our shooting.  When the smoke clears, the target board is in shambles, balloons are gone, the pretty colored bulls-eyes no longer exist, and the snarky comments have been silenced. 

The majority of the men will skulk away, though a few have stayed to ask if we'd help them shoot like us...or if we'd teach their wives or girlfriends.  Mind you, were not taking a shot a minute, we're drawing from the holster and hitting the targets as fast as possible as we compete against each other, cheering and encouraging one another to do our best.

A recent tactical class held at the range involved several of our ladies, and one of the drills was drawing from the holster and--within 3 seconds--placing as many shots as possible into a regular-sized paper plate.  My favorite student, Debbie (now a regular shooting buddy), emptied her magazine into the plate without missing a one...and with a second to spare!  She was the only one who accomplished this, out-shooting a Marine and the seven other men in the class. 

The instructor, a man I know who has taught me quite a bit, asked her if she was shooting a fully automatic handgun and how she learned to shoot that fast.  She replied, "My coach taught me and runs me through rapid-fire drills all the time." 

The girl did me proud that day, and the rest of the ladies in the class were outstanding, too, according to the report I got from the instructor.   

One fellow in particular was extremely unhappy with me, after we spoke about teaching his wife to shoot.  He wanted her to get involved in the sport and enjoy herself, so I had him send her out on a Thursday night.  I instructed his wife a few times and now he's mad at me, and I do mean ticked off, because his wife shoots better than he does.  He complained about her wanting her own gun and taking his firearms to shoot all the time. 

Me:  "Um, sorry?  You did ask me to instruct her and get her involved so she would enjoy it like you do."

Him: "Well, yeah, but you didn't have to teach her to shoot that damn good!" 

Personally, I took it as a compliment, even though it wasn't meant that way. 

Many women, I find, don't like shooting because their first experience was not a pleasant one.  They are handed a gun with enough power to stop a runaway Hummer.  They pull the trigger, the gun goes KA-BOOM, and the recoil almost knocks them over, scaring the hell out of them.  Not surprisingly, they're hardly thrilled with the whole shooting thing. 

The reaction is perfectly understandable, as shooting for the first time should not include anything classified as heavy artillery by our military.  The goal is to shoot a hole in a paper target, not level a housing development. 

While some men have a problem with our gender infiltrating their turf, the majority of men on the range are very supportive of women involved in shooting sports.  They're not threatened by our choice of targets, are more than happy to share their firearms, and talk at length with us when we shoot.

Thursday nights on the range are a lot of fun and best described by the ladies as "our happy place."  It's our chance to relieve the pressures of the week, hang with the girls, and get cheered for personal successes as well as for shooting the center out of a target.  The highlight of Thursday nights is the terrified first-time shooter who's is afraid to touch the firearm for fear it will hop off thetable and start firing on a whim.  This same person, by the end of the first coaching session, has hit the bulls-eye with regularity, has a huge smile, bright eyes, and is extremely grateful we were there for her. 

We take out the fear of guns and replace it with education and safety, and we teach women how to have fun with the sport.    

As for me, well, I don't claim to be an expert sharpshooter, nor do I compete in events, so I don't hold any records or titles for matches.  I shoot because I enjoy it, and I volunteer to teach other women so they have a place they can come and ask questions without being intimidated by the unfamiliar world of firearms.  This is not just a man's sport anymore. Woman are increasing their numbers on the shooting ranges, in classes, and in the competitive arena.  Last year, the NRA elected a woman president, Sandra Froman, only the second woman to hold this title in 130 years.  We've come a long way, baby. 

So happy shooting, stay on target, and remember to keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times, 'cuz it's one helluva ride. 

Comments

[sarah s.]

Great piece, Nancy, and it gives me an idea for the upcoming Bubbles book. Boy, that sounds like fun. Could I come out there on Thursday? It's only a 5 hour flight.
Thanks!

[Susan McB]

Yeah, thanks for helping me out, Ms. Nancie! I'd like a lesson one of these days, whenever I finally get to Phoenix! I want to see the pretty pastel targets and balloons! Oh, and, by the way, what have you named your guns? Just curious!

[sarah s.]

I'm sorry, I meant NanCIE. It's still early and my husband was yap, yap, yapping and my kids were asking me all sorts of questions as I typed. I need a spare brain.
And to Nancy and Kathy - I woke up this morning with these words going around my mind.
"Here we go...here we go...."
Aggghhh!

[Josh]

It's great that you are teaching safe handling of firearms, and from my Rifle class in Phys Ed at Penn State (no kidding!), I can testify that it is fun to target shoot. You should see the smile on my 9-year-old daughter's face in the photo on my filing cabinet at the office as she holds that pneumatic-powered submachine gun. And the star targets with almost all the star removed (mine) or almost none of the star removed (my children's).

But too many people get too crazy too easily, and instead of my wife's throwing a dish at me, or my hurling insults at her, which has happened plenty over the course of 20 years, I would not want it to be very easy to throw some lead. Going to Walmart and coming home somehow is a fine cooling off period (especailly when one is philosophically opposed to shopping at Walmart), and I prefer having that to having my wife or me having convenient access to easy and not easily reversible modes of resolving arguments over leaving dirty clothes on the floor or not throwing out Shop-Rite circulars "once and for all."

Is that a run-on sentence?

[Kerry]

What an inspiring post, Nancie. I really admire what you're doing -- and just wish I lived nearby so I could join y'all!

[Nancie aka Gun Tart]

Sarah, come on down! I’ll pick you up tomorrow, just let me know what time your flight lands. ;-) No biggie on the name, I knew who you meant, even though I have no functioning brain cells this morning.

Susan, you’re welcome!! I’m the exception to the name thing, not sure why, but my favorite gun I refer to as ‘My Baby’—which is appropriately a Desert ‘Baby’ Eagle.

[Susan McB]

Josh, you make me think of a story my mom has told on several occasions, about the time my grandfather pissed off my grandma while she was scrubbing out the sink in the kitchen. Mom says Grandma hurled the can of Comet at my grandfather's head, and she recalls the trail of powdery cleaner as it sailed through the air (hmmm, maybe that's why it's called "Comet"). I'm not sure if it hit him--will have to ask Mom--but I laugh every time I think of that.

[Nancie aka Gun Tart]

Josh, actually that would be ‘spray some lead’ or ‘spray and pray’ as I have been told by some of the cops I shoot with on the range. Personally, I think throwing the lead is a better alternative to the spray method, keeps the holes in the drywall to a bare minimum that way.

You bring up a valid point about using ‘not easily reversible modes of resolving arguments’. The simple fact is this statement can also apply to many objects in everyone’s household, not just firearms. A gun by itself is not responsible, but the person who chooses to use it against another is, as is the choice to do harm to another person.

Kerry, thanks. I really enjoy it, and we have so much fun. Any time you’re in the area, let me know, and I’ll get you out the range.

[Josh]

My house is old--no drywall, only old-fashioned plaster with wood lathe inside the walls. No sure if that is easier to fix. Don't suppose it would matter if I were on either side of the mess ("messer" or "messee").

I used "throw" because it was a parallel sentence construction. I don't think we have sprayed dishes (insults, maybe). Interesting that police use the term spray, though. Learn something every day.

[sarah S]

Oh, Josh, stop being such a Politically Correct softie and admit that you like to pull off a few rounds as much as the next gal.

[Harley]

My brother Joe used to take me shooting when he lived in L.A. and it was a blast (sorry.) Then he moved to Texas. There's a joke in there somewhere, but it's too early for me to figure it out.

[Debbie "Girlie-Girl"]

Wow, I feel honored to be mentioned in this blog by my most FAVORITE coach in the whole world! Nancie is one of the most inspiring mentor's I've ever met in my lifetime. I can't tell you how much fun it is to hear the guys laugh and mock, is that REALLY a smiley face sticker on your gun magazine? Geeez, how GIRLIE is that? Yeah well, watch this boys, as we continue to blow off about 30 rounds in less than one minute and leave them with their mouth's open wide! Ha! Beat that boys! So much fun. Nancie I love you Girl! Keep up the great job. You continue to be an inspiration to us all! Love you babe! See you at the range on Thursday! And for all you girls who haven't tried it yet, you don't know what your missing! Come on out and join us...

[j renee stuart]

My first experience with a rifle was on the firing range at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO (AKA, Ft. Lost-in-the-Woods) in the dead of winter. I was eighteen years old, scared to death, and lying in a prone position, with an M60 machine gun. Suprisingly little recoil, but the 'dummy string' on my trigger mittens got caught up in the ammo belt, and I jammed after ,like, three seconds.
Nowadays, my weapon of choice is a .22 Ruger that I pack with hollow points. Great for groundhog control (sorry PETA, but they really are just rats on steroids). My husband and I have an ongoing competition to see who remains the better shot. He usually wins, but I make him work for it.
Keep up the good work, Nancie - above all, teach them respect for the weapon,and range safety. No brass, no ammo.

[Kerry]

Wait wait wait wait . . . groundhogs are not rats on steroids! They're squirrels on steroids :) I'm not a PETA person (not by a long shot -- pun intended), but I hereby plead for amnesty on their behalf (unless they're eating your garden or something equally heinous). No offense intended, of course!

[Josh]

You got me there, Sarah. I'm an American. I love guns and shooting. I just don't want either of them (especially shooting) in my kitchen, my house, or the houses where my children go to play.

How about you, Miss Green Mountain Boy?

[Nancie aka Gun Tart]

Josh, it just depends on how fast the dishes are flying to consider them for the Spray Category.

Harley, it is a blast! The guys I shoot with actually refer to it as ‘goin’ blasting’.

Wow Debbie, thanks for the awesome comment. You rock Girl! (I’ll pay you tomorrow night at the range.)

J. Renee, even though I am an instructor, my primary job on Thursday is the Range Safety Officer, and I oversee the whole shooting line along with the other safety officers on the range. I have been referred to as the Range Tyrant, but I’m okay with that title. We are BIG on safety! Respect for the firearms is another priority. The women we teach are always commenting on how they like coming out because we are diligent in education and enforcing the safety rules. The Ruger .22s are great guns, and we use their semi-autos and revolvers to teach our beginners, so they get comfortable in handling firearms.

[Rob Gregory Browne]

Guns scare the crap out of me. My one encounter with a gun, many years ago, went like this:

My then boss had an old pistol in his desk drawer and brought it out to show it to me. It's old, he said, and unloaded. And broken.

Being the genius I am, I picked it up, pointed it at a few framed photos around the office, then, get this -- pointed it at MY OWN HEAD and pulled the trigger. Laughing when I did it.

Two seconds later, I got this really sick feeling. What if he had been wrong? What if the gun WASN'T broken? What if it actually WAS loaded?

I'd be John Whats-his-name, who pulled the same joke on his friends on the set of some forgotten TV series and wound up blowing his brains out.

It was stupid, stupid, stupid. Hell, it was beyond stupid. I should get a Darwin award for that act alone.

I've never touched a gun since and have no desire to. I can't trust myself.

[Kathy Sweeney]

Groundhog alert: Punxsy Phil knows where you are and has the power to bring six more weeks of winter...

I used to own guns and got rid of them when I got pregnant. Once my kids are grown, I'll have them again. I think a lot has to do with how you grew up - I grew up in hunting country, so guns and gun safety were second nature to most people.

Nancie - what a fantastic job you are doing! Do you ever shoot skeet?

[Nancie aka Gun Tart]

Rob, that story just chills down my spine. My number one safety rule-All firearms are considered loaded at all times, and must be treated that way!! I am a fanatic about checking repeatedly to make sure a gun is unloaded. I will not take another person’s word that a gun is unloaded, I have to check several times. I’ve had too many “unloaded” firearms handed to me.

We hammer the safety rules into the women constantly. We show them how different firearms operate, and how to verify they are unloaded. If they don’t check a firearm that’s handed to them, well, this is where the Range Tyrant comes out to have a chat with them.

Thanks Kathy! I really do enjoy it. I shot skeet once last year, and one of my goals this year is to hit the skeet range and take a few more lessons.

[SusanCo]

When I was ten, Daddy had gotten laid at his job and believe it or not if we wanted meat, we had to go down to the creek and shoot it. I had to get good at it or go hungry. Now when I go shooting, which is about every other weekend, I do it for fun.Could be because I am a Texan ( who knows) I have always been comforable with guns, and when I was raising my kids I made sure they knew that weapons were not toys, that guns can kill and should only be handled with respect. They are not something to take to show and tell, nor are they a conversation piece to be taken out to show off to friends.
I wouldnt want anyone and I mean anyone, who is afraid of guns, who has never had any training with one, to be on a range with me (but thats me).That is why I admire and appreciate people like Nancie.They train others with understanding,professionally,making it safe for others while at the range.She is helping women to find a sport that before was thought of as only for men.
Now, dont let this go to your head there kiddo. I know all your secrets and know where most of the bruises come from. Its true, if she had said anything about not being a klutz, I would have let her have it with both barrels (pun intended)But then if I was being truthful between the two of us I am not sure who is the bigger klutz.
KEEP ALL WEAPONS POINTED DOWNRANGE AT ALL TIMES, DONT GO TO THE TABLES DURING CEASEFIRE, CAUSE SHE WILL YELL AT YOU, BUT AT ALL TIMES HAVE FUN! Did I get them right? LOL SusanCo

[toni]

Nancie, I love this post. A long time ago, I had a break in when I was 7 months pregnant and had a 4 year-old in the other bedroom. Long story short, it was very traumatic, though we ended up escaping (the guy was later arrested and booked for raping and bludgeoning an 80-year-old woman down the street). At the time, I had no earthly idea about how to even get the 22 out of the holster, much less that I was supposed to cock the gun in order to shoot it. This guy hunted me through my house and I had to hide and try to stay one step ahead of him for more than 40 minutes until, pure luck, my husband came home early and the guy ran out the other door.

My husband wanted me to learn how to shoot. I ended up being a pretty damned good shot, which didn't really mean that I would choose to shoot someone (though I would if my kids were in jeopardy again in this type of situation), but I realized I thoroughly enjoyed learning the skill of shooting. I wish I had somewhere around here to take the sort of women's class you're talking about. That sounds like something I'd enjoy to get my skill level back up and competitive.

[Rob Gregory Browne]

I'm assuming you meant Daddy got laid-OFF at his job? :)

[Susan McB]

Rob, thanks for asking what I was thinking! Hee hee. (Stressed as I am, that was a much-needed chuckle, SusanCo, so thanks!)

[SusanCo]

LOLOLOLOL I did it again! I swear I preview the things before I post! It read right in my mind, but then I knew what I was trying to say.Ok, klutz an idiot. SusanCo

[Kathy Sweeney]

Although, at least it would be a nice part of the severance package....