No, no…this isn’t a Cowgirl story! I haven’t been out rustling cattle and fixing fences although, after a day spent teaching a Pistol Safety Course and supervising students on a shooting range, I sure feel like I’m recovering from a rodeo.
Here in New York, when someone wants to apply for a permit to possess a firearm or upgrade an existing permit, they must take an 8 hour course; my husband’s club features such courses at regular intervals and people have been lining-up to attend them. I’m both a Certified Instructor as well as a Range Safety Officer so I get to participate in these classes. Part of the instruction involves two hours of shooting on our ranges; those not having a pistol permit are not allowed to shoot a regular firearm, only a Pellet or BB gun but that allows them to become familiar with safe gun handling procedures and take part in target shooting.
Part of my normal instruction is to always include something for the many women who attend these courses; often, they feel overwhelmed, being in the company of so many men in the classroom who already have experience in shooting pistols. During each class I take the time to congratulate the ladies for taking the course and explain that women do extremely well in shooting sports because everything involved in handling any firearm is a series of repetitive thoughts and actions which women happen to excel at.
Yes, we do! Think about it for a moment!
Each and every day, women follow a routine (even though that might take a few detours now and then) and manage to multi-task through a series of work-related, household or child events. Back during WWII, more than 18 million women entered the workforce when men went off to serve either in the South Pacific or European theatres; they left their homes and kids during the day, showing up for work at defense plants all over the United States. Women who didn’t move away from their homes would return to their families, and Victory Gardens, each night and tend to their household duties. With all of that going on in their lives, it was quickly discovered that women worked quickly, efficiently and safely on the assembly lines which involved very repetitive work. No one knows what the outcome of that war might have been if these women hadn’t stepped into those jobs and helped keep the country running during that time.
See what I was talking about? Okay, back to being on the range…
During each class that is taught there are always a few….ball busters; yesterday, we had a pip and she gets my Fickle Finger of Bitchdom Award.
First, her spouse is a member of our club where the course is given; I met her when he first joined and her opening comment was “Yeah, I just wanna come up here with my rifle and blow-off steam, shooting, after a hard day!”….RED FLAG! That outlook in safe firearm handling is dangerous! Now, she’s looking to apply for a pistol permit with the same, badass, attitude.
Yesterday, while at the shooting range with those waiting to take their turn, she was boisterous, kept interfering with several women who were on the line, preparing to shoot for the first time and, more than once, as an RSO, I had to stand in front of her, gently reminding her to stand back from the line. The last straw was when she shouted out to one of the women to…”Just point the damn gun and go bang, bang, bang!”
My very bad, inner child, self was screaming out to drag her from the range and remove her from the premises but, my pleasant, professional-self just decided to make a written recommendation that this woman re-evaluate her knowledge, skills and attitude before being allowed to possess a pistol permit. If she wants to be freaking Annie Oakley, let her move to another state; she ain’t gonna do it here on my turf! Seriously!
My other concern was an elderly woman who is seeking a permit for protection; her dog just passed away and the woman’s husband stood in the background, looking as if he was fearing for his life should she get that license.
Hmmmmm….had to discuss that with her, at length.
Actually, she was a pretty good shooter the first time out; had a very decent grouping on the target and followed all of the safety rules. But, being arthritic, she was unable to pull the trigger with her index finger, using her middle finger instead; that, presented a difficult, safe-firearm handling issue. Although she seemed to compensate rather well, I felt that, should she get a pistol permit, some extensive time on a shooting range will be necessary in order for her to develop adequate skill. I patted her hubs on his back and advised him to think about getting another dog in the meantime but she is already planning what firearm she wants to purchase.
