Comment by Robb Allen

August 27, 2007 @ 9:35 am

Good for you for trying new things. I’m a gun advocate (I have a few that really *would* put you on your behind) and I get frustrated at the misinformation that prevails in today’s society.

The guns you held contain no more danger than a stapler. It requires a human being to operate, and it is the human that is the danger, not the tool.

In reality, though, there is nothing “manly” about guns. My mother, all 100 pounds of her, carries a .38 Special. With that, she can protect herself against a Detroit Lions Linebacker on crack or against several thugs intent on hurting her. Yet my mother is the most demure, nonviolent person you will meet. Unless, of course, you threaten her, then the claws come out.

I’d suggest trying a .38 special in revolver, or a 9mm in a semi for your next outing. Both are decent cartridges that shouldn’t break your wrists (if you want to do that, go to 10mm or .357 Magnum!)

Guns are nothing to fear. My household has a .22 rifle, a 7.62×54R Mosin Nagant M44 ( a really cool video of me shooting it here), a .357 Magnum, a .22 Pistol (Ruger Mark III - very similar to the one you shot), and a Glock 29 10mm. A shotgun is in the near future as well as whatever tickles my fancy and if the cash is there.

And I have two beautiful little girls who mean the world to me. The firearms not in use are locked up and away, beyond their ability to get to them, and my oldest is already learning about gun safety. And she turns 5 in September. We teach our children not to play with knives, not to talk to strangers, but oddly those without guns forget to teach their children not to play with them if they find them.

If guns were as dangerous as they tried to make them sound, I’d not put my kids at risk. But they’re not, and I hope you continue to go to the range and find that out for yourself.

Best of luck!

Comment by Rustmeister

August 27, 2007 @ 10:05 am

Good for you! Glad you had a good time.

I’ve been shooting guns for a long, long time, but, like you, paper is all I shoot at.

I agree with Robb. Try a .38 revolver and a 9mm automatic. That’s a logical “next step”.

Above all, enjoy yourselves!

Comment by Greg Morris

August 27, 2007 @ 10:10 am

Sounds like you had fun! I don’t like shooting at anything alive myself, but I always find the range enjoyable. I’d definitely try out some different guns next time you go. When I took my wife shooting for the first time, I handed her a .22 first. She liked it OK, but she didn’t really start having fun until she got to shoot the “big scary-looking” ones.

Comment by Troy Vera

August 27, 2007 @ 11:50 am

I’m very proud of all of you, you are all very adventurous and determined! It was a wonderful weekend all around.

Comment by joy

August 27, 2007 @ 8:24 pm

Hiya. Glad you all approve of our gun-shooting adventure. I do have a more positive impression of guns after trying one out. I know I won’t ever own one, but I did like the range. I would go again…

Comment by Jen

August 27, 2007 @ 8:25 pm

So Joy, what do you think of gun control now?

Comment by Leona

August 27, 2007 @ 9:32 pm

OMG! You are getting some kinda comments today! I will blog now because you and Marcia have made me jealous.

Pingback by SayUncle » Chicks and guns

August 28, 2007 @ 4:31 am

[…] Women go to the range for the first time. With pics. […]

Comment by Boyd

August 28, 2007 @ 5:03 am

I know I won’t ever own one…

If you keep having fun with them at the range, that may end up not being true.

Comment by Dave thA

August 28, 2007 @ 5:23 am

“I know I won’t ever have one”

I know its an old cliche, but I don’t ever expect my house to catch fire, but I have an extinguisher just in case.

Owning a firearm of any type just gives you an extra option should you choose to use it.

You would probably never need it, but if you ever did, you would REALLY, REALLY need it.

If only we knew in advance, but we don’t so in order to take personal responsibility for our loved ones and those we don’t know around us, having an equilizing tool close to hand is a sane and logical step to make.

Comment by ParatrooperJJ

August 28, 2007 @ 5:34 am

Congrats!!

Comment by Squeaky Wheel

August 28, 2007 @ 6:32 am

I’m here through SayUncle - I just started shooting 21 days ago (seriously), and I already have my own Springfield XD-9 and my certificate of having passed my state’s handgun carry permit class (just have to pay the money and apply for the actual permit). It’s addictive. And a lot of fun. If you’re down for more range time, I would definitely check out a couple of larger-bore semi-autos, like a 9mm…they’re really not that much harder to shoot than a .22 revolver, in my experience.

Kudos to you for going out there and trying it.

Comment by Linoge

August 28, 2007 @ 7:01 am

Congratulations on your first exposure to the fun that is shooting firearms. I, too, never thought I would actually own a firearm myself, until I was exposed to just how fun it is, and here I am buying my own very rifle, in addition to the pistol I already have.

I would echo Squeaky’s comments of trying out a larger bore… 9mm’s have almost no kick, while being satisfyingly larger than a .22 caliber. And ammo is almost as cheap (important, these days). Of course, if you want some real fun, ask some of your friends (or the range, if they rent firearms) if they have a .45 caliber 1911. I know .45’s sound imposing, but due to the weight and design of the 1911 frame, the kick really is not that bad, and they are an absolute blast (harhar) to shoot.

As Mr. Allen said, firearms are nothing to be afraid of, any more than a hammer, a screwdriver, or a car are. They are just tools, and in the hands of a capable operator, they can be both fun and impressive. Respect them, yes, and teach people (especially children) how to safely handle them (or not, in the case of children), but beyond that… have fun (safely, of course)!

Comment by DirtCrashr

August 28, 2007 @ 8:10 am

Way to go! My wife likes revolvers better too - the “involuntary” action of a semi-auto disturbs her. Rifles are fun too and better for longer distances, while some shotguns (sporting clays) are almost a “Society” type thing.

Comment by Breda

August 28, 2007 @ 11:54 am

Yay! Good for you! (and nice shooting!) I’ve been learning to shoot too, and have been blogging about the experience. I’ve decided that I’m going to take all of my female friends to the range, so I can demystify the whole “oooh, guns are scary” thing that most women grow up with. It’s a lot of fun and can help you feel empowered. Enjoy your new skill =)

Comment by Breda

August 28, 2007 @ 11:56 am

If you don’t mind, I put a link to this on my blog.

You can see it here: http://fae-of-me.livejournal.com/51351.html

Comment by anon

August 28, 2007 @ 12:14 pm

Found you via SayUncle. Congratulations on your self introduction to recreational shooting. Kudos also on pointing out the fallacy of ‘hollywood physics’ as regards recoil. Try something bigger next time. You’ll find that even a .45 is relatively tame (yet still quite a rush) once you get used to the noise, and things don’t get unpleasant until you get up into the bigger magnums, or into the smaller frames.

Comment by KCSteve

August 28, 2007 @ 1:09 pm

Congratulations!

Here in Missouri we’re celebrating the end of an old Jim Crow law that required going and asking the Sherriff for permission before buying a handgun. I got an XD9SC and my ever-indulgent wife got a G26 to add to her arsenal.

One tip for when you first try the larger calibers: double plug. That means wearing earplugs under a pair of shooting muffs. A lot of times people (especially females) percieve a greater recoil just due to the loud noise. I double up myself occasionally - it helps me get see if I’m doing bad shooting habits by taking any noise induced flinch away.

Oh - when you do wind up buying your first gun make sure it’s one you pick out. Try shooting one before you buy if you can.

And guns are ‘manly’ in a non-ironic way. As noted when you’ve got a gun in your hand you’re the equal of any man.

Comment by Joy

August 28, 2007 @ 1:52 pm

Hi all. Thanks for all the kind words. I definitely do wish we had been able to try a higher caliber gun. We were going to try a .38, but the bullets were more expensive and we had already invested quite a bit to shoot. Next time.

Comment by AgPilot

August 28, 2007 @ 6:08 pm

Here by way of Say Uncle. Glad you tried the sport. I specialize in teaching women beginners. I would definitely recommend two books by Vicki Farnam & Diane Nichol. They have written two books “Women Learning To Shoot” & “Teaching Women To Shoot”. These girls know their stuff. They can be found at www.ditpubs.com. They sure made my job a lot easier as women learn & process different than men. Beware, shooting is so much fun it’s addictive (heh). My wife is a CHL instructor here in TX. I would also recommend the video, “A Women’s guide To Firearms” with Gerald McRaney, Geoffrey Lewis, & Lee Purcell.

Comment by Leona

August 28, 2007 @ 10:48 pm

OMG, Joy. This is not your usual readership.

Comment by robert

August 29, 2007 @ 7:09 am

Nice blog. I’m reading around.

Happy shooting!

Comment by robert

August 29, 2007 @ 7:26 am

and is Krista accepting offers of matrimony? I have my own guns.

Comment by Joy

August 29, 2007 @ 7:50 pm

BTW, Breda, thanks for the link. I’ll check out your blog when I get a chance. Glad to know I’m cool!

Robert, welcome. And no, Krista is married with a capital M. I don’t blame you for being smitten, though.

Jen, generally speaking, I don’t believe in taking freedoms away from people, whether they be guns or certain controversial medical procedures.

Leona… I know!

Thanks again for all the interest. I’ve enjoyed hearing everyone’s stories.

Pingback by Joy Lanzendorfer » 2007 New Year’s Survey

January 1, 2008 @ 4:46 pm

[…] I shot a gun, bought a house, judged a book contest, and drove across the USA […]

Pingback by Joy Lanzendorfer » A Spot ‘O Tea

February 22, 2008 @ 11:50 am

[…] Every so often I get it in my head that I want to do something and then drag my friends along to do it with me. For example, I will have a party surrounding the Kentucky Derby or decide that I really really need to shoot a gun. This time, I decided that I wanted to have girlie English tea in San Francisco. So last Saturday, Marcia, Krista, and I met up with Stephanie at the Secret Garden Tea House in San Francisco for just that. […]