[J_9]

Pretty please KP, and have you joined us in the weird food combination thread?

[kp2171]

Pretty please KP, and have you joined us in the weird food combination thread?

wow it was much easier than I thought to get you to say pretty please. =)

yes I've joined the wild and ever expanding food thread, though my posts are few are far between.


* and just for the record, I'm all for the second amendment giving the right for bears to have arms. Theyd look all goofy without them.

[valinors_sorrow]

Okay, some of you here might like to know I've agreed to do a little research. I have a date at the firing range next Wednesday with my good friend Frank who is going to bring an assortment of hand guns. He'll teach a short course in basic firearms to me, all for the cost of a dinner... thai food no doubt! :p

Soooooooo, shall I post what the experience was like and any possible conclusions about exercising my Constitutional right as an American citizen to bear arms (and I don't mean the sleeveless shirt variety either!) ?

There goes my Smith & Wesson semi-automatic virginity :rolleyes:

[J_9]

Just don't let them make you shoot a Smith & Wesson 50 cal revolver, it will kick your bum!!

However, I have shot a 50 cal sniper rifle. It was fun to me!!

Actually, Val, I enjoy the range just for recreation.

Good luck, remain calm, do NOT stiffen up.

Most women are better shots than men. You go MOM!!

[kp2171]

Most women are better shots than men. You go MOM!!!!!!!

I don't know if this is true (women better shots than men) but I dated a girl once who could fire a handgun quite well, worked for the drug enforcement agency, and had what they termed "sniper vision".

She was a lot of fun but boy... the fact she could probably hit me at 80 meters no problem was always bouncing around in my head.

[valinors_sorrow]

Oh no this old thread again? Yes.

As promised here is the "virgin gun" report -

I fired mainly revolvers that were .22, 32, 38 and one 9mm automatic.
Nerves were a big problem as I expected but Frank was patient and taught me step by step. I almost cried once (I cry easily though, but I'm a girl so I get to). I soaked the clothes I was wearing and couldn't feel my hands for a while afterwards.

My aim was surprisingly accurate considering how badly my hands were shaking or how much I jumped at each noise (there were some guys there firing loud stuff, I mean "cardiac check" LOUD!).

I fired many different ways - hammer pulled back or not, slow or fast, siting or just point shooting - to see how it all was. I was pleased that every shot made the paper targets. Frank was pretty impressed that my very first shots out of the .38 and the 9mm both hit a perfect bullseye. We saved one of the targets with only one shot on it so I can frame it LOL.

He pointed out that I am consistently in an area about the size of a dinner plate, which is very acceptable for a novice. I only felt good hand fit with one of the revolvers and was surprised how I did not like the automatic (I almost ducked when the slide shot back - I am just way too visual for that, Yikes).

And I have signed up for a four hour course with the range instructor. Its very comprehensive and afterwards enables you to apply for a concealed weapons permit (I am not going that far). I liked the .32 but Frank and the range instructor both want me to consider a .38 revolver because it can take 357 ammo? But I have to say, the flash and bang still intimidates me pretty good and my neck, shoulders, arms and hands are killing me now, just from the enormous tension.

I still don't like guns very much but now I know. Don't be calling me Annie Oakley any time soon! And I'll be sleeping this off tonight too, trust me.

[educatedhorse_2005]

You will get used to the flash and bang.
It takes time for your muscle to adjust to the way you are holding the gun.
Don't give up.
It is a fun hobby.
It also lets you work off stem if you are mad about something

[valinors_sorrow]

You will get used to the flash and bang.
It takes time for your muscle to adjust to the way you are holding the gun.
Don't give up.
It is a fun hobby.
It also lets you work off stem if you are mad about something

LOL Forgive me for saying Demon, you don't understand maybe that you are talking to someone who is very rarely mad and when I am, I am far more prone to work it off in the garden or in writing a protesting letter to someone (I am good at that)! LOL :D

I don't know if I could ever get to hobby status but I would REALLY like to wear off the enormous fear. I was pretty ramped up in it today and so I wonder how much practice its going to take just to have a sense of routineness to it for someone like me?

[talaniman]

A few more lessons and you can vacation in Texas or go bear hunting in Alaska.

[valinors_sorrow]

magprob agrees: Now you can party with your redneck neighbors and get drunk and shoot up in the air and stuff!

As for the bad neighbors, perhaps this is more my kind of message.. .

[J_9]

I love it!! I got that on e-mail. I don't think you sent it, but I thought of you and your neighbors.

BTW

How did the shooting go?

Okay, never mind. I went back and read it, LOL.

Great job. As I said it is well noted that women tend to be better shots than men. My husband is a master gunsmith and he has heard this many times over.

I am a better shot than he is, although he hates to admit it.

[valinors_sorrow]

Epilogue: Today I bought a Smith & Wesson 32 Magnum Revolver, in stainless steel with a 4" barrel for $300 from a friend.

This is the model: http://www.gunsonthenet.com/Auction/...?Item=50641563

I plan to stay up on it by going to the firing range twice a year.

I still don't like guns but the decision was spawned one very hot, very hard day after the second of four hurricanes threw down so many trees that our deadend street was blocked in. A strange man (not a neighbor) offering chainsaw help wandered into my yard. He was on the up and up fortunately but for a split second as I approached him, I realised suddenly how incredibly precarious my situation was. Not anymore.

[talaniman]

Val
Now that you've started this love affair how do you feel about the right to bear arms?

[talaniman]

Your hooked! Welcome to America Annie Oakley:cool: :)

[rd68]

I'm a firm beliver in rights to bare arms.I believe that if someone tries to break into your house you have the right to shoot not kill but scare them.It's called defending your family and not to mention breaking and entering.Also I'm a avid hunter I believe if you need to shoot an animal for food do it.PETA has no right to stop anyone who hunts animals. It's called food for family in my book.But the government taking guns away that's wrong that's just wrong.What if their home was being broken into. I bet they will have a gun handy I garrentee they would.don't you.I have at least 30 guns in my collection and no one will or tell me that I need to give them up.That right to bare arms to me.

[talaniman]

If the vice president can shoot some body so can I!

[J_9]

I asked this question because I was interested in people around the world whose guns have been taken and I wanted to see what the rise in crime was.

But, also, I wanted to hear from the American public who may have to face this someday. Hopefully not in my lifetime though. My husband is a master gunsmith and we have talked about this at his shop.

Recently, here in Tennessee, the TBI (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) has been tightening the reins when it comes to firearm purchases. I do believe what they are doing is the RIGHT thing, but we are beginning to wonder if the government is slowly taking our rights away.

We too, like rd68 have many firearms in our home, and would refuse to give them up for many reasons.

As a "nurse in training" and former med-mal researcher I know that more "injuries" are committed by "doctors" than by legitimate firearm owners.

[J_9]

Val, you did not go off topic in hy opinion. You learned how important it is to have the right to bear arms by learning to shoot. You were one of my other targeted people. LOL.

[NeedKarma]

We do not have a single firearm in our house and neither do our neighbours yet firearm related crime is very rare and we feel safe. I like our setup better but that's just me. :)

[J_9]

I understand you Karma, but what about for recreation or for those people who live in places like the Alaskan wild (Homesteaders) who need the firearms to sustain life. Those people need them to hunt for food.