My thoughts on the Candlelight Vigil.

Well, when I started this blog I had no intention of ever touching the pro/anti gun controversy except in facts, statistics, etc related to why I personally was choosing to be armed.  But recently I found myself reading about the candlelight vigil and couldn't help but form an opinion that decided it needed an outlet.  Thus, you get this post.

Some background:

• Jan 8th, the Brady campaign sponsored candlelight vigils to recognize and remember the victims of shootings.
• In response, the gun blogger community hosted a 'Counter' vigil of guns and candles started by Weer'd
• Response by pro-gun control community was less than understanding.

While each gun blogger has their own reasons for joining or not the counter vigil.  I don't believe it was anyone's intent to mock or downplay the seriousness of shootings and deaths.  Had the event not been sponsored by the Brady campaign, I doubt that it would have gotten such a response for the gun community.  But considering that the Brady campaign believes that the only answer to violence is taking away the weapons, those who believe in self defense decided (understandably) to voice their opinion as well.

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Here are my thoughts:

It is about the victims.  No, really!  Even for most gunnies that I know and respect.  We're not mocking the vigil, we understand the need to remember and grieve for friends and family who have been injured and killed.  However, for us it's also about the desire to solve the  problem.

Not by weakening ourselves, not by blaming the system*, and not by removing the tools**.  But by refusing to be the next victim.  For us (or at least me) it's about being aware that bad people exist and that each of us is responsible for our own safety.

I have never expected anyone else to do my homework, pay my bills, or generally smooth the path (though both of those positions are available if you want that job).  I am an adult, and part of that is personal responsibility and accountability.  Part of that responsibility is my own safety.

If we lived in a perfect world, I probably wouldn't be a gun girl.  Or at least not one interested in carrying regularly.  But we don't and I don't think we will in my lifetime.  It's been shown time and again that most of the time the police aren't there when you need them.  I have no intention of looking over my shoulder every moment, or being afraid to go somewhere alone.  Thus, I'm going to do the responsible thing and be ready and able to protect myself. 

Do I want to shoot someone?  No way!  I hope I am never faced with the need to make that decision, or even to have to draw my weapon in defense.  But I have no intention of relying on a system that has been proven to fail when people need it.

Yes, the vigils are important, the victims and loved ones have suffered.  The best way I know to reduce the number of people who show up at these vigils is by not becoming a victim or letting those around me become one.  I choose not to be another loss.  I choose to carry a gun.



*Though I do think there are undoubtedly some problem with the methods by which some people slip through the cracks (mental patients who don't make it to the list are not getting guns bay fault of the dealers).  But that's a thought for another day.


**That hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried.

Manhandling 101

In reading about handguns, specifically semi-automatics as that's what I'm interested in, I've read several times that women are often timid in racking the slide or otherwise manhandling the gun.

I've not run into this problem myself, but then, I deal with cattle for a living and grew up riding horses.  I learned (wo)manhandling young.  When a 1000+ pound animal steps on your foot you shove -- hard!

Guns are made to take a beating, but are designed for the male physique.  Female musclo-skeletal design means that the body position and motions that work for a guy may be tough for you and I to use easily.  If you are anything like me, being told you can't do something because you're a girl is not even close to okay.  If some of the more physical aspects of shooting are difficult for you, make sure you gun is empty, find a safe place, and practice those techniques. Get comfortable with them before you head to the range.

Kathy over at Cornered Cat has taught a lot of women to shoot and has addressed this issue very well.  Check if out here.  She has a bunch of great articles on technique and safety for beginners, but they are a good refresher for experienced shooters as well.  Take some time and wander her site.  I have!

Jeopardy!

I'm watching Jeopardy tonight, and Alex introduced the first round categories, one of which is Handguns.  After which he says 'ooh' before moving onto naming the next category.  This surprised me. I don't watch Jeopardy often, but I don't think I remember him editorializing like this before.  My question is why?  It can't be that he thinks the category will be difficult, that's the point of the show.  So then, is it because handguns are "scary"?  The contestants managed to answer all except the $1000 clue correctly.  I guess they are comfortable with handguns, at least in knowledge. 

Can you get them all right?  I'll post the correct responses tomorrow.

$200 - "Head to the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum to see this woman's pair of gold-plated six shooters"

$400 -"'Weekend' slang name for a cheap & easily obtained handgun"

$600 -"The Handgun Violence Prevention Act was named for this former press secretary"

$800 - "Weighing about 5 lbs., 1847's "Walker" model was the heaviest handgun ever made by this company"

$1000 - "This Olympic event utilizes both a pistol & a sword, but not at the same time"

A Whole New World!

For me, the greatest apprehension of this whole adventure so far has nothing to do with the shooting.  It was taking that first step into the gun store.

Crazy right?  Not for me.  I like to know where I'm going and what to expect before I get there.  I'm the type that practices conversations.  Eh, it's odd, but it's me.

But the gun store, I had no idea what to expect.  How do I act?  Are the sales people pushy like in some clothing places or non-existant like in grocery and big-box stores?  Can I touch the guns?  Oh the worry over doing something wrong!

For those of you like me a bit leery of your first (or second or third) trip to a gun store, I present my experiences. 

Where I've Been

So, before we get into the current status, I thought I'd give you a bit of background on my background with guns.  As I mentioned before, my husband got me started into handguns, but I wasn't a complete firearms newbie.

I shot BB and pellet guns growing up, with family and at summer camps.  Fun and all, but no love affair.  When I was in high-school my local 4-H started a shotgun team/group.  I got involved in that and had a blast!  On occasion I even outshot the guys!  I confused the heck out of the leader, as I am left eye dominant, so I did everything backwards, but I think it actually makes shooting clays easier...but that's me.

Unfortunately, I only got about 2 years of that before heading out of state to college.  No shooting during those years, of really at all again until I met my husband. He insisted on my having at least enough experience/knowledge of his Beretta 92FS (9mm) that I would be more likely to shoot a bad guy than myself.   So, on one of our trips down to Geargia, we headed out to the farm and shot at a stump.

Here I have to admit being a bit leery, perhaps even a touch afraid of a hand gun.  Not having any previous experience with them I didn't know what to expect.  I don't handle unexpected well.  And no amount of reading and videos prepare you for the reality of shooting a handgun.

I hated it.  It didn't fit my hand, it jumped, it was loud, etc.  I shot two? bullets and called it done.  Earlier this year we were on the farm again shooting clays and having lots of fun.  He had the Beretta out again and I shot it again, still didn't like it, but I could mostly hit what I was aiming at.  No love affair, but I'm competent and not going to hurt myself.

Fast forward to last week.  Husband got a Glock 21(.45) in trade for some cabinent making.  True to his "everyone must be able to shoot every gun in the house" theme, I had to try it out.  So, we looked up the local indoor range and off we went.  Lo and behold, I liked it!  It was fun!  Not scary!  I killed that paper man dead!  It's a big gun and big caliber, but it was comfortable and easy to shoot. 

So, now I'm on the hunt for something to consider as my own handgun and all the gear that goes with.