Saturday, January 14, 2006
Gone shootin'
Today, I cross another item on my list: shooting a gun.
Andy was a champ and took me to a shooting range with his .22 and 9mm. We only got around to shooting the .22, but it was enough to give me a taste of what shooting a gun was like.
At first, I clumsily dropped the bullets while loading the magazine. But once I got the hang of it, it was like clockwork.
Load magazine. Pull back striker. Turn off the safety. Aim. Fire. Aim. Fire. Aim. Fire.
As usual, my aim is inconsistent. But I hit the bullseye a couple of times. The only fear I had was of the hot, gun-powdered shells flying at me - also from the booth next door (a couple hit me smack on the head as I was concentrating on my target).
Today was one of those unique opportunities in my life. I doubt that I will ever pick up a gun again, but it was a great curiosity of mine why people want to own and handle guns. There is a strange sense of empowerment, yet a realistic understanding that having a gun around is as normal as eating pizza here in the US. I can never watch Hollywood movies the same way again. Guns are heavy and take time to handle. You really need to know what you are doing if you want to be the hero of the day who shoots down the bad guys.
Such silly thoughts encircled my head as I walked out of the shooting range.
Andy was a champ and took me to a shooting range with his .22 and 9mm. We only got around to shooting the .22, but it was enough to give me a taste of what shooting a gun was like.
At first, I clumsily dropped the bullets while loading the magazine. But once I got the hang of it, it was like clockwork.
Load magazine. Pull back striker. Turn off the safety. Aim. Fire. Aim. Fire. Aim. Fire.
As usual, my aim is inconsistent. But I hit the bullseye a couple of times. The only fear I had was of the hot, gun-powdered shells flying at me - also from the booth next door (a couple hit me smack on the head as I was concentrating on my target).
Today was one of those unique opportunities in my life. I doubt that I will ever pick up a gun again, but it was a great curiosity of mine why people want to own and handle guns. There is a strange sense of empowerment, yet a realistic understanding that having a gun around is as normal as eating pizza here in the US. I can never watch Hollywood movies the same way again. Guns are heavy and take time to handle. You really need to know what you are doing if you want to be the hero of the day who shoots down the bad guys.
Such silly thoughts encircled my head as I walked out of the shooting range.
// posted by sakit @ 6:39 PM 
Comments:
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I recently went to the shooting range for the first time and I know what you mean. I was surprised by how loud they were. We had those ear muffs on and the noise still scared the shit out of me. Makes the people on TV look ridiculous.
Chris & Drake - I'm so jealous of your NZ frolickin' that I just might pull the trigger on you.
I hear you, cotu. But the thing that scared me the most was the normalcy of it all.
Guys, girls, young boys @ the shooting range. It's as normal as Cheerios and Saturday morning cartoons.
And yes. They are LOUD!!! I was real jumpy the first couple of minutes.
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I hear you, cotu. But the thing that scared me the most was the normalcy of it all.
Guys, girls, young boys @ the shooting range. It's as normal as Cheerios and Saturday morning cartoons.
And yes. They are LOUD!!! I was real jumpy the first couple of minutes.
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