Posted on 05/26/2009 11:21:17 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Dressed in jean capris and blue slip-on Keds, Melva Worley just got out of a piano lesson. But inside her cotton canvas tote bag, there isn't a book of sheet music; there's a 38 caliber revolver and a box of shells.
Worley doesn't look like the typical shooter who would walk into Hole in the Wall gun range, but she isn't the lone woman doing it these days. In fact, the McAllen practice range and store has been seeing two to three new female customers a month, according to Manny Treviño, who has helped run the practice range and store for about a year.
"The criminal element pray on the aged, weak, and usually females are prime targets," he said.
But the movement in the Valley is in contrast to statewide trends. In 2008, the Texas Department of Public Safety issued 15,710 concealed handgun licenses, down from 16,196 in 2007, according to department statistics.
But 69-year-old Worley, a frequent traveler, didn't want to take any chances.
Her father and brothers were avid hunters, but after marriage and kids, the days of shooting round targets in the back woods of her childhood home in New Mexico were behind her. That is, until she walked into the store about four weeks ago.
"I'm a single woman and living in this world. ... It was time I got back into it," she said.
Behind a double set of doors and inside the shell-littered indoor range, Worley is a natural, but out of practice. Her first shot lands just right of the neck area, but she remains unfazed by the gun's kickback. By her fifth, she hits a ten on the green man outline.
Learning isn't as hard as some make it out to be, said Treviño, a plumber by trade who is just a few weeks shy of obtaining his instructor's certificate. Like Worley, older women are no exception. Recently, Treviño said, a woman he estimates was in her late 70s came in and with no prior knowledge about firearms, said she wanted to learn. She ended up scoring 248 out of a possible 250 on her gun license shooting test.
"I was very impressed with her, but I also know that I'm not going to go knocking at her door at night. It'll be the last thing I do," he said.
Hole in the Wall has twice a month classes, some all female classes and private instruction by in-house instructor Roy Balli available for small groups of beginners. The concealed handgun license course, which is for those already familiar with safe use and handling, runs about $125. But for Worley, there is no price on what her skills give her.
"It's peace of mind," she said.
For more information on private lessons and classes contact instructor Roy Balli at (956) 358-2303.
You go, girl!
my daughter turns 21 in 2 weeks and at the top of her presents “wish list” is a SIG P220. She’s shot many hand guns and that rather “serious” one is her fave.
I still recall the look on her BF’s face when on a trip to the farm to do some shooting, BF missed the silhouette target completely 7 times with a P220, and then watched our daughter put 7 in the head!
American freedom at it’s best!
Two or three new girls a month at the shooting range, and this makes headline news. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
God man man & woman.....Samuel Colt made them equal.
And obviously the editors don't know the difference between pray and prey. Sheesh.
That would incentive for a husband to always be faithful!
My wife still has an old .38 S&W caliber 5 shot H&A revolver given to her by her brother because, as girl of 16, she was the only one who could hit anything with it.
An amazing thing happened recently with the four (4) girls in my family.
Google Anne Pressley and read about the case....she was a beautiful, Christian TV Anchor whom was brutally raped, robbed, sodomized, and beaten to death recently here in AR.
My parents, sister in law, girlfriend, and neice all live with 500m of the murder scene, a very exclusive and wealthy area of Little Rock "The Heights".
Anyways, within a month, every single one of them had taken my concealed handgun course, bought there own handguns and now practice together regularly at the range and on the farm....its a new hobby to them and they are EXCELLENT shots despite their newfound skills.
I am so proud that they are now carrying concealed after years of convincing them to do so, and as unfortunate as the Pressly murder was, a blessing came from the murder because it caused the women I love to start carrying a concealed handgun and I KNOW they can use it properly.
Two or three new girls a month at the shooting range, and this makes headline news. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Why don’t you really read that sentence again. Two or three new girls a mont at ONE shooting range. That’s just ONE out of God knows how many in once city in one state all over the country. Do the math .... I don’t think it is something to be cried over or laughed at. I think it is a real awakening for perps because women have decided to defend themselves and their families and...they are SERIOUS. Go for it ladies...it’s your RIGHT!!!!
Mrs. randog and I celebrated Memorial Day by taking her brand spanking new XD-40 subcompact out to the range and popping off a couple-o-hundred rounds. She’s a good shot with that gun, maybe better than me and my S&W 40 cal.
Real women defend themselves.
Get your hands off of me, bastard; or i’ll sink it to your head!!!
girls that concerned about intelligence than looks. You go girl!!!!!
>”The criminal element pray on the aged, weak, and usually females are prime targets,” he said.
Really? I mean I didn’t think religion was involved... but were they Muslim, since they need a rug five times a day?
Okay, then lets look at it this way.
Do you think that gun range would stay in business with only 4 to 6 new patrons (men and women) each month? How many do they lose each month?
I’d wager it’s a push if anything, more than likely a net loss unless the men are picking up the slack.
I don’t discount your overall premise, but I do have to state that 2 to 3 per month doesn’t impress me at all.
Sorry.
I get what you say, and you got it pegged.
This is good. But remember, women, if you vote for democrats you vote to take away this right.
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