On the other hand, your post doesn't say that you aren't a girl.
Thanks to each of the people cited below for your comments, and apologies to anyone I missed.
I believe in taking responsibility for my mistakes. I blew it, I had a ton of calls from local veterans (including a retired chaplain in my church who began his Army career in the enlisted ranks as infantry in Vietnam and used an M-60) and apologized to them, and now that I became aware of this discussion on the internet, I wanted to apologize here as well.
My only caution, speaking as one conservative to other conservatives: please be aware that reporters aren't all blithering liberal idiots.... sometimes we're just blithering idiots! After a decade and a half in the media I am very much aware of liberal bias issues, but please don't assume every error is due to liberal bias. Sometimes when a reporter fouls up a story, it just means he blew it, not that he brought bias to the table.
Responding specifically to the question by taxchick: Yes, my name can be female (think Daryl Hannah) but I am male.
However, I'm not sure what that has to do with marksmanship. I grew up with a mother (also trained as a reporter by the way) whose father was an avid hunter and taught her to be a much better shot than my father despite all of his years in the military. And after working around military installations for most of the last five years, I am very much aware that being female is no barrier to being a good shot.
Drill sergeants tell me that male recruits are more likely to be familiar with hunting rifles than female recruits, but those skills don't always transfer well to military weaponry. Also, when working with a private who knows very little about weapons, women are more likely than men to listen to directions, do what they're told, and have the steady hand that's necessary to be a good shot. And that's not just modern "blow-em-away" weapons... the best shot in our local muzzleloading club is a teenage girl whose dad and granddad were both Army sergeants and took up muzzleloaders to prove that women could shoot just as well as the guys if they put their minds to it.
Regards,
Darrell Todd Maurina
Taxchick wrote: “Good morning, Mr. Maurina. I'm sorry I suggested you were a girl. (Your other quotes were from other posters.) I'm part of a small group of FReepers that discusses unusual names, and yours would have been very unusual, for a girl :-). I'm also interested in the accurate attribution of statements, which is why I made a point of mentioning that the Chief Deputy was not quoted, in whatever statement was under dispute last summer. Have a nice day! On the other hand, your post doesn't say that you aren't a girl.”
Doggone wrote: “Thanks for admitting the error and taking responsibility for it. It shows some guts. Welcome aboard.”
Nullandvoid wrote: “Thanks.”
Patton wrote: “LOL. Welcome aboard.”