Posted on 09/24/2002 6:54:26 AM PDT by FreedomWarrior
Elizabeth A. Fitton
September 24, 2002 9:00 a.m.
Ms., Armed Freedom of choice I can get behind.,
eing a National Review employee has its perks intelligent daily discourse, relaxed work environment, good people, WFB parties, etc. But I never imagined NR would put a firearm in my hand. Through connections here, I recently had the opportunity to participate in a free rifle lesson in New York City sponsored by Women on Target.
Women on Target is a branch of the National Rifle Association that seeks to educate and train women on the use of guns, specifically for recreational purposes. They arrange events such target shooting and women-only hunting trips. Its main goal is to get more women involved in the shooting sports, but its motto "Refuse to Be a Victim" indicates that self-defense is another inevitable goal.
I was not raised around guns and had never even held one. I admit, too, I had reservations about the NRA. But I was determined to conquer my fear, and make my own decisions about the organization and its issues. I was among about 17 other women, most of us novices, and all of whom were average women, of various ages, attracted to idea of learning how to use a firearm.
Amy Heath, the event coordinator and an energetic spirit behind Women on Target in New York City was surprised at the turnout for the free lesson. "It was mainly word of mouth," she said. "I sent an e-mail to friends, and they sent it out to other friends." Everyone thinks that there is no interest in New York City in the shooting sports, but the success of these free clinics, Heath points out, belies that belief. "There is a waiting list for the next event."
We sat through an hour-long seminar with a NRA trainer who introduced us to the meaning of calibers and the origin of the phrase "lock, stock, and barrel." He explained in detail the safety precautions gun users should take and cleared up several myths about gun accidents, such as a gun going off by itself. As the lecture continued, fear was transforming to eagerness. We put on our goggles and ear protection and went off to shoot.
I was paired with a woman who looked a little too well primped for 8 A.M. on a Saturday, but her bull's eyes were incredible. My instructor a trained marksman was a woman. When I finally held the .22 rifle myself (you don't need a permit to fire a rifle at a shooting range; to fire a pistol, however, you need a permit, $300, and ample patience waiting for your application to get processed), I was shaky, but that first shot was something I won't forget. I started to get the hang of it, and, like a child, was anxious for my turn to come around again.
There was a part of me that felt like I had done something naughty. Maybe it was the basement where the shooting range is located. Maybe it was the indoctrination that guns are bad; they kill. And yet there I was, a straight-laced nerd wielding a weapon. It seemed like I was suddenly admitted to a dubious, underground secret society.
I got over it though. The "evil" mystique quickly faded. When I took hold of the gun, I did not suddenly harbor murderous thoughts. My demeanor did not change. I did not become enraged. If anything, I felt more responsible more respectful of the power of a gun than I had before, when I was afraid to go near one. I am trying to avoid the word "empowering," but it really felt that way.
For many women, knowing how to use a gun is consoling in an unsafe world. Between 15 and 20 million American women own a firearm. The growth of groups such as Women on Target and Second Amendment Sisters are further indicators that women and guns is an increasingly popular combination. Gun opponents insist the Second Amendment is outdated, that we don't live in the same society that we once did. They're right about the latter. More women live alone, and there are more single mothers than ever before. The police can't be everywhere at once as evidenced by the unsolved serial murders of women in Baton Rouge, La., where Governor Mike Foster has reminded women about their Second Amendment rights. And I should be able to walk to my car in the mall parking lot or a train station after sunset (or before) without being terrified.
I don't think that every man, woman, and child should carry a firearm. I think there should be background checks, and different communities have different standards. I do believe that trained, licensed women have a right to protect themselves by carrying a gun if they choose. Like driving a car, she should take lessons in handling and firing a gun, as well as self-defense instruction and the use of common sense. According to award-winning criminologist and ACLU member Gary Kleck, firearms are used defensively 2.5 million times a year, and in 48 percent of those incidents, the defenders are women. Women use firearms to prevent rape 204,000 times every single year and most of the time a shot is never even fired. Most attackers are not going to bother pursuing prey who pose a fatal challenge.
As we reconvened for closing remarks at the end of our lessons, all the women were smiling, joking, and just more comfortable and relaxed. We hardly became expert marksmen, knowing we still had much more training ahead of us. Many of us walked away somewhat transformed; we had tried something new, and came away a little stronger, a little smarter, and a little more independent. Not bad for a Saturday morning.
Annie Oakley, America's legendary female sharpshooter, exemplified with class that girdles and guns are not mutually exclusive. She, however, always insisted that women, even gunslingers, comport themselves like ladies. Unfortunately, that's not always realistic. In an unsafe world, women should have the power to defend themselves; groups like Women on Target, who seek to teach women to wield that power responsibly, should be encouraged rather than demonized.
OK article, but clearly she doesn't believe that the 2nd Amendment means what is says.
She still has a way to go in her understanding of what the Right to Keep and Bear arms means but she has started down the road. For NYC women who wish to learn what it is like to fire a handgun. Take a trip to CT on Metro North and go to a public range where they rent handguns. Give me a freepmail and I will be happy to inform you of where such a range is located.
Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown
You have GOT to be feculating me.
I think this is someting we may not appreciate- the degree to which some peopel are TERRRIFIED of guns/violence.
At the outdoor range I frequent I saw a nebbishy little guy walk up to the line with a couple of 10-12 year old kids- he asked the RO if there was somewhwere else he could shoot- he found the silhouette targets I and a couple of folks were shooting at "sinister."
I cannot even begin to empathize with this guy's mindset. but i suspect it's not that uncommon. bizarre.
If the woman who wrote this article ever becomes one of those women who drives away a rapist at gunpoint, she will become very reluctant to endorse any gun-grabbing law and more likely to adopt a constitutional attitude toward our inviolable right to arm ourselves.
One of the reasons why I'm moving.
In NYC, you need an expensive and hard-to-get license to OWN a pistol (which may NOT legally be kept loaded in the home, and may only be loaded at the firing range).
In NYC, getting a "carry" license is almost impossible for regular unconnected people. The publisher of the anti-gun NY Times reportedly has one, however
I donate my time as an instructor to this worthy cause.
"Bull's eyes" - is that some sort of code or slang expression for... oh, I dunno?
<grin>
In this case I don't think so. It is to get women who are afraid of gun ownership to identify with this lady and be more willing to take a shot at gun ownership.
From what I understand, shooting at targets like that in the Peoples' Republic of Taxachusetts will get you slammer time!
Which tells me there's one entire state full of, as you described the fellow, "nebbishy little guys".
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