The Brass Dance…Dressing for your Trip to the Range

I’ve joked that that are two types of shooters.  Those who have done the brass dance and those  who will do the brass dance. 

There is an almost mystical attraction between hot brass and cleavage.  I have even had hot brass slip down inside a turtleneck!  If you shoot long enough, you will get hit with brass.  Instructors, who are up close and personal with their students, leaning in to watch their fingers, gun and eyes will have brass bounce off their faces, protective eyewear, and various other body parts.  I seem prone to having it bounce off my nose. 

You can minimize your risk, where a high neck top, closed toe shoes (imagine hot brass stuck between your toes!).  When the brass gets someplace it shouldn’t, like next to your skin, it hurts!  It can be difficult, but you must remember to respond calmly and safely.  Keeping your gun pointed downrange, lay it down on the shooting table, step back out of the booth or firing station, and then…do what you need to do.  You may get some chuckles from the other shooters, but we have all been there.  The typical brass dance looks like something between a bad Dancing with the Stars moment and a strip.  When I got brass down my turtle neck I had raise my outer shirt, un-tuck my turtleneck, and flap like a hot flash (no pun intended) to get it out! 

Be prepared, it happens.  Minimize your risk, and when it happens, remember to respond safely for your sake, and those around you, and then…do whatever you need to do!  We will all understand.

Safe Shooting.

What do you say to a National Take Your Daughter to the Range Day?

I read some wonderful responses to my question about why did you start shooting.  I had usually heard about the violence, threats, self defense...so many women wrote about shooting with their Dad growing up and learning to love the sport.  Wow, opened my eyes!!!  And it made me think.  What is we, the shooting community, get behind the idea of an Annual Nation-wide Take Your Daughters to the Range Day?

We can pick a date, work with our local ranges to publicize...teach young women that shooting is fun, empowering and a great activity for the whole family?

Interested?  I would love to hear from you.  We need to pick a day, design a logo and make it available to anyone who wants to use it, maybe get ranges to sponsor with special gifts...

If you want to send me a message privately, email me through the link in my profile to the left, or, post a reply below.  We can do this. 

What brought you to shooting?

For so many of us, it was a violent, or threat of violent, act that brought us to gun training.  What keeps us here is the love of the sport, the joy of shooting, and the empowerment that comes from knowing you can defend yourself.

If you are one of the many who discovered firearms in this way, it is important to remember, you are valuable, you are worthwhile, you have the right to defend yourself and people would miss you if you were taken away. 

I’ve talked to several women who came to shooting in this way.  It seems to be a common thread that they felt foolish or alone for having been in a bad situation.  We all make mistakes, and bad guys are really good actors.  You are never to blame when someone chooses to target you.  That is their decision.  The only thing you can control is your response.  Counseling helps.  Talking to others who have been there, helps.  Knowing you are not alone, helps.  Learning that you are a strong, worthwhile person who is capable of defending yourself and your family helps…a lot!

If you have come to the community that way, I’m sorry, but Welcome.  If you are fortunate enough to come to this community from a positive experience, Welcome. 

If Only…

If Only, two small words, 6 letters, but you put them together and they carry so much weight.  If only, words I hope I never have to use again. 

If only I had trusted my intuition…

If only I had not left my gun at home…

If only I had paid attention to my surroundings…

Powerful words, powerful sentiment…

Carrying a gun is a tremendous responsibility.  You hold yourself to a higher standard than the average citizen.  You are prepared and ready to defend your life, and those of others if called to, but it will be because someone else made the decision for you.  To carry a gun, you are choosing to respond, but also choosing not to initiate.  You are accepting an awesome responsibility, and risks.  You must be aware of your surroundings.  You must be able to read what is happening and make a judgment in seconds, or less.  Then, you must be able to articulate why you made the judgment you did.  What clues did you see, what things did you sense, what actions tipped you off that there was trouble? 

Using your gun to defend yourself will likely change your life.  There may be legal consequences.  There may be social consequences.  You may suffer emotionally.  Some family and friends will see you as a hero, some may see you as an abomination. 

Remember, you are important, your life is important, you have the right to defend yourself.  You do not choose to initiate a confrontation but you choose to fight when someone else make the choice to start. 

If only…words I hope you never have to use.

Safe Shooting!

Working with Innovative Defensive Solutions

I’ve gotten a few requests for more information about who I teach with.  So, it is time for a little promotion.  I’m an adjunct instructor with Innovative Defensive Solutions, LLC.  They are a small, but growing, company in Northern Virginia.  You can check the website for course offerings and calendar, www.innovativedefensivesolutions.com.  Evan Carson and Dave K. are the two guys at the top. 

I met Evan when I first inquired about taking a Pistol Instructor Course.  I was hesitant, not sure I was ready.  We met, went to shoot, and in minutes he recognized two mistakes I was making and took me from a 6 inch grouping to about a 1.5 inch grouping.  All without ever being macho, condescending, or making me feel silly for thinking I could actually do this.  He encouraged me to stretch, helped me find my voice and led me to recognize my passion for sharing this wonderful sport called shooting.  I’ve heard some horror stories about instructors, and have met a couple that I wouldn’t have been comfortable with.  But these two men, while tough, strong and very capable, are funny and caring and sincerely interested in passing on knowledge and skills in a safe and supportive manner.  They have been busy pulling in more instructors to work with them that share the passion, caring and attitude that drew me in.  The training team has people with amazing backgrounds, a variety of skills, years of combined experience…but all with a common goal - to share knowledge in a safe, supportive environment. 

IDS offers a variety of NRA, NRA Instructor and IDS proprietary courses.  New material is being developed for the future.  They are also looking at offering some women only classes in the near future. 

I am truly lucky to have found them, and to be associated with such talented people. 

I believe in formal training.  I believe that each student, regardless of their skill level should be treated with respect.  That is what I see from IDS, LLC, and that is why it is my honor to be associated with them.

I hope to see some of you in a class!

Safe Shooting!