The day after Christmas, Cait's boyfriend and his father offered to take her to a local shooting range. This is something she has always wanted to try but has never had an opportunity to do. I'm terrified of handguns, perhaps because I am a total klutz and I just know I'd shoot my foot off! Unfortunately, Cait inherited the klutz gene from me. So it was with some trepidation that I told her she could go. Understand that she is 21 years old, so I thought it was sweet that she even asked permission! She was so excited that she posted on her facebook page "who needs to go shopping when you can go shoot guns!" Now keep in mind, this is the same girl who had to base her apartment renting decision on whether or not there was enough storage space for her shoes! Cait's boyfriends father is a retired Army sharpshooter, so I felt comfortable with him being her instructor. If you're going to learn, you might as well learn from the best.
Cait learning the basics
Checking her stance
Dirty Harry's got nothin' on my gal!
Cait's first target. Not too shabby! I told her she might want to post this in her first classroom, just to keep those rowdy band kids in line!
Cait had a really good time. She's probably one of the few kids here in town who had never shot a gun in her life. And I will probably go to my grave having never shot a handgun! But at least she learned in a controlled environment from a skilled instructor. Whether you enjoy shooting, hunting, target practice or any of the other gun sports, gun safety and education has to be first and foremost. Personally, I'll continue to shoot with my Canon!
29 comments:
Kat, what a great post. I love it that Cait was going to the target range and she was being instructed by a professional. Her first target if remarkeable. She is a natural. Congratulations to her. She may have just found a new sport. Hugs, Marty
Looks like Cait has terrific aim. Great to have a pro teach you!!
Great post, Kat! It looks like Cait is a natural! And what a great idea to have a retired sharpshooter for a teacher! Might as well learn in a controlled environment from a pro! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie
Kat, I am impressed with Caits accuracy, I imagine her teacher was also, that is pretty amazing. I think she handled herself very responsibly, if you are going to shoot a gun learn how from an expert in a safe enviroment. Once again Cait does it RIGHT!!! hugs Kathysue
After seeing her target I think Cait is a natural with a gun! I'm not a big gun lover (bad story, bad memory) but I do have a healthy respect for anyone learning how to safely shoot with a skilled instructor. If my girls wanted to learn to shoot, I'd want them to learn just like Cait did.
At least a professional is showing her the correct, safe way to shoot, and she's not out on the streets learning how....lol!
Great aim, especially for a beginner!
{{HUGS}}
Robin :o)
Kat, I grew up with a father who was a very accomplished hunter, and his grandmother was the one who taught him to shoot. She was a crack shot! She had learned from her father how to defend herself during Reconstruction where she was the only woman in the county who would travel alone in a buggy with her driver. And no one messed with her. She had her hand inside her purse with her finger on the trigger of her pistol. ;-) Daddy said she could throw a bottle into the air and shoot the neck out of it with a mirror looking over her shoulder.
Anyhow, Daddy made sure we (my sisters and I) all respected guns and knew how to safely use one. I used to love target practice, and I was a very good shot. I also loved to shoot with my archery set. I think it's neat that your daughter has a first class pro teaching her. That's the way to learn!
XO,
Sheila :-)
It can feel very empowering to shoot a gun like that.
Good for her.
I can relate to you Kathy - on many levels! I've never shot a gun of any type and don't really plan to. Meghan's step father on the other hand, made sure she knew about them and how to shoot a couple. She has a smallish shot gun that he gave her one year for her birthday and she would set up targets at our old house and practice. I saw her one day (she didn't know I was watching) hiding behind a tree and she looked like she was doing a 3-2-1 countdown type thing, anyway, she swung around that tree like some Bond character and shot at some cans she had lined up. She hit about 3 or 4 out of 6 - I was impressed and just about pee'd my pants I was laughing so hard at her antics. I never told her I saw her that day ;-)!
Anyway, good for Cait - but like you - I'll stick to shooting my camera - I've hardly mastered that yet!
Great post and I love the pics!
Gracious goodness...she did REALLY well. Lor hit a few of the skeet yesterday, which surprised me A LOT. I think she was trying to impress the new beau!
you know Kathy... in Texas we say that the only thing that comes between a cowgirl and her gun is the leather... ;)
wishing you a joyous New Year! Dixie
Looks like your daughter did great her first time out! I was reading your profile and noticed that she is a music ed major. My daughter got her undergraduate degree in music education and she's now working on her masters in music ed. She is the band director at her old high school, which she always said was her dream job!
This looks totally fun! I would do this in an instant. I'm glad she wasn't shooting Bambi, though. Neat post!
Kudos to her! Most of my kids use guns and go to ranges..I probably wont ever, to afraid. I'm so clumsy no tellin what I would do to myself.
Good for her...and she was in a great place to learn...I've never shot a gun either...but hubby is going to take me and my daughter soon to learn....
Yes my daughter is the band director at Godby High School here is Tallahassee. She is friends with all of the band directors in this district through FBA (Fla Bandmasters Association). Leon HS has a great band. My daughter was a middle school director for several years before the band director position at her alma mater opened up. This is her 4th year there and she loves it! She will be in Tampa this coming week for All State and the annual FBA meeting. Two weeks ago I went with her to the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago and it was so much fun. She is one busy gal though because she's also married and has 2 kids ages 5 and 1. She met her husband while they were both in the FSU Marching Chiefs together. I'm sure your daughter will do fine finding a job around that area. My daughter worried about that same thing when she graduated and things just worked out. Good luck to her!
I am just like you, Kat, terrified of guns. But if my daughter was to do it...it would be the way Cait did.
Very interesting post. She's a great shot!
xoxo
Janie
Wow! Cait really did good for a first timer. I need to do that too. I have a gun but I am afraid of it, lol......Christine
Kathy, I don't know much about it, but that target looks like she did great! What an adventure that was! laurie
Cait has talent! I like the idea of posting this in her classroom...especially if it's a middle school or high school grade. Just think of the conversations it would start with her kids...
Just thought I would share a comment I heard at the Outback Bowl...
"I am the biggest Texas fan. I started loving that university about 2 weeks ago!" (In other words...Beat Bama!)
This guy cracked me up!
Go Texas!!! (we used to live in Plano...)
Jane
what a great post...so glad that I stopped by
Well Alright!!!!!!
Let's give that gal a round of applause...or perhaps a round of ammunition!
Good for her!
I'm glad she had fun with no accidents! I would be too scared to try this as well. Yikes!
Thank you for your sweet visit Kathy. Yes Chestnut misses his drapery puddles and has settled for the guest bed. Silly boy!
Have a great week. ~Melissa :)
happy new year dear friend, wish you the best to you and your family this 2010!!!
way to go cait!!!but i'm like you i prefer shooting my canon, lol..have a great night,xxoo.
I'm with you, the only shooting I'll be doing is with my camera!! Guns scare me, and I have no desire to hold one, let alone use one. But as you said, if you're going to shoot a gun, best to learn how to do it properly. And wow, Cait sure is a quick learner -- check out that target!!
Kelly
Hi Kathy
Good for Cait! She has a good eye and steady hand.
I never held a gun except for the air ones in carnivals that shoot down a paper duck...lol.
Glad you enjoy Jenny's blog! She is funny isn't she?
That looks like fun. I would love to try it someday. Although like you I'll prabably stick with my Canon. :)
Looks like decent shooting, buy the looks of the target. I'm assuming that the distance was at 25 yrds.? But, using what cal. weapon?
Me? I have a personal permit to carry a concealed weapon. My instructor was the US Navy and Vietnam. I have been taught over, and over again, the way's of using and shooting a weapon that can take a Life. When I deem necessary I carry a .45 cal. Colt. My Wife, also, has a permit to carry a Lady Rossie .38 Special in her peruse. She knows how to use it. She was taught by me.
Nice to meet you.
Les
I'm with you, I'll do my shooting with my camera, thank you very much. I have done target shooting, but that was many years ago.
My ancestor grandmother kept the Indians at bay during the Jamestown Massacre in 1622, I guess I didn't get her genes, lol.
I have a cousin who owns a 9,500 acre hunting lodge in Georgia (Gopher Plantation) and I have lots of hunters in my family. Not my thing, but I don't begrudge it to those who love it.
Kudos to Cait for her accuracy!
Post a Comment