Unusual Range Experience

[sawgrass]

We went to a public indoor range today for a lesson from a pistol trainer.
That went great and I loved it, he was a great teacher!

It was my turn to watch when a woman and a young boy arrived in the lane next to us. We were the last two on the right. The woman appeared to be around 40 and the boy couldn't have been more than late teens. I noticed they were fumbling around a lot and then I saw her get out the firearm instruction book. That made me a little nervous along with poor muzzle control being exhibited by the boy. The boy was visibly trembling as he was
fiddling with the gun. The woman who I assume was his mother was looking to him for expertise. Since they were right next to us, I mentioned to my SO
and our teacher that we have beginners next to us. The teacher said 'thanks for telling me, I'll offer to help them'. He introduced himself and offered help but the boy declined his offer. The mother didn't say anything. Finally after watching her shoot with both thumbs across the back side of the pistol and two fingers on the trigger, I asked her if she had a new gun. I also made sure I smiled at her and she smiled back several times before I said anything. She said yes it's new. I told her I was glad that her left thumb wasn't cut yet and could I show her a safer way to hold the pistol. She said yes. So I got out a G19 and we practiced with our individual guns.

The whole experience left me feeling kinda blue. It appeared the boy was trying to be a man for his mother and the mother was trying to arm herself.
She was a very pretty woman, but looked absolutely worn out. Her eyes were
sad and empty. I don't know her circumstances but I sure hope things turn out ok for both of them.

[PATRICE]

.....

[sawgrass]

Thank you for trying to help her. Perhaps she can find her way to the range again when her little man is not with her. That he was trembling a bit suggested he was aware of the gravity of their endeavor, and perhaps his own lack of competency/expertise as well.

Discipline with re: to muzzle control certainly has to be drummed into each of us, I think. I've certainly gotten a number of admonitions from my spouse re: proper gun-handling (and range etiquette, before I decided I didn't want to do the CHL thing--I've never been to a range). I've always been a decent shot even from the beginning. Per my spouse, I did everything wrong, yet still managed to hit my target more often than anyone had a right to expect--but, the muzzle control thing took a while for me to fully internalize.


I hope they do well for themselves. I think the little fragment of instruction you were able to provide was a good first step for this little family.--Patrice

Patrice I hope it helped a little. The place was like dollar days at Target and it was very difficult to hear. I'm wishing I would have given her a business card or something and offered to go shooting sometime. It's so hard to know when to put yourself out there or not. The look in her eyes is bothering me.

They both looked scared and the boy appeared to be in a position that he wasn't ready for. It makes me thankful for those of us who are capable of protecting ourselves and wishful for the rest.

[wrenrj1]

Wow, so many things can be read into that thread...A few can go on to be made for TV movies...

[sawgrass]

Wow, so many things can be read into that thread...A few can go on to be made for TV movies...

Like I said, I don't know her circumstances. I usually shoot at a private club so I'm not used to seeing a woman and her son trying to 'figure out' a gun.
I've seen the look she had watching people come out of a production type factory. Sad and tired.

[Lone_Wolfe]

Like I said, I don't know her circumstances. I usually shoot at a private club so I'm not used to seeing a woman and her son trying to 'figure out' a gun.
I've seen the look she had watching people come out of a production type factory. Sad and tired.

I'm glad you were there to befriend her a little and help her out, instead of her having someone alongside her that got upset or belittled her lack of skills.

I know that look you're talking about, I worked in a factory for several years.

[MrsKitty]

I've still been thinking about them. I hope they are OK.

Until somebody has lived in that kind of fear, they can not fully understand it...

[sawgrass]

I'm glad you were there to befriend her a little and help her out, instead of her having someone alongside her that got upset or belittled her lack of skills.

I know that look you're talking about, I worked in a factory for several years.


Have you ever read or seen "Working" by Studs Terkel? The mill worker scene gets me everytime. There's a song called 'Millworker' that is part of the soundtrack.

It's been a few days and they keep running through my mind too MrsKitty.
I don't want to turn this into a religious thing, but maybe if we all send them
some positive energy, pray, whatever it is that we each believe maybe it will help in some way. All in all, I guess she's willing to help herself. She bought a gun and she was taking the first step in learning how to use it.

[Lone_Wolfe]

Never heard of it.

[wrenrj1]

Have you ever read or seen "Working" by Studs Terkel? The mill worker scene gets me everytime. There's a song called 'Millworker' that is part of the soundtrack.

It's been a few days and they keep running through my mind too MrsKitty.
I don't want to turn this into a religious thing, but maybe if we all send them
some positive energy, pray, whatever it is that we each believe maybe it will help in some way. All in all, I guess she's willing to help herself. She bought a gun and she was taking the first step in learning how to use it.

Studs Terkel? And he ISN'T a porn star?

[sawgrass]

Studs Terkel? And he ISN'T a porn star?

While he has been recognized for his oral histories....no I don't think he was a porn star. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studs_Terkel

It's a great read and a fantastic composition regarding working people.