Despite going shooting a couple of times with my husband, I didn't really know much about hand guns. In fact, they still frightened me. I didn't want to touch them for fear it would "just go off." I would also have a fear of not trusting myself - like I would just pull the trigger. I think it all stemmed from an underlying fear of knowing how powerful a gun was - but not really understanding the way it worked or how to handle one confidently.
In 2009 our son was born. I came to a realization that gun ownership was going to be a part of my life. If we were going to raise children in a home with guns, then every adult living there needed to know how a gun worked and the safe handling of one so that our kid would be safe. I decided to take a Basic Pistol for Women class at Marksmen Pistol Institute in Tucson.
I decided to take an all women's class rather than a co-ed class because it felt less intimidating. Shooting seems like such a "male" thing. The class was taught by a woman and addressed women issues when it came to shooting (like recoil, how hard it is to pull some triggers, gun selection, concealment options). Women in the class varied in age from late teens to early seventies. We were there for the same reason - to feel more comfortable handling firearms.
I felt so empowered after taking the class. I felt like I could "talk guns" with my husband know that I know the definitions of different calibers and types of gun. I wasn't scared to handle a gun - loaded or unloaded - because I understood how it worked, that it wouldn't just go off on its own, and that pulling the trigger is a decisive action that takes a considerable amount of force (just brushing my finger against wasn't going to send a bullet flying). I felt like a safe, responsible gun owner and parent.
I felt like I had an idea of what type of gun I wanted to purchase for myself. Prior to the class I wanted a Walther P22 because I liked the way it felt in my hand. After the class I decided on a Ruger SP101 since it had more stopping power if I was in a self defense situation and I was more comfortable understanding the operation of a revolver. Over the next year I would still deliberate on what type of hand gun I would purchase for myself.
The Marksmen gave each class participant a free voucher to come back to the range and practice shooting. I went one day during my lunch break - in a skirt and high heels. There was something so bad ass about being feminine and shooting a gun. I kinda felt like I was living out a small part of my FBI agent dream of my youth. Also, going to the gun range without my husband was empowering - showed me I could do this on my own without a man guiding the way.
