Bang Bang goes the Gun

Everyone needs to relieve stress from one time to another.  Some people exercise by running or riding bikes in the Metroparks or tip a few back at a local watering hole.  I enjoy doing those things as well.  Sometimes though, I like my stress busting time to also leave me with a sense of empowerment.  That is where the gun comes in.  The activity that fits the bill is going to a shooting range.  Let me explain how a scared Dem ended up with a .45 in her hands.

In my previous professional life, my company included those that carry around guns for a living...a.k.a. police officers.  Well, one day an officer stood very close to me to show me something on my computer screen.  I broke out into a cold sweat just because his service revolver, which was in his holster, was within arms' length of me.  Right then and there I knew I had to remedy the situation.  I asked a colleague whom I knew to own a gun to take me shooting.  On a warm fall afternoon, we traveled down I-77 to Route 82 and into Stonewall Ltd. Gun Shop & Pistol Range.  http://www.stonewallrange.com/

Upon entering, there are weapons in every nook and cranny of the gun shop portion.  You walk up to the counter and you can rent a stall to shoot by the hour.  You can also rent everything you need including a weapon, ear, and eye protection.  If you need targets or ammunition those are available for purchase too.

Of course I like to bring my own eye and ear protection.  Germs...yuck.  Once assigned to a stall, you put on your eye and ear protection, go in, put up your target, inspect your weapon, load your magazines, and have at it.  My co-worker is an experienced gun owner.  He would only let me shoot using his gun, you guessed it, a .45.  I hated it.  I am not petite, but I am by no means big enough to handle that gun.  After that, I decided a call to Officer Whitehair was in order.  Not only is he good about finding klochkies, but also weapon safety.

The thing I like about Stonewall is the staff.  If you want to come in, rent a stall, shoot, and check out all while being left alone, they will not engage you in unwanted prate.  However, if you have any questions at all, the staff is very knowledgeable and willing to help.  I once was waiting to check out and overheard the discussion with a couple in front of me.  They wanted to rent a gun and purchase ammunition to shoot.  There was something strange about this couple.  The staff member told both of them if they could properly pick up the weapon, load it with an empty clip, and remove the clip, then they could rent the gun.  From the way the gun was pointing when she picked up the gun, it was evident that they had no idea what the heck they were doing.  The clerk told them until they could properly handle a weapon, they were not permitted to rent from the store.  This is exactly the type of place I am glad to patronize.  I feel safer knowing that they care as much as I do about safety.

Since then, Officer Whitehair has given me proper instruction and the Original Asian and I went to relieve some stress, laugh, and throw back a pint at an HB establishment afterward. 

The Original Asian 2011 All rights reserved.  Cannot use without express consent from JBM.

I now feel comfortable with a gun.  I have a line of spent casings in my office.  One for each time I blow off some steam at the range.  There is something so liberating about aiming at a target and finding out that you may have hit it once out of five.  I jest, of course.  Ok, no, not really.

Now if you would like to check it out, by all means, please do.  I think everyone should learn how to handle a weapon.  I do not believe everyone should have a gun, but that's a political debate not ripe for this blog.  But please find someone who can give you proper instruction.  Not knowing what you are doing puts you and everyone else at the range in jeopardy.