the local chapter of the pink pistols here in phoenix is offering a basic training class in handgun use and safety. if you’re in the area and have a desire to learn, clear some time off on 8/25/07. the best part is that the church in which the class will be held is right next door to la roca, a local lgbt hangout.
You mean I’m not the only T woman who A) shoots and B) doesn’t obsess over it? Wow!
Pink Pistols has an excellent reputation and learning the basics — especially the Four Rules of safe firearm handling — is a vital first step.
Comment by Bobbi X — August 14, 2007 @ 1:03 am
firearms have traditionally been a “guy thing”. i like to think that i don’t put much effort into conforming to guy or gal things. i’ve owned firearms for close to 20 years, though haven’t really had the chance to practice for several years now. i’m planning on attending just as a refresher.
Comment by nexy — August 14, 2007 @ 10:11 am
Oh, serious gun-nuttery is a guy thing, but target-shooting isn’t. There are about as many serious female competive shooters as there are male ones. Self-defense shouldn’t be a “guy thing” at all.
It’s an interesting coincidence that women didn’t get the vote in the US until small handguns firing brass-cased cartriges were available and often sold as “protection for the lady of the house.”
I had barely shot at all before transition. (Yes, it was “too manly.”) Some years back, my ex got into it and I went along. Turned out I had more of a knack for it than he does, and wasn’t he unhappy about that.
Comment by Bobbi X — August 15, 2007 @ 4:02 am
it’s interesting how we each came to be interested in firearms and target shooting. when i was in college, i had to take two phys-ed classes to graduate, and i put it off until my last year. i was not very interested in that sort of thing, other than jogging or bike riding. the only two classes i could find that even remotely interested me were jogging and archery, so i signed up for both. it turned out that i very much enjoyed archery, and took a second course my last semester. turned out i was pretty good at it.
soon after, i bought a pretty good bow and regularly visited a local indoor range. the range also sold firearms, but i had no interest until my apartment was burglarized. i spoke to a salesperson at the range, and purchased a remington 870 12 gauge magnum shotgun for protection (after enduring the 2 month waiting period and firearm purchasing permit application process in my then home state of new jersey). soon after getting up to speed at the local trap and skeet range, i looked into sidearms, got a pistol permit, and purchased my s&w 9mm, and then a few years later a s&w 22 target pistol.
after transition, i found i just couldn’t afford to go to the range anymore - even the 22 ammo and range fees were too expensive. so i stopped going. here in phoenix, the local range has a “ladies day” where i can use the range for free. i think i can swing that, if all i have to pay for is the ammo.
my hubby has little interest, though i’ve convinced him that it may be a good idea that he at least learn to handle the firearms we have in the house. hopefully, he’ll come to the range with me at some point. he may find that he likes it.
Comment by nexy — August 15, 2007 @ 10:50 am
My hat’s off to anyone who can manage to own firearms in New Jersey — they’re not especially keen on it.
.22 and “Ladies Day” shooting are about all I can manage regularly right now, and even that’s not so much.
Just to add to the fun, the counselor I have been seeing (’cos my bf bailed after 14 years of cohabbing and I took it just a skosh hard) happens to be a bigtime target-shooting champion. With about everything from air pistols to shotguns. How likely is *that?* And here I wanted to be the only statistical anomaly in the room…. 
Your hubby will come ’round, or not; people need their own time with things.
Comment by Bobbi X — August 18, 2007 @ 4:31 pm
interesting - my therapist rides quads out in the deserts of mexico on her vacations. last month, she came into the office with a serious gash on her leg.
i used to have a small collection of airguns. a .177 co2 pistol and a .22 pump pistol. lots of fun, especially since they’re safe enough to use in ones home. so long as the proper precautions are taken. the .22 finally broke - it must have been like 30 years old when it finally gave up, and the .177 i sold at some point. talk about inexpensive target practice. i may have to look into that again, what with the cost of firearm ammo these days.
and yeah, getting the firearm purchasing permit in new jersey was a two month ordeal, including finger printing, two letters of recommendation from friends, and an fbi background check. and that’s not counting the pistol purchasing permit, which was a whole ‘nother thing.
Comment by nexy — August 18, 2007 @ 10:43 pm