August is the best time to take someone to the range!
It’s National Shooting Sports Month and coming of the heels of Summer Olympics in Tokyo, with Team USA has collected 6 medals in shooting, 3 of them GOLD!
There are 3 disciplines of shooting in Olympics – rifle, pistol and shotgun.
Rifle and pistol are about marksmanship skills hitting a still target where as shotgun is hitting a moving target or clay target (skeet)
“There are four gun types and three distances: 50m rifle, 10m air rifle, 25m rapid fire pistol and 10m air pistol. There are also three shooting positions: kneeling, where the athlete goes down on one knee and rests the gun on the other knee; prone, where the athlete shoots while lying down; and standing. Some events include all these positions.”
To some, firearms may look scary and intimidating. I understand that fear, as there is after all an exploding element happening in your hand and near your face….
But so is a car crash…. But, I digress.
I invite you to open your mind to the possibility of enjoyment of the shooting sports. I can attest to how much fun shooting clay (skeet) is! In fact, that was my first experiences with shooting (other than at camp as a kid with a .22)
There’s something about the satisfaction of seeing that orange clay disk burst into tiny little bits – and there’s no mistaking who did it! 😊. Such Empowerment! Success! And pure JOY!
It’s building confidence and self esteem – it’s a wonderful dish of empowerment for the soul.
And you can have this too! Many ranges have special events or classes just for women.
Women are the largest, and fastest, growing demographic, and during August Shooting Sports Month, look for special events and invite your friends. This is a great way to introduce your kids, neighbors, girlfriends, mom and others to shooting sports.
But not just women, we need to teach the youth as well!
If you’re a woman, finding a female only class gives you “a safe environment” to ask any question. There’s no shame, no judgement, no embarrassment. We’ve all have to start our journey in order to get where we are now. We’ve been there if that’s where you are. The important step is to start… and it’s always more fun with a friend!
So you say you’ve never even touched a gun? No problem! Sign up for a beginner class at your range or get a friend to take you to the range or the class with you. No matter the skill level, there’s always golden nuggets in taking a class.
Ever instructor teaches differently so you’re likely to hear something new with a different instructor.
As President Ronald Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
There’s a lot of clatter going on in the pistol world right now about folks adding “Red Dots” or RMR sights to their pistols. It’s almost like a shark feeding frenzy, but what is it and is it right for you?
So, if you are new(er) to this industry, you may not be familiar with this terminology. A Red-Dot is a type of non-magnifying reflector sight for firearms, and other devices that require aiming, that gives the user a point of aim in the form of an illuminated red dot, according to Wikipedia
Sometimes you’ll hear others refer to the red dot sight as a ‘RMR’ site, such as my husband :).
In simple terms, it’s much like a laser and can help with aiming and it can make it quicker / easier to find your sight picture and target.
I’ve shot a rifle and pistol using a Red Dot. While it may be the latest fad, is it something to consider for your defensive handgun?
Before, I get to the article I’m sharing with you, a few other side notes to consider. Your holster. The Red-dot sight sits much taller than standard issued sights on a pistol. So this added sight will also add a little weight and you will need a new holster that can accommodate this bulky sight.
Another important factor to consider, again much like a laser, is the battery life. Will you remember to turn it on (and off) when you complete your training with it? What happens if you become reliable on it and your in a situation where you need to defend your life?
As you’ve likely heard many times before, it’s important and critical to continue to train and learn. You may want to consider some of these points ahead of adding a Red-Dot to your pistol or self defense firearm.
Some of the best tactics to keep your family safe…
Now that the Easter Bunny has come and things are beginning to look a little more normal, are you planning a vacation this summer?
When my kids were young, I liked to take my kids to different places during the summer and explore our great country. I imagine after being restricted from traveling, my guess is many of you are itching to take a road trip! Whether it be to see some friends, family or somewhere new.
Here’s 3 concealed carry tips for traveling with protection (your firearm).
First, and I’d say the most important tips is to know the concealed carry laws along your route and for your final destination. There’s an easy way to do this, assuming you already have a concealed carry permit in your home state.
This map will show you the other states that honor your license to carry, so you’ll know immediately, if you can carry where you are going.
Note the placement of the hands on the steering wheel
Secondly, knowing what to do if you get pulled over by police. Remember your Driver’s Ed class? Place your hands at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel, turn on the dome light if it’s dark and wait for the police to approach you.
* I’ve heard this Tip if you are concealing and you get pulled over, extend your fingers out (hands of course being at 10 and 2 on steering wheel) that this is a non-verbal way to politely communicate to the officer that you’re armed.
Remember, when traveling, to check the state laws whether or not you must notify the officer if you have a firearm.
Make sure everyone in the family knows what the plan is, any key words and the expected action family members are to take. All the hotels have escape routes posted. Make sure you have your own escape route too.
If you have small children, practice it often so they are familiar with the words and the routine. Albeit, a little trickery when traveling with young ‘uns.
Remember, knowledge is power and being prepared can save lives. AND, don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the scenery!
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. 
