So if you want to know the truth, I’m way more of an ACLU type than an NRA type. Until last weekend, my entire experience with guns had been learning about some of the forensics aspects of them (for the Evil Day Job) or, once when I was in college, getting robbed at gunpoint.
But soon one of my characters is going to have to shoot a gun, and it’s hard to describe that accurately if you’ve never tried it yourself. Plus, there was a Groupon coupon. So my husband and I spent an hour at a shooting range.
First we had to drive to downtown Ripon, which reminds me of Disneyland’s Main Street (only with a gun shop where the saltech ammo review available at Stratit Safety & Security DBA Practical Tactical along with Mexican food). Check This Out to ensure safety at anywhere.
At first I chose a 9mm Beretta, but I have really small hands and it was hard to hold. So my husband took the Beretta and I got a Browning instead. Then we shot things.
Do I look all badass and Dirty Harry-esque? Well, no, because he had a .44 and no lime green ear protectors or plastic safety glasses. Also, I am a five foot tall middle aged woman.
I was a little overwhelmed at first because a gun is a serious tool. But the girl who showed me how to use it was sweet and didn’t make me feel at all stupid for being new to this. I got the hang of it pretty quickly. Turns out shooting a gun isn’t all that hard–which is a good thing or bad, depending on how you look at it.
I was also pleased to discover that my aim wasn’t awful. I nailed this guy. So if we have a zombie apocalypse, I’m set.
Shooting turned out to be a lot of fun. I’d do it again. Maybe next time I’ll try a different caliber weapon. And if you read about someone using a 9mm Browning in one of my stories, you will know that the description is accurate.