Sara Learns to Shoot

Being a teacher, I was deeply disturbed by the events yesterday in Connecticut. From time to time, it crosses my mind what I would have to do in the event that my classroom was under attack. I was thinking about it the past 24 hours of course. Then, my husband said to me this morning, "I think you need to learn how to shoot. Let's try it today."

I haven't wanted to shoot for a very long time, but this horrific incident gave me motivation today. Realistically, I know that I would not be shooting to protect myself in the classroom. However, it changes a mindset. In times like these, people are screaming for gun control. I think that that is not the answer. Instead, I think it is being prepared for incidents like these. Instead of continuously being sitting ducks, people need to learn to have a defensive awareness. 

It goes against natural instinct not to have it. Animals have it. Humans had it at one time. Our culture has erased it.

These are tools I used today, minus the motor oil. I shot a .357 Sig, .40 Glock, and a 12 gauge shot gun. In total, it was about 100 rounds.

Then, I learned how to put in squishy ear plugs. In the picture below, they do look a little bit like carrots.

Below is Fred. Brad modeled Fred after a Bottle Q target. I found a large Cabela's box to make Fred. I find it funny that we got to use a box from Cabela's. It was so appropriate. Anyway, Fred was our mock violator and intruder. The top vertical strip was my target for the CNS (central nervous system). The center dot was the body mass. Brad propped Fred up against a very large dirt mound covered with fallen pine branches.

I shot at Fred from three different distances: 5 ft, 10 ft, and 15 ft. The main purpose of the drills was to get me to shoot at someone who was coming into our room. The maximum distance is about 12 ft. I had six off mark shots. Three of those shots were from using one hand only in case I was injured. The others were when I was under pressure to shoot quickly within a time limit. I was pretty impressed with my pistol shots. 

Then Brad loaded the shot gun with some small bird shot ammunition. This gun was a little more difficult for me to shoot. We had already been shooting for about four hours. My arms were tired and I was getting cranky. I think I'll still have to work on the shot gun, but three or four shots for today was just fine. 

For years I have had a fear of guns. Today, I came back from my shooting practice with confidence that I could protect myself with a gun. I have a new respect for the weapon and I look forward to practicing... maybe once mroe.