My Story – C.S.

 

My adventure began with riding horses. I attended a beach ride where you camped and rode. During this trip I had a guy knock on my trailer door and thinking my horse had gotten loose I answered. He was drunk and wanting a place to stay. I said no go back to where you came from and closed and locked the door. I had no prior knowledge of things like this occurring. Many horses got loose from the makeshift corrals and roamed at night causing people to get up, search, put back in corrals and return to slumber. No different in my thinking at 2/3am? So returning home it took a couple months to tell my husband because I knew he wanted me to carry a gun with me but I was scared of them. I was never taught about them. (only encounter was with my Mom who put one to my head at a very young age and to herself many times) So of course I had to tell him as it weighed heavily on my mind. I rode horses a lot in the woods and even though there were 2/3 of us most of them time I did go by myself at times for a quick run. So began my journey into firearms. We did a class together and then went onto the range to shoot several guns. That was hard that day. Pulling the trigger for the first time took some effort. I cried because I realized if she had pulled that trigger what would have happened then. I did not know this prior. But I found my gun, Sig P290 and on first shot hit the bullseye. So bought it and then looked for how to learn more. That’s when I happened on the site for “The Well Armed Woman” and so I went to a meeting and joined. This was in 2013 and I’m still a member today. It was and has been for me a total game changer. I learned how to shoot, the types of ways there are for defending yourself, knowledge of the law process, what to say and do if ever you need to fire the weapon. Home preparation, being pulled over by a policeman while carrying, driving into other states, flying with firearms and the list goes on and on. I have grown immensely in my knowledge and training. I now help other women with their handset and mind for shooting. I am not an instructor but am starting the journey into becoming one. Taking the Image Based Decisional Drill Instructor class first, (some of us get nervous speaking to a crowd) then will proceed to taking Firearm Instructor classes. I am a competitor now with USPSA, IDPA and Steel Challenge. I am a RO for USPSA and shoot those matches every week.

 

It has empowered me to think correctly, watch everything, and be prepared. It has opened my eyes to firearms and that even though they can and do take lives, they aren’t evil in and of themselves; only in the wrong hands. Going to the range for practice I can spot issues and let someone know or offer a bit of help if they would like it. Most women are ok with that. I always offer the opportunity to join this organization and grow and learn as I did.