Indoor

By Terri Graham
Publisher, PassPort to San Diego

I’ve seen movies where they set up a row of old beer cans and shoot them off a railing one by one with a BB gun. I’ve also watched Westerns where scenes culminate in shoot-outs, like the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. And I have been amused by the cartoon character Yosemite Sam, armed with a pistol in each hand, as he warns Bugs Bunny he’s the “meanest hombre that ever packed a six-shooter.”

As a mother of a daughter who I would protect with my life, I am also aware of the very real and all-too-common gun accidents and deaths in the daily news.

So I wasn’t sure how fearful or apprehensive I would be walking into a shooting-range facility recently to pull the trigger myself. To be clear, I had never even held a gun.

The butterflies started fluttering when I realized that this was actually going to happen. My friend Carolyn had come with me and we had both committed to learning the proper way to shoot.

From the moment we walked in, we knew we had chosen the right place. The expert staff members at San Diego Firearms Training Center in Poway greeted us with smiles. We toured the gun store, an impressive showroom of new and used guns, also carrying ammunition and accessories. Then we met with veteran trainers, who led us through the process. Just a few hours later, I came away feeling confident and empowered, with a newfound respect for gun shooting and gun ownership. Here’s how I went from a deer-in-the-headlights to feeling like Annie Oakley in one afternoon:

Situated in a Poway business park, San Diego Firearms prides itself on safety above all. No one shoots a firearm in there without a professionally trained instructor ready to educate and assist at all times. The center itself is clean and bright and and features a positive pressure ventilation system (for smoke-free shooting) and 10 state-of-the-art shooting lanes. The venue itself was founded by former law-enforcement firearms instructors who wanted to provide training for beginners and advanced users in a fun and safely designed environment.

After signing a waiver and filling out a skill-level questionnaire, we spent time with a trainer learning the fundamentals of gun use, including the proper way to load, hold and aim a gun. The trainer emphasized safety as we maneuvered our way around different firearms, including a handgun, rifle and shotgun.

Feeling more confident, Carolyn and I were led to the brand new shooting range, each of us with paired with a Range Safety Officer. We donned goggles and ear protection and were given two boxes of bullets. With my instructor right next to me, I experimented with the variety of firearms, gaining the most control with the rifle, as it was easiest to aim and shoot. After 15-20 minutes, my paper target had filled with tiny holes. Turns out, I wasn’t a bad shot.

Armed with my bullet paper to take home as souvenir, I thought about what I had learned in a short time: how to safely and responsibly handle a gun. Thanks to the professionals at San Diego Firearms, I felt less out of my comfort zone and ready to get in more target practice.

With safety as a priority, San Diego Firearms was the first and only choice for Carolyn and me. Our experience was a low-stress, fun-oriented opportunity that built our confidence and comfort. This “Fun Shoot” package is perfect for novices and is available by calling (858) 679-2900 or booking it online at http://www.sandiegofirearms.com/. The center also offers advanced training and group and team-building events.