Here’s shooting instructor Gordon Hutchinson’s recollection of a Saturday shooting class that he held for a few women at Baker Range in Louisiana, near Baton Rouge. Gordon is a first-rate outdoor writer (aka “The Shootist,” in Louisiana Sportsman magazine), a concealed carry instructor and a Southern gentleman.
Maybe Gordon’s story will inspire more of us to invite women to the range. Thanks, Gordon~BB
Here's Vy, the star of the class and we can see why!
I had a number of friends, young women, who kept mentioning to me that they wanted to learn to shoot–but didn’t have time to take the entire 8-hour concealed carry course.
I told them to come out to the range for a 3-4 hour course, and all they would have to pay for would be the range time, ammo, and targets–no charge for the instruction. A bunch were invited–the day before Easter wasn’t the best timing, but it was all the weekend I had available. Five showed up. One brought her mom.
I gave them a little over two hours of classroom instruction, then spent about two hours on the range. The little Vietnamese sweetheart, Vy, had never touched a gun in her life–she shot the best group of them all–a natural! Of course, excellent instruction had a lot to do with that. [Did I mention that Gordon has quite a high opinion of himself? Editor]
As you can see, they all had a ball. There were a few guys down the other end, one of them a former student–he kept walking down to watch, and kept saying “Gordon, you shouldn’t be working this hard and having this much fun.” He had his son and a young friend who is going in West Point in June–so he was giving him some pointers on the AR-15, and on 9MM pistols. They let some of the girls shoot some of their stuff, too.
Gordon and two women from class.
It’s always fun to turn someone on to shooting–and when it is women, who were scared of it in some cases, it is very fulfilling.
Several of their friends have said they regretted missing it, and want to know when we will be doing it again. And now, several of the girls in the class want to get their concealed permits, and buy their own handguns. One emailed me and told me her husband has promised to get her a handgun for Mother’s Day!
Watch out guys, they’re armed, trained, and dangerous! ~Gordon Hutchinson
http://www.gordonhutchinson.com/
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
Maybe I’ll get lessons next time I’m in Baton Rouge. Girl Power!