Occasionally, like everyone else in this business I suppose, I step over to see what’s going on on YouTube. One thing that really chaps my hide: the number of people who think it’s really funny to post videos of women getting knocked on their rear ends by unexpected recoil. Chuckle, chuckle.
Right.
People, it is not that hard to introduce someone to firearms in a safe and appropriate way. It is not rocket science. All it takes is a few minutes of instruction about how to hold the gun and how to stand. It also takes an appropriately sized firearm, and a little attention to safety. Hardly a big deal.
Here is an example of the sort of “funny” video I am talking about. (Edit: I’m having trouble with the embed function. The link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXfg5o1ZVq4)
Viewing that video of new shooters with viciously unfunny range friends may help us visualize what went wrong for the woman in this news story.
“Corredor-Rivera died of a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Ralls County Sheriff Gerry Dinwiddie tells WGEM-TV that the woman was shooting a .500-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun when the strength of the gun’s recoil caused her to lose control. … The sheriff said the gun spun around in her hand, leading to a second fatal shot.”
Somehow, I cannot bring myself to laugh at such things. Can you?
I was at a public range one day and this young fellow was teaching his girlfriend to shoot in the stall next to me. With a 30.06! I tried to get him to use my 10-22 instead but was rebuffed. It didn’t end tragically, but my guess would be that woman was at least put off trying anything gun/shooting related for years if ever again. Not how you start anyone off if you want them to enjoy this sport/hobby, much less survive it.
Out of a long list of possibilities the above is my nomination for Stupidest Thing You Can Do With A Gun.
Over the years I’ve lost count of the ladies who said they came to one of my classes to recover from some ex-friend idiot who set them up for this kind of humiliation. Of course I’ll never know how many more students had it happen and didn’t tell me. Or never came to a class.
And the really idiotic part is that if a guy wants to be into shooting in any way, his life will be so much easier if his SO is also interested.
Oh, and ladies? Your first shooting experience should not involve video equipment. If your “friend” wants to record, go find a professional instructor.
“Your first shooting experience should not involve video equipment.”
Great advice. Thanks for adding that!
Don’t forget this one:
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19970502&slug=2536936
The victim was apparently a good guy, but very misinformed about how to introduce new shooters to powerful handguns.
Larry, that “avoid the video” is an excellent idea! For the most part, the first-time shooters I’ve taken to the range have been adequately delighted to take home some of their targets; many if not most of them had *no idea* they could be shooting that well their first time out.