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LOCK, LOAD AND LEARN: INTRODUCES WOMEN TO FIREARMS
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
LOCK, LOAD AND LEARN: EVENT INTRODUCES WOMEN TO FIREARMS AND OTHER HUNTING ISSUES
Thursday, June 13, 2002
By KIM WETZEL, Columbian staff writer
Even the participants at A Day at the Range couldn't resist making jokes about women firing guns.
"Watch out!" A participant hollered jokingly as participants lined up near the rifle range targets, preparing to take their first shot with a handgun at the women's only shooting event.
"If you shoot an instructor, you fail," instructor Pam Schmitz added.
Indeed, it was an unusual sight: Twenty-five women armed with guns and ammo, donning ear and eye protection, filled the instruction area of the Clark Rifle Range on Saturday for the inaugural regional Women in the Outdoors event. The rule was no men allowed, although a handful of male range officers were present for instructive purposes.
Each participant was taught to shoot rifles, handguns and black-powder rifles, and also watched an Old Time Shootout demonstration. Afterward, participants chose between seminars on wilderness survival, turkey hunting, and landscaping.
The women, some wearing camouflage hunting gear, milled about the instruction area before lunch and were thrilled about the idea of shooting a gun. Most of them, whose ages ranged from about 20 to 60, were pulling the trigger for the first time.
"At least with the pistol I hit the target," Vancouver resident Sharon Uusitalo said with a laugh. " I felt like Dirty Harry out there."
The event was sponsored by the regional Women in the Outdoors organization and gave women who have never been exposed to such sports an opportunity to learn the basics of shooting, hunting, and the outdoors. Those topics are normally male-dominated, said regional coordinator Nancy Uusitalo, and the shooting event was designed as an introductory course to help participants decide whether they want to learn more.
"The goal of the program is to get the women exposed to things they've never tried before," Uusitalo said. "Then decide if they want to continue."
Learning first-hand
And kidding aside, participants -- without the presence of men -- were more relaxed, taking the idea of shooting and learning about hunting and wilderness survival very seriously. Some took notes, others listened intently.
"It's good to be able to talk about guns with other women," Vancouver resident Mary Mendenhall said.
For many of the participants, their previous knowledge about firearms and hunter safety came from boyfriends and husbands. Some were simply curious about hunting and shooting. Hockinson resident Mary Milton wanted to learn more about why her husband loves hunting so much.
"It'll be nice to know what he's talking about," Milton said, adding that she felt a sense of satisfaction from the target practice session. "The power. The noise."
And forget any notions that women aren't adept at shooting guns. During the handgun sessions, the targets were shredded to bits.
"I blew through 30 rounds like it was nothing," Milton bragged jokingly.
The women participated in extensive safety instruction before turning to the targets, learning how to load, unload and fire semi-automatic handguns, revolvers, rifles and black powder rifles. For many it was addicting; after three hours, they almost had to be coaxed away from the shooting range.
"Everybody having a good time?" Nancy Uusitalo called to a group of women who gathered for lunch after spending the morning shooting. "Does anyone need anything? Besides more ammo?"
The women-only scene at the range, although unusual, was just what Nancy Uusitalo was hoping for. A longtime hunter, she knows how it feels to be the only woman in a hunting safety class, and one of the few women out in the woods during hunting season.
"I was my father's other son," she said.
Uusitalo is hoping that by participating in events such as A Day at the Range in a low-pressure environment, more women will become interested in hunting and the outdoors, and more events exclusive to women will follow.
Although the idea of women shooting guns and hunting is still a foreign concept to some, more and more are aiming for the target, and organizations are finally taking notice.
The Women in the Outdoors organization is the child of the National Wild Turkey Federation. It began in 1998 in hopes of catering to women hunters and luring more women into the sport.
The organization, which has more than 34,000 members nationwide, also publishes a monthly newsletter featuring stories about women in hunting. The idea of women hunting is catching on: Locally and nationally, more and more hunter safety and outdoor classes are offered exclusively to women.
Uusitalo said the point of holding such events isn't to discriminate against men but to make women, who usually have little knowledge of the subject, feel more comfortable.
WOMEN OUTDOORS
* What: The Women in the Outdoors program isn't exclusive to hunting and shooting. The organization sponsors other events, such as fly fishing, kayaking, archery, and scuba diving, and more events are scheduled in Washington and Oregon throughout the summer. The cost ranges in price based on the event offered, and proceeds usually benefit a local women's charity.
* For more information: Go to www.nwtf.org or call Nancy Uusitalo, regional coordinator, at 360-574-9176.
http://www.columbian.com/06132002/sports/290164.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Thursday, June 13, 2002
By KIM WETZEL, Columbian staff writer
Even the participants at A Day at the Range couldn't resist making jokes about women firing guns.
"Watch out!" A participant hollered jokingly as participants lined up near the rifle range targets, preparing to take their first shot with a handgun at the women's only shooting event.
"If you shoot an instructor, you fail," instructor Pam Schmitz added.
Indeed, it was an unusual sight: Twenty-five women armed with guns and ammo, donning ear and eye protection, filled the instruction area of the Clark Rifle Range on Saturday for the inaugural regional Women in the Outdoors event. The rule was no men allowed, although a handful of male range officers were present for instructive purposes.
Each participant was taught to shoot rifles, handguns and black-powder rifles, and also watched an Old Time Shootout demonstration. Afterward, participants chose between seminars on wilderness survival, turkey hunting, and landscaping.
The women, some wearing camouflage hunting gear, milled about the instruction area before lunch and were thrilled about the idea of shooting a gun. Most of them, whose ages ranged from about 20 to 60, were pulling the trigger for the first time.
"At least with the pistol I hit the target," Vancouver resident Sharon Uusitalo said with a laugh. " I felt like Dirty Harry out there."
The event was sponsored by the regional Women in the Outdoors organization and gave women who have never been exposed to such sports an opportunity to learn the basics of shooting, hunting, and the outdoors. Those topics are normally male-dominated, said regional coordinator Nancy Uusitalo, and the shooting event was designed as an introductory course to help participants decide whether they want to learn more.
"The goal of the program is to get the women exposed to things they've never tried before," Uusitalo said. "Then decide if they want to continue."
Learning first-hand
And kidding aside, participants -- without the presence of men -- were more relaxed, taking the idea of shooting and learning about hunting and wilderness survival very seriously. Some took notes, others listened intently.
"It's good to be able to talk about guns with other women," Vancouver resident Mary Mendenhall said.
For many of the participants, their previous knowledge about firearms and hunter safety came from boyfriends and husbands. Some were simply curious about hunting and shooting. Hockinson resident Mary Milton wanted to learn more about why her husband loves hunting so much.
"It'll be nice to know what he's talking about," Milton said, adding that she felt a sense of satisfaction from the target practice session. "The power. The noise."
And forget any notions that women aren't adept at shooting guns. During the handgun sessions, the targets were shredded to bits.
"I blew through 30 rounds like it was nothing," Milton bragged jokingly.
The women participated in extensive safety instruction before turning to the targets, learning how to load, unload and fire semi-automatic handguns, revolvers, rifles and black powder rifles. For many it was addicting; after three hours, they almost had to be coaxed away from the shooting range.
"Everybody having a good time?" Nancy Uusitalo called to a group of women who gathered for lunch after spending the morning shooting. "Does anyone need anything? Besides more ammo?"
The women-only scene at the range, although unusual, was just what Nancy Uusitalo was hoping for. A longtime hunter, she knows how it feels to be the only woman in a hunting safety class, and one of the few women out in the woods during hunting season.
"I was my father's other son," she said.
Uusitalo is hoping that by participating in events such as A Day at the Range in a low-pressure environment, more women will become interested in hunting and the outdoors, and more events exclusive to women will follow.
Although the idea of women shooting guns and hunting is still a foreign concept to some, more and more are aiming for the target, and organizations are finally taking notice.
The Women in the Outdoors organization is the child of the National Wild Turkey Federation. It began in 1998 in hopes of catering to women hunters and luring more women into the sport.
The organization, which has more than 34,000 members nationwide, also publishes a monthly newsletter featuring stories about women in hunting. The idea of women hunting is catching on: Locally and nationally, more and more hunter safety and outdoor classes are offered exclusively to women.
Uusitalo said the point of holding such events isn't to discriminate against men but to make women, who usually have little knowledge of the subject, feel more comfortable.
WOMEN OUTDOORS
* What: The Women in the Outdoors program isn't exclusive to hunting and shooting. The organization sponsors other events, such as fly fishing, kayaking, archery, and scuba diving, and more events are scheduled in Washington and Oregon throughout the summer. The cost ranges in price based on the event offered, and proceeds usually benefit a local women's charity.
* For more information: Go to www.nwtf.org or call Nancy Uusitalo, regional coordinator, at 360-574-9176.
http://www.columbian.com/06132002/sports/290164.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Comments
Last modified at 12:11 a.m. on Friday, June 14, 2002
ST. PAUL -- Women ages 14 and older will be given the opportunity to learn about the outdoors during a special one-day program near St. Paul on June 22.
The National Wild Turkey Federation developed the "Women in the Outdoors" program, which will be held at Nature's Acres north of St. Paul. The program will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will teach skills such as rifle and shotgun safety, Dutch oven cooking, fishing, nature exploring and archery.
Event coordinator Peggy Griffin said canoe safety, personal defense and outdoor photography have been added to this year's lineup of offerings. Women will also have the opportunity to take a four-mile float down the North Loup River.
Program participants will get to pick three of the above sessions to attend throughout the day.
The program costs $35 and includes the use of equipment and materials.
Early registration is preferred but not required. To register, or for more information, contact Peggy Griffin at (308) 863-2148 or 750-4867.
http://www.theindependent.com/stories/061402/new_women14.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878