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Never know what you're going to encounter at the range

SouthernBoy

Regular Member
Joined
May 12, 2007
Messages
5,837
Location
Western Prince William County, Virginia, USA
So I decided to hit the range this morning; the NRA Headquarters range. When I arrived, there was no one waiting for a lane and very few on any lanes so in I went, to lane four. Before long some more people showed up. The man on lane three was shooting a long slide Glock 34, something I don’t see often. He was good. His technique, hold, and fire control were right up there as was his accuracy.

The person on my right unpacked a small semi-auto pistol and a long barreled single action revolver, both in .22 long rifle. The targets were B27’s for head and upper torso, one of which was hung on the holder and sent out for use. This person was under five feet tall, perhaps around four feet ten inches, and to my real surprise was a woman. Now women are not uncommon on this range at all. But ones like this small lady are quite rare. She was maybe in her late 60’s to early 70’s with what appeared to be the onset of osteoporosis which gave her upper back a little hump and caused her to not be able to stand straight. A granny sweater completed the picture. She really looked like she stepped out of a Normal Rockwell painting.

There she was with her shooting bag, two handguns, ammunition, and targets going at it like the rest of us. After I left I was kicking myself for not patting her on her shoulder and telling her “Way to go”. Clearly she refused to be a victim.
 

JamesCanby

Activist Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Messages
1,480
Location
Alexandria, VA at www.NoVA-MDSelfDefense.com
Not me! Condescension much? i might have complimented her shooting and held the door for her, but nothing that could have been interpreted as assault or condescension.

Really? Assault? Condescension? How could giving kudos to a fellow shooter be considered to be assault or condescension? NRA instructors are taught to always take a positive approach and compliment students on what they have done right on the range. Why would it have been any different for a good shooter practicing her skills? SMH...
 

skidmark

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 15, 2007
Messages
10,444
Location
Valhalla
Really? Assault? Condescension? How could giving kudos to a fellow shooter be considered to be assault or condescension? NRA instructors are taught to always take a positive approach and compliment students on what they have done right on the range. Why would it have been any different for a good shooter practicing her skills? SMH...

Assaut is the unwanted touching of another. Actually, assault is the offer/threat to do so. There is noting about the motive of the touch that is involved. You touch me without my permission and it is technically not assault but battery. Neither one are good things to be doing.

Condescension? Wanting to pat her on the back and tell her "Way to go" - how come you did not have the same feeings and desires about and towards the guy in Lane 3 with the Glock 34?

Yes, both are feel-good stories, But the way you tell each one says different things.

stay safe.
 

Citizen

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2006
Messages
18,269
Location
Fairfax Co., VA
Really? Assault? Condescension? How could giving kudos to a fellow shooter be considered to be assault or condescension? NRA instructors are taught to always take a positive approach and compliment students on what they have done right on the range. Why would it have been any different for a good shooter practicing her skills? SMH...

Southernboy may not realize it, but commenting on her age and physical condition really does show condescension.

Just recognize her as a literal equal, and forget about age and physical condition.
 

davidmcbeth

Banned
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
16,167
Location
earth's crust
Christ, I'm sorry I even posted the damned thing.

Well, I have not seen elderly women at the range much ... I saw nothing wrong with your post.

People should read postings and give posters the benefit of the doubt .... ? about a post, PM the poster ...

Everyone posts about little boys at the range .. they pedophiles? Nah.
 

SouthernBoy

Regular Member
Joined
May 12, 2007
Messages
5,837
Location
Western Prince William County, Virginia, USA
Good Lord, I almost can't believe some of the posts in this tiny thread (Nightmare, skidmark, Citizen). I don't know whether to laugh or feel sorry. As I mentioned, my only regret is posting anything at all. The saving grace for me is I know what I wrote and why, and that is all that really matters to me.
 

ScottFree

Regular Member
Joined
May 27, 2013
Messages
50
Location
Salem, Or
I was kinda surprised myself. I read no ill intent into what you wrote (op) until I saw it being twisted before my eyes.
 

eye95

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
13,524
Location
Fairborn, Ohio, USA
Good Lord, I almost can't believe some of the posts in this tiny thread (Nightmare, skidmark, Citizen). I don't know whether to laugh or feel sorry. As I mentioned, my only regret is posting anything at all. The saving grace for me is I know what I wrote and why, and that is all that really matters to me.

I got what you were saying and have no problem with it. I am amazed at how sensitive some "libertarians" are getting these days. Let them. Just continue to post your valid observations.
 

SouthernBoy

Regular Member
Joined
May 12, 2007
Messages
5,837
Location
Western Prince William County, Virginia, USA
Really? Assault? Condescension? How could giving kudos to a fellow shooter be considered to be assault or condescension? NRA instructors are taught to always take a positive approach and compliment students on what they have done right on the range. Why would it have been any different for a good shooter practicing her skills? SMH...

Well, I have not seen elderly women at the range much ... I saw nothing wrong with your post.

People should read postings and give posters the benefit of the doubt .... ? about a post, PM the poster ...

Everyone posts about little boys at the range .. they pedophiles? Nah.

I was kinda surprised myself. I read no ill intent into what you wrote (op) until I saw it being twisted before my eyes.

I got what you were saying and have no problem with it. I am amazed at how sensitive some "libertarians" are getting these days. Let them. Just continue to post your valid observations.

Thanks for the kind posts, gentlemen. I am pleased to know you saw no ill intent or anything of the sort others seemed to discover in my post. Actually I was quite happy for the lady. Here was an elderly woman who I suspect was seeing to her own protection and preservation. I'd like to think she was of a mind to refuse to be a victim... as I wrote. Either way, it was not something I tend to seen every day and my take is, good for her.
 

fjpro2a

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2010
Messages
280
Location
North Carolina
Overlooking the bigger problem

Southernboy, Your post was truly American. what in the world is it with Nightmare, Skidmark, Citizen, etc.? When I first joined, I looked up to those who had walked the walk, but I have seen a gradual change over the past few years that has made me feel uneasy. I would rather see those who think they know everything be equally concerned with all the laws, rules, and judges decisions that are hurting the open carry cause. Keep posting!! Most of us enjoy good stories like this.
 

Tess

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2006
Messages
3,837
Location
Bryan, TX
I would not have commented had this thread not already gone awry, but I'm going to state something from a woman's perspective.

I'm not "elderly" but am closer to 60 than 30, and remarks on what I can or can't do "at my age" are not welcome. I know my mother, at 75, feels the same way.

Women have spent a lot of time over the past century fighting the idea that we are differently abled simply because we are of a different gender. What you saw is still rare enough that you might notice it, but remarking on it to her could very well have been offensive. She is another human being practicing at the range; treating her any differently from anyone else draws attention to differences rather than abilities.

Yes, I am dismayed by the "by women, for women" phase that is running through gun ownership right now, even as I recognize its benefits in bringing more people to the shooting world. And this is one of those cases where our interaction in another thread has influenced my opinion.
 

Nelson_Muntz

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 5, 2008
Messages
697
Location
Manassas, Virginia, USA
I have seen a gradual change over the past few years that has made me feel uneasy.

yup. quit posting and have just been watching over the past few years. clubbish membership mentality of senior and some not so senior members gained steam.
i've had a few interesting oc experiences i have no desire to share. dont need the grief. some of you really need to rein yourselves in. most of us are here to
advocate for what we do (oc) and the eliteism, judgementalism and p/c'ness of some is difficult to wade through. enjoy your fiefdom.

i shouldn't have posted anything but i just wanted to say: s/b, thanks for sharing neighbor. i would have been surprised and pleased enough to say something too.

rant over, enjoy your bashing.
 

skidmark

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 15, 2007
Messages
10,444
Location
Valhalla
Say somethinng? Yes. Pat her on the shoulder? No. Offer to shake her hand? Maybe.

And I still want to know why S/B wants to say something to the woman shooter but not the guy with the Glock, who he reports was quite impressive.

It's that difference there that bothers me.

stay safe.
 

Citizen

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2006
Messages
18,269
Location
Fairfax Co., VA
Southernboy, Your post was truly American. what in the world is it with Nightmare, Skidmark, Citizen, etc.?

There's nothing wrong with those posts. SB was unintentionally condescending to the elderly shooter.

He applied some sort of stereotypical thinking. For all he knew she may have been an Olympic medalist in the 1960's, or a retired police detective just keeping her skills sharp. Assuming there is some special accomplishment for her personally based on the typical elderly person is just asking for trouble by generalizing.

There's no particular harm in what SB did. But, he also might not get the same reaction the next time he does the same thing.
 

SouthernBoy

Regular Member
Joined
May 12, 2007
Messages
5,837
Location
Western Prince William County, Virginia, USA
yup. quit posting and have just been watching over the past few years. clubbish membership mentality of senior and some not so senior members gained steam.
i've had a few interesting oc experiences i have no desire to share. dont need the grief. some of you really need to rein yourselves in. most of us are here to
advocate for what we do (oc) and the eliteism, judgementalism and p/c'ness of some is difficult to wade through. enjoy your fiefdom.

i shouldn't have posted anything but i just wanted to say: s/b, thanks for sharing neighbor. i would have been surprised and pleased enough to say something too.

rant over, enjoy your bashing.

You're spot on right about that. I think I'll join you. The waters have gotten a little too murky here in recent times. I posted this exact text on another gun website and received only positive responses... not that I was looking for them. Kinda tells you something, eh? In fact, I was considering putting the link to this thread on that posting so they could see how childish this is.

You up for lunch sometime here in the not to distant future?
 

sidestreet

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2007
Messages
673
Location
, ,
That's okay Southern Boy...,

Christ, I'm sorry I even posted the damned thing.

maybe you can start a new thread called "Never know what you're going to encounter on the Board"!

On the other hand, if you had done as you said, maybe she would have said "Thanks, son.", or maybe something like "What you tryin' to say, whippersnapper?", like you said, you never know.

sidestreet

Jeremiah 29 vs. 11-13

we are not equal, we will never be equal, but we must be relentless.
 

Nelson_Muntz

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 5, 2008
Messages
697
Location
Manassas, Virginia, USA
You up for lunch sometime here in the not to distant future?

you bet. i'll pm you with a date good for me. at lunch i'll tell you about how i scared the daylights out of the manassas dmv guard, two encounters at the supermarket including a robbery, and how as a contractor i escaped from the navy yard last monday. ill even show u pictures i took on my cell phone. wouldn't want to share any of those events here. someone would surely tell me i was wrong somehow.

if anyone is in manassas and wants to join s/b and i for lunch on a weekend, drop me a pm and he and i will coordinate with you.
 
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