doing things I've never done before.

[katster]

So I'm sitting in somebody's (that somebody is chaoswolf, among others) living room in San Jose, hanging out on somebody's else's laptop while the owner plays scrabble, and I figured I'd do a quick update because I want to note that I've done something else I've never done before.

Today, I shot a gun. Just a Browning .22, I think, but it was the first time I had ever shot a gun. It was different. Once I got over the first shakes, and quit jumping six feet in the air every time the guy in the lane next to mine shot his gun, it wasn't half bad. I never managed to hit the bullseye on the target we had, but I did manage a couple shots in the black around it, and now I have some idea of how to handle a firearm and how it feels -- very important when you're trying to write realistic stories involving firearms. (I also got to shoot one shot out of a 9mm, I think. That was quite fun, although the kick was somewhat unexpected compared to the .22).

I have to scrap out an entire scene I wrote, but that's okay. Now I have to figure out some way of telling the story I want without invoking the device that I did. Oh well, rb2 was coming slow anyway and I was about to scrap it and rewrite again, so it's not the biggest of deals.

Part of me is pondering getting one, the other part of me knows that isn't the wisest of ideas, and a third part of me just wants to do it again. The problem, I suppose, is convincing somebody to go along with me.

But yeah, I had a blast, and ccon goes well, and I'm having a good time, and I don't want to go home. Thanks to flaim and funjon for organizing the trip, and jenkitty and ryoganox for being so patient with me while I was learning.

And I'm finally coming off the adrenalin high.

Yeah. It was definitely fun.

Comments

[archangelbeth]

Neat!

I need to get classes or something. I have a sentimental attachment to one of my grandmother's pistols (the other, I said my mom could ebay), and I want to have it as more than a slightly dangerous heirloom I don't know how to use.

I did do some shooting once, long ago. It was... scary, how easy it was.

My eye's going to be troublesome. I'm right-eyed normally...

[tropism.livejournal.com]

I did do some shooting once, long ago. It was... scary, how easy it was.

The ultimate in point-and-click technology! ;)

My eye's going to be troublesome. I'm right-eyed normally...

Why's that going to be a problem? You can use either eye whether you shoot left or right (with a pistol, at least.)

[archangelbeth]

The ultimate in point-and-click technology!

Close! O:D

I'm right-eyed (took archery in early college), but I've developed histoplasmosis in my right eye. This distorts... well, everything in my fovea now. The actual blind spot is small. The distortion may fade or be compensated for (eventually) if the histoplasmosis will "go into remission" from the cold-laser treatments, but until then, I have some nasty double-vision issues because of how screwed up my right eye's vision is.

So I'd have to shoot left-eyed, which is sub-optimal -- at least in archery -- and especially odd for being a right-hander, I'd suspect.

[tropism.livejournal.com]

Aaaaah. :)

I suspect that it's rather less of a disadvantage in riflery and pistolry, since you need less arm strength, and, in teh case of pistols, can shoot with either eye when holding in your main hand. Actually, in a lot of cases, you can do that with a rifle too. Whatever you train to do will eventually work -- it's being consistant that's necessary.

[archangelbeth]

Mmmm. Thanks. It gives me hope.

(And apologies to Katster for taking over her comments here!)

[jwmo.livejournal.com]

my name is katster. i AM the NRA.

[tropism.livejournal.com]

*grins* If you think a 9mm has a kick, you've gotta try a shotgun or a .306 rifle...;)

Fun, though, ain't it?

o/~ Katster's got...err, shot...a gun o/~

[wind-wraith.livejournal.com]

Isn't it amazing? What I remember most is with those nasty duck guns...the more kick the more you have to relax and lean in....lean away and it bashes your shoulder something painful!) Ouch

But I'm envious. I have no idea where a rifle range is here and I've always wanted to try some other kinds!

[chaoswolf]

It was so cool though! Admittantly I don't know anything about guns, but I do know that people kill people with them.

Nice meeting you!

[nvdaydreamer.livejournal.com]

Can't say I recommend gun ownership, even though I grew up in a household with more firearms than many small countries. Target plinking is fun, and comparing types is interesting, and I confess I really really really want a Charter Arms AR-7 "Explorer" ... this is a .22 rifle that disassembles and stores into its own (waterproof, bouyant) stock.

But I have a house with kids, and I see too many news reports about accidents or mischief to feel comfortable with a firearm in my house. And there are other factors as well. So, not for me, for sure.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

I would suggest that you fire at least one round from a .357 magnum (and then fire a .38 round from the same gun). It's an experience.

Gun folks tend to be some of the most friendly and helpful people around, by the way, and have no problem whatsoever dealing with new folks. (Well, new folks who respect the safety rules, and don't seem like Rambo wannabes.) Getting someone to go with you (or getting someone at the range who's willing to show you the ropes) usually isn't hard.

... Dot dot dot.

[aris-tgd.livejournal.com]

I just met chaoswolf at this year's Baycon.

Dude.

I know you're not going to get this until you get back, probably, but... uh, dude. Synchronicity and alla that.

(Oh, yeah, back from Pinecrest.)

And I need to learn how to shoot a gun at some point. noahbrand was very insistent that all us pinko hippies from Reed need to learn how to shoot. So if I'm ever in the area and you want to organize a shooting range trip, look me up.

Don't do it!

[shmuelisms.livejournal.com]

To the limited extent that I know you, and to the even more limited validity that "net psychology" is relevant, my advice is avoid getting a gun at this point in life. I think, we two, have some of the same "issues", such as Depression, and I already own a hand-gun (a 9mm CZ75-C).

While guns ARE really cool to shoot, and are VERY empowering, especially considering that I'm pretty much incapable, on whatever deep level, of entrusting anybody else to make me "feel safe". But guns are also Death on a Stick [Tm]. All it takes is about 5 seconds of giving in to a building weakness, and you could be dead. At times, when I am aware that I am becoming extremely depressed, I'll ensure that my gun is NOT immediately available, and at times, I've had friends ask me, if I thought it was a good idea for me to be carrying the gun at all. I don't know what to tell them...

You be careful out there, and take good care of katster!