At Least This Way They Learned Something…

Ya’ll know (at least my 11 faithful readers) that I am a Lifetime Endowment member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and proud of it.  Ya’ll also know I practice shooting at the range frequently with Devoted Spouse who is also a Lifetime Endowment member of the NRA and is a licensed concealed carry expert.  So I know a little about firearms.  I like them.  I have a healthy appreciation and appropriate respect for them, and most importantly I know how and am not afraid to use one.  That should pretty well sum up my position.

Ya’ll also know I get my blog postings from what goes on around me and some days I see things that I hardly can believe let alone write about.  Today is one of those days.  Sorry as much as I tried to make this humorous it is not a “Ha-Ha” subject. 

Not too far from here there was a Police Academy Instructor who “accidentally” shot himself in his upper thigh during a gun demonstration in front of a bunch of police recruits.  This man, fully qualified, was demonstrating the use of a 9mm Smith & Wesson semi-automatic and he shot himself.  The flippin’ idiot shot himself — in front of police recruits.  Crap on a crutch.

The news article said the students were “disturbed.”  Ya think?  What kind of dork (and a fully trained one at that) shoots himself in the leg during a demonstration?  I’ll tell you what kind.  The kind who isn’t paying attention. 

You can have all the training in the world…you can be a first class shooter…you can have been working with weapons for 30 years, and it only takes one second to make a mistake.  Complacency, being in a hurry, not checking your weapon to make sure there is no bullet left in the chamber when you are done…there are many things that can happen. It is easy to get distracted and when you have a loaded weapon in your hand distraction is not an option.  Stupidity is not an excuse. 

Stories like this one drive me insane because they give the “anti-gun” faction the ammunition they need (pardon the pun) to call all of us who DO use guns “dangerous.”  These stories also add fuel to the fire to allow our government to regulate/and or take away our rights to own and bear arms – rights which we still have last time I checked the 2nd Amendment and lemme tell ya – ain’t nobody gonna take my guns away from me. 

So, yeah, cut me some slack coz today’s blog isn’t real funny unless you get a kick out of this idiot who shot himself when he should have known better.  And once again I feel compelled to remind you guys of the Basic Rules of Gun Safety:

1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
4. KNOW your target and what is beyond.  Think first; shoot second.
5. KNOW how to use your gun safely – get trained before you go shooting.
6. BE sure your gun is safe to operate.  Maintain it just like any tool you would clean and keep in good working order.
7. USE only the correct ammunition for your gun.
8. ON the range, use eye and ear protection – trust me this stuff is loud.
9. NEVER fire your weapon while under the influence of alcohol, over-the-counter drugs, prescription or other drugs.  Even cold medicine can hamper your ability to shoot safely.
10. STORE guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons – two words kids:  gun safe

I remember the first time Devoted Spouse took me shooting – and he had given me lessons prior.  And STILL I unwittingly held my finger on the trigger of a loaded gun before I was ready to shoot — he quickly put his hand on my gun which lowered it and we had a little talk.  Not long after, we took a friend shooting with us – and I had to teach her the same lesson.  You put your finger on that trigger and the gun is loaded you best be prepared to shoot that weapon.  And I’m hoping you are aiming at a paper target.  If you are aiming at an intruder in your home (which is now protected by the Castle Law at least here in OH) you best be prepared to kill that intruder coz he will have no qualms whatsoever over killing you and your family. 

The instructor who shot himself is embarassed, as well he should be.  I imagine he won’t be teaching at that academy any time soon.  I believe his license should be pulled and he should be required to take additional training. 

This can happen to anyone – while guns are a wonderful recreational hobby, they can kill you in an instant.

Be safe kids – pay attention.  And I’ll see you on the pistol range…soon…sigh…

(Here’s where I got the rules:  NRA Gun Safety Rules )

To Resolve or Not To Resolve

I told myself I wasn’t going to make New Year’s Resolutions, and truly I’m not.  Resolutions never work — I resolve and then I cave.  So what is the point in writing out a lofty goal when I know I’ll never get to the halfway point of the goal let alone reach the goal?  What a load of crap.

What I’m going to do here at the end of this year is consider ways to enrich my life in the coming year…ways in which what I do may cause some good and help not only me, but maybe also Devoted Spouse, the trusty canine companion EmmaLou, or any one else whose life touches my own.  Bear with me here as I wax eloquently on not resolutions or goals so much as potential improvements.

Improvement No. 1:  It might improve the lives of many women were I not to make fun of those who wear holiday attire.  I have been known to sport a lovely pair of jeweled poinsettia earrings  at Christmas time and rather enjoyed them.  While I don’t go in for sweaters with pictures of elves and such, I shall no longer make disparaging remarks about those who do enjoy that type of clothing.  I say let these ladies have fun in their Santa cardigans…what possible harm can it be?  Few people make fun of those pseudo-Irish who wear ridiculous green outfits on St. Patrick’s Day…so let’s lay off the ladies in their Santa sweaters.

Improvement No. 2:  It would improve my health tremendously to give up eating red meat.  There, I’ve said it.  Now I must follow through and never let a burger darken my doorstep again.  While I’m not quite ready to totally embrace tofu yet, I will take little baby improvement steps food-wise.  Today toss the burgers; tomorrow buy soy milk.  This will also improve the health of Devoted Spouse but I doubt it will do much for his disposition.

Improvement No. 3:  I’m going to make a concerted effort to widen my circle of friends by joining some type of club or group, be it reading, sewing, or another venture at church.  Touching others improves and enriches us all.  I think I’ll leave EmmaLou at home, though.  What she touches she normally eats.

Improvement No. 4:  The credit card companies make far too much money off interest rate charges and it would be an improvement to my bottom line if I were to pay for items in cash more often than with a credit card.  So Mr. Discover Card is going into hibernation for awhile.  Rebates be damned.  Yes, this will tend to put a crimp in my online shopping forays and I will have to get used to a different routine.  Amazon.com will simply have to get along without me.

Improvement No. 5:  Because I adore her and wish to improve the chances of her enjoying a long, long, doggie life, I will make an effort to take EmmaLou the Golden Destroyer out on more walks and more trips to the nature center she loves to explore.   Then again, given her destructive history, she’s mighty lucky she’s lived this long.  Improvement No. 5 may be negotiable.

Improvement No. 6:  In an effort to boost the economy, I vow to buy and drink more wine in the coming year.  This will improve my heart (or so I’m told), and since I enjoy a glass of wine, it will improve my mood and that, in turn, will improve the quality of life for Devoted Spouse, and well, it’s just a good idea all around.

I think that’s enough improvement for the New Year.   See?   Painless.  Nothing resolved, nothing to be broken.  Simple.

Birdwatching Might Be a Cardinal Sin

One of the more satisfying aspects of retirement is the pursuit of pastimes. Devoted Spouse and I have become novice (dare I say fledgling?) birdwatchers. One of the reasons we flew (sorry) to birdwatching is it’s free. Well, sort of.

We embarked on our bird journey by purchasing a very nice set of binoculars for me; Devoted Spouse already had binoculars. I hadn’t done any research; I just knew I needed some decent binoculars if I was going to successfully locate a very small creature in a very large tree. Devoted Spouse went on the internet and discovered a local bird-stuff store carrying a particular brand of binoculars which were highly recommended. We went; I bought; about $300. Okay – we all spend money on hobbies; $300 isn’t that bad; I truly wanted to be a birder.

Several weeks later Devoted Spouse came to the realization that he, too, was in need of new binoculars. Off we went to the aforementioned bird-stuff store and came out with another pair of binoculars. Another $300. Okay — this is a hobby for both of us, so what’s a few bucks? Did I mention in the meantime I had joined the Audubon Society (for another $20 or so)?

I’m not complaining, mind you. I’ve certainly dropped larger amounts of money on other ill-fated hobbies and pastimes. I can’t count the number of beginning knitting projects I’ve invested in. All those needles and skeins of yarn don’t come cheap. Ask Devoted Spouse about the time I decided I was a pianist at heart — that involved not only lessons, but buying a piano. I periodically buy paints and paint supplies with the intention of unleashing my inner artist. Then there’s the rubber stamping phase — I still have oh about a thousand rubber stamps and more paper than an entire card-making club could ever need. Bottom line is hobbies can be expensive.

So, Monday morning, my friend Teri Ann, who is quite the birdwatcher, came over for breakfast and some birdwatching tips. We spent several hours in my back yard watching the trees for signs of our feathered friends. With Teri Ann’s help, I discovered many birds were living in my back yard – birds I had never heard of before. It was so cool. I’d hear something; Teri Ann would identify the bird, and we would all find it in whichever tree it was perched. This was turning into a fun hobby – I’d already spent the initial money, now I was reaping the benefits. Okay, breakfast cost me a few bucks, but Teri Ann is worth it. (*grin*) Then I find out we’re not using the right “bird book.” My friend suggests I locate Peterson’s Field Guide to Eastern Birds. Okay, I can do that. And, then she tells us of her birding travels — to exotic places like Africa and Costa Rica. Uh-oh. Cha-ching.

I located a copy of the Field Guide and it only set me back about $30. Of course, I couldn’t resist the book of bird songs with a cool playback tape machine attached so you can listen to about 130 different bird songs. And then there was the biography of Mr. Peterson (the Field Guide writer) which really sounded interesting and would make a fine addition to my Summer Reading List…

According to the Knight-Ridder News Service, the inscription on the metal bands used by the U.S. Department of the Interior to tag migratory birds has been changed. The bands used to bear the address of the Washington Biological Survey, abbreviated:

Wash. Biol. Surv.

until the agency received the following letter from an Arkansas camper:

“Dear Sirs:
While camping last week I shot one of your birds. I think it was a crow. I followed the cooking instructions on the leg tag and I want to tell you, it was horrible.”

The bands are now marked Fish and Wildlife Service.

Yes, I’m going to make a great birder.