EXCITED chatter echoes through a room filled with young women. Clutching bags of ammunition, they are bursting to get outside and get their hands on a gun at the Madden Rifle Range at Belmont, in Brisbane's east.
They're there as part of Brisbane City Council's Real Adventure Women (RAW) activities program.
The Women Take Aim shooting activity gives women the chance to use several different guns – including shotguns, pistols and rifles – to shoot targets at the shooting range.
One of the group leaders, Stacey Wedlock, 23, says that when she first came to the range a year ago with her friend Megan Cottan, there were about 40 women, around half the present turnout. "It has just exploded. A lot of people who had been before have brought friends. That's how it has started to build," she says.
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"We didn't know what to expect – at first we thought it would be a bunch of rednecks," Wedlock says, adding that she and Cottan decided not to tell anyone where they were going.
And isn't that the usual story. People in this society have so many preconceived notions about something that they won't allow themselves to experience it so that they can find out for themselves.
There is SO much misinformation out there that is propagated by what is termed to be the "Gun Control" crowd. Here's a hint: The people who run the target-shooting clubs and organisations like the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia and the National Rifle Association, or NRA, in America are the TRUE proponents of gun control. These organisations seek to teach and educate and to remove firearms from the possession of those who seek to do harm to others. The leftie-losers who claim to be the "gun control" crowd are actually gun prohibitionists - they want everyone to be disarmed, to not have an interest in something that they don't find interesting, to not develop a skill that they could never master, and to be at the mercy of the lawless.
But they enjoyed their first experience so much they decided to do it again with a large group of friends.
Wedlock is now a RAW leader, spends weekends at the rifle range and after undergoing training has applied to get her firearms licence.
Most Sporting Shooters Association of Aust (Qld) members are males, but president Don Ruwoldt says the proportion of females is significant.
There are around 35 females aged between 11 and 18, 45 between 18 and 25, 120 between 25 and 35 and around 600 over 35.
So... average-type women go along to a range to try out something new - they think they're going to be around beer-swilling morons and will be attacked BUT they actually find it to be interesting, fun, challenging and the people there to be quite normal and personable as well? Fancy that.
But shooting is also proving to be popular choice for young women.
Women can benefit from RAW activities says Duffield, because they are able to challenge themselves without committing to the ongoing membership of a club.
In addition, it's a great opportunity to meet new people and be physically active in the outdoors.
"Research from Griffith University shows people become energised and have a feeling of self accomplishment and enjoyment," she says.
According to Duffield the program was designed to encourage women to try activities in a safe and supportive environment.
She said anecdotal information had shown it resulted in a lifestyle change for many women, in that they furthered their participation in the sport once they have given it a go, often by going directly into the club.
So... women are finding it challenging and exciting? That is good. It will also build your confidence and knowledge in areas that will benefit you in other areas of your life. Please, don't try to use the excuse of "I don't want to get hit on by the blokes out there..." because if you go to work, a pub or club, a gymnasium or even a shopping centre, you'll get hit on there just as much or even more.
For information on RAW activities, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
Next shooting day: Feb 3, Madden Shooting Range, 292 Mt Petrie Rd, Belmont, 8am-3.30pm. Contact Don Ruwoldt, ssaabris@technet2000.com.au
I would also suggest you contact the local chapter of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia and learn the truth about firearms from people who know rather than from someone who wouldn't know which end to hold.
Do you go to an astronomer to learn how to build a house? Do you go to a plumber to get a database management system implemented in a business? NO. So why go to a member of the Great Unwashed to learn about a subject of which they know NOTHING?
1 comment:
I've been interested in joining a gun club for a long time, but gun clubs are all way out in the boondocks, as you'd expect, and I don't drive, so I've never been able to put my interest to the test.
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