Post by rramom on Mar 25, 2013 15:23:07 GMT -5
Against my expressed wishes, my husband bought a Baby Eagle. I didn't see any reason to own a handgun, because violent crime
hadn't affected me or my loved ones, and if we did have an intruder, the shotgun would suffice. I also feared that a handgun could be used more easily to commit suicide. However, when he showed the gun to me, I had to decide what my reaction would be at that point. I could throw a hissyfit, and cause major damage to our marriage. Or, I could accept that he had made this choice, and I had to live with it. I picked Door #2.
TrailerDwarf wanted to get his Concealed Carry license, and he wanted me to get one too. He pleaded with me, and said that he would pay the costs associated with that, out of his side of the budget. (I'm on the frugal side, and am less willing to spend money on non-necessities than him.) I agreed to take the class with him, and said I'd decide at each step, if I'd move onto the next step.
We live out in the country on 5 acres, so TrailerDwarf had moved some dirt around to make a backstop where we could shoot safely. Wanting to make sure I could pass the marksmanship part of the class, he had me shoot at an antifreeze jug (with some water in it). All I know is that he didn't let me shoot very long, because he was convinced I could pass, and he didn't want me to waste the ammo, because it was pretty scarce then. (Maybe not as bad as now, but still not readily available.)
Bill Regina taught our class - I was the sole female in a class of about 30. It is a good thing I don't have a problem being in a male environment, because I was getting looks from guys like “what is SHE doing in here?” The range portion of the CC class was the
second time in my life that I shot a handgun, and the 4th time I'd shot a firearm of any kind. Only one round was outside of the accepted area of the target, so I was pleased with the results. Dee was very helpful during the range portion, and they let me go last, so most of the class had left instead of watching me.
I hadn't really planned on going to the next step, because I'd never been fingerprinted in my life, and would just as soon stay out of the government's database. But sitting through the class, I realized that if my dear husband left his loaded gun in the car, while he went in a “gun free zone”, I’d be the one breaking the law. So, I decided I’d better go ahead and get the license, so I wouldn’t get in trouble. Getting fingerprinted was a challenge, it took a few tries before the deputy was satisfied with the results.
Not thinking that I would actually carry, I didn’t worry about holsters while we waited for our CCLs to arrive. I went to a gun show for the first time in my life, and looked at some concealed carry purses, mostly out of curiosity, and to kill time while TrailerDwarf looked at stuff he was interested in.
Our CCLs arrived the same Saturday, and we went to the DMV on the following Tuesday. TrailerDwarf thought he would carry the Baby Eagle, and had a Kydex paddle holster for it, I believe. I just had my large tote bag purse that I always carried.
Unfortunately, he didn’t use the waiting period to see how well he could conceal the Baby Eagle in that holster, and found out when we went to do the Wally Walk, that it printed horribly. I ended up cleaning out one section of my purse, and stashing it in there.
TrailerDwarf soon decided that he needed to buy a mouse gun to carry, so purchased a Kel-Tec PF9. I lugged the Baby Eagle around in my purse for awhile longer. Having noticed how the concealed carry purses were made (with usually a side entrance to a separate hidden section), I decided with a bit of sewing, I could just alter my Walmart fabric tote bag purses, instead of paying big bucks for a ready-made CC purse. (I did say I was frugal, didn’t I?) I got used to the idea of having a loaded gun with me, although I had to work up to carrying one in the chamber. I found I liked the idea of having something I could use to “even the odds” if I were to be attacked. My purse was always heavy, even before I added the “lead weights”, so I found myself wanting to leave it on my seat near my husband, if I left to go to the restroom, etc. I did think “what would I do if I was attacked when I didn’t have my purse?”
Then one night, I had a bad dream. I was driving at night, and was stopped. My window was down part way, and a guy was
sticking a gun in that gap, so I was using my left hand to deflect it away from me. I reached down to my purse, and I couldn’t get the gun compartment unzipped with only one hand! Plus, I don’t think I had gotten to the point of carrying one in the chamber, so I couldn’t have racked it single-handily, either. That woke me up to the realization that I needed to start carrying it where I could draw one-handed.
Somewhere during this journey from not wanting anything to do with guns, to carrying one in my purse, I started doing some research on the internet. I read www.corneredcat.com, and a forum sponsored by the Women & Guns magazine www.womenshooters.com/, unfortunately the forum is no longer available. The forum was of immense value to me, as women could discuss not only the practicalities of being new gun owners, but also the emotional baggage so many of us bring along. Men were allowed to participate, but they had to be on their best behavior. I think I read almost every thread on that forum, so it took a few months to read them all, but I needed the education.
I joined KSCCW.com too, and it was somewhat helpful. I felt intimidated there, because if anyone asked what was perceived to be a "dumb question" it seemed like there were more negative responses. So, I mostly sat back and read, accepting that it was an "Old Boys Club" where women were tolerated, but the men would prefer that they wore scanty clothing, and had hourglass shaped bodies.
