When reporter Joanna Cattanach arrived to spend an afternoon with DIVA WOW, she had only limited experience with guns. This welcoming group of ladies, of course, insisted that she shoot alongside them. Here she recounts the highlights of an afternoon on the firing range.
Thank God someone had an extra pair of earplugs. I had no idea it was so loud. I felt like my head was exploding when the rifle-range fellas were shooting. And lots of dudes were staring at our colorful group. (By the way, single guys go to the gun range!)
I watched the ladies prep and shoot at the targets. Founder Judy Rhodes let me hold her gun and taught me the basic steps. Point the gun down first. Put your hands at the butt of the gun wrapped around the ends. The tip of your finger rests against the side.
Pull back, push forward, fire. BAAAMMMM!
Damn. I have never shot a handgun before. It was intimidating, but the DIVAs talked me through it. I could hear my heart beating through my earplugs. The first shot was powerful. I'm not gonna lie. I had no idea a handgun kicked like that. I was a little afraid, but it got easier. And finally I hit the paper target.
We shot a couple rounds together, and when I laid the gun back down on the zebra-print table cover, I felt much less scared of the weapon. But even as I type, my hands are still shaking, and my head hurts a little. I can't believe I just shot a gun! I'm a liberal for God's sake! I grew up around shotguns, but I had bad aim and it hurt my shoulder, so I avoided weapons. And most women who do grow up around guns are taught by men (fathers typically).
But the experience of shooting with women is sooo different. It's more fun. It's supportive. The DIVAs cheered when I hit the target, and they didn't make fun when I missed the eight other times.
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