A different focus...

[jay]

Tonight was the first refresher session for the USGS's "Defense Against Wild Animals" course. The recertification is just one day, so we're expected to go practice shooting before the class. I went to an indoor range in Santa Clara -- two of us and a teacher were working with 12-gauge shotguns. Having not touched a firearm since leaving Devon Island last July, I was a bit tentative at first. My short arms, together with long stocks, led me to keep reaching forward and upset my stance. And I had to practice reloading/unloading shells left-handedly... once I actually managed to load one backwards and had to call the instructor over to show me how to work it back out. Sigh.

The range itself went well... my accuracy was at least as good as last spring, which surprised me. No safety procedure foul-ups, and I followed the range instructions with no problems. My shoulder isn't sore :-). Next week there'll be another evening catch-up session, then the class on 7 April.

Comments

[kitchenwitch.livejournal.com]

As much as I don't really like guns, I do like shooting them. My dad was a gun nut and had a gazillion of 'em, it seems, and he tried to get his daughters to be award-winning marksmen and the like. My baby sister ended up being pretty good and won a couple of tourneys. I was merely okay, and not good at shooting clays either, but boy, was it fun. :)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

It certainly forces one to be in-the-moment, and focussed. And any burglars in Richfield had better beware... ;-)

shooting

[p3aches.livejournal.com]

I love gonig to the range. anytime you want a partner give me a ring.Hugs T

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

I would, if I could check out a firearm for practice. The USGS has an armory and they check them out to employees, but since I work for NASA I can't. If you have access to a 12-gauge, I'll pay for range rental and ammunition...

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

anytime you want a partner give me a ring
oh? (bites tongue ;-)

[technomom]

Defending yourself against wild animals is not something I normally associate with working for NASA. I love reading your posts :-)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

(grin) only if we are attacked by alien lifeforms on other planets, eh? In this case, we do field tests of rovers and space exploration equipment in the Arctic (polar bears eat people). USGS has had a problem with grizzlies attacking field geologists in Alaska, likewise, hence the course.