Guest Blog: First Dates & Firearms

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Natalie in In Words

First Dates and Firearms:

Can a single girl combine her love for the range with love?

He was a handsome attorney from Tennessee that carried a pistol in the glove compartment. When all the girls would ask me where we went on our first date, I’d have an answer that would blow their rooftop cocktails out of the water. I was headed to place that was not made for the damsel in chocolate martini distress. I was headed out west…Wild West Gun Range in the middle of nowhere, Georgia.

I had never even seen a pistol, much less fired one. As soon as we walked in the range storefront, I was jumping like hot popcorn kernels. What had I gotten myself into? Why did I ask to come to the gun range? Shoot me now..oh, wait, scratch that. I had to pull myself together. I picked this as a first date! He pulled out the Smith& Wesson M&P .40 caliber compact and I immediately told him I didn’t like it. Not one bit.

After a long wait for an open lane, my Southern Slinger gives me a quick safety-first spill and then gives me the gun. I just looked and stared. After he shot 15 rounds, it was time to put my big girl britches on and get what I came for: How to Shoot a Semi-Automatic Pistol 101 (while looking cute and not smudging your lip gloss). After all, every woman wants to be Bond Girl to his James, She-rah to his He- man, Angel to his Bossley, and Lois to his Clark. And all I could do was stare down the lane, amazed that real fire came out of a firearm. I picked up the gun, slowly fired, and fifteen rounds later; this Princess of Firepower was done. I told him I was ready to go, he emptied the last magazine and we left.

It wasn’t a first date fail, we actually had nice dinner conversation after the range, but it certainly was a first-trip to the gun range failure. It was two years later; I returned to the gun range on yet another date. (Don’t judge me, you can tell a lot about a guy by taking him to the range see number 4 below). This time, I was cool, calm, collected, (cute, of course!) and hooked. Once I figured out sight alignment, I was right on target, literally! I was hitting center mass like I had been shooting since I was knee high to a grasshopper. It might have been beginner’s luck, but this time, my Georgian Southern Gent left the range calling me a regular Annie Oakley.

What was the difference between my first experience and the second? How can single girls have a great dating and gun range experience at the same time? Here are a few tips for combining your love for shooting with love, period. :

1. Save the gun range for at least date four. Unless you are both avid shooters, you don’t want to go to the range on your first date. The difference between my first and second experience at the range was I knew my date. It wasn’t the first time we had hung out together. We had shared plenty of conversations over dinner before we headed to the range. You don’t have to plan to marry the guy, but you need to have at least built a trusting relationship with him (especially if you’re a newbie to the range). I did most of the shooting on my second time at the range, he watched and corrected me. He was patient and he was a good teacher. The point is spend quality time with the guy you’re going to the range with so you know what you’re getting into before you pull the big guns out ..if you know what I’m mean.

2. Keep the girls covered and leave the red bottom stilettos at home. Yes, it makes a highly-commented on profile picture to be in stilettos while aiming down the lane, but you’ll probably be standing for at least 30 minutes to an hour while at the range. Heels are not particularly helpful with the proper posture either. And while a deep-V, T-shirt may catch his attention, it will catch hot shells as well. Trust me, I’ve been the victim of a hot shell to the chest, and when it hits your overexposed cleavage, it’s going to burn. Furthermore, we’re all ladies, and a lady always keeps him guessing about what she’s working with underneath. So what to wear on your range date? Be cute yet appropriate. If you’re not really a sneaker girl, then go with closed-toed flats, your premium denims, and if you can, layer a long-sleeve jacket or cardigan over your top. While at the range, the sleeves will cover your arms and be sure to button your jacket all the way up to protect your chest. When you go to dinner after the range, simply remove the jacket for a complete look. Side note: lip gloss, mascara, and blush are always appropriate for any occasion at the range.

3. Pick Ladies’ Day to go to the range. No waiting for the next Groupon or Scoutmob for this discounted date. Most ranges offer a day of the week where women can shoot at a discounted rate or even for free. Your date will appreciate your consideration for his pockets or if you’re anything like me, take this opportunity to show him that you have no problems “investing” in the relationship.

4. Last, but not least, safety first. Your time at the range is a great opportunity to discern if your guy is a leader in safety. If you’re not familiar with the gun range, you’ll want to educate yourself on range safety rules before you go. Don’t expect that your date will know everything. While we all want a guy to protect us, we also want to know that he will protect others as well. Watch him. If he has poor safety habits at the gun range, well, he probably practices unsafe behavior in general (ahem, ahem). This is not the guy you want to date, especially at the range.

Most of all, have fun. Dating at the range can be a safe and enjoyable experience!

Carmen Harris lives in Atlanta, Georgia. She likes to play in makeup (she owns a boutique bridal makeup studio www.loveoverlogic.com ) and to play with her new Sig Sauer P229 9mm. And yes, she’s still dating at the range. Follow her on Twitter at @love_over_logic

 

Tags: dating, first date, guest blog