I’m going to take a moment to talk about one of my favorite subjects: the combination of women’s fashion and concealed carry.  One of my favorite stores, Vince, just rolled out their fall line and I went in to take a look around (I know it’s still summer, this is how the fashion world works, don’t stress too much trying to figure it out).  Of course whenever I shop for clothes I end up thinking about how I would be able to, or perhaps not be able to, carry with a particular garment.

Right now seems to be the time to put that P238 in an appendix holster because the designers are actually giving us clothes we could carry with.  In fact, what I noticed wandering the mall is that loose shirts with pleats or ruching seem to be everywhere in the fall lines.  These loose-bottom pleated shirts are perfect for carry — the way they bunch means you have room to stash a small firearm and the pleats mean printing isn’t going to be a problem since there are already lines and folds in the fabric.

Read the entire article here:

https://gunnuts.net/2011/07/05/concealed-carry-fashion-report/

You just finished reading Concealed Carry Fashion Report on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

I will admit, I was a bit nervous going in as, based on the course descriptions, these were going to be way beyond anything I had ever encountered in my gun experience. Just reading about Garret’s background made me think, “OK, what am I signing up for?”, but when we spoke on the phone, he assured me that I wouldn’t be the weakest link and that I would have a lot of fun.

Ok, let me give you a little background on Garret so you can understand my apprehension.  He’s an Israeli soldier who served with a Special Forces Counter-Terrorism unit named “Duvdevan” in the IDF – which translates to poisonous cherry, as he explained on our way to lunch.  In this role, he was tasked with urban warfare and counter-terror operations in the West Bank.  Um, hello, that’s like the bad-ass Israeli version of Jack Bauer, except for real… Y-I-K-E-S! And here I was, willingly signing up to spend 2 days with Mr. Machine, taking both the Israeli Instinctive Shooting courses he was offering – Basic Pistol and Urban Warfare Tactics!

Don't let his boyish good looks fool you. Beneath that friendly exterior lies an Israeli fighting machine!

I was also worried that I’d be the one woman in a class full of big, burly men that were in special forces or SWAT (or, more likely, thought they were…).  Although in my younger years I had dreams of being a super-spy, this was the first time I was taking any sort of serious tactical training.  Fortunately what I found in the class was a welcoming environment, where Garret treated everyone equally, and a class of people who all had their strengths and weaknesses to work on – whew!

The class itself was wonderful, if not painful.  We began the day with SAFETY!  Pretty much the most important thing when handling firearms.  Not only did Garret ensure our ammo was all locked safely in our cars as we would begin with dry firing, but he taught us how to clear the firearm properly, which we did after every exercise.  This immediately put me at ease.  Part of it was to instill a culture of safety, but also to get us used to doing these exercises to the point where they become muscle memory. I do know that since the course I always clear my Glock the way he taught me.

Garret was also excellent at quickly recognizing my areas of weakness and offering suggestions for improvement.  While going through the various exercises both in dry fire and with live fire, he would yell at me to fix my mistakes or move more quickly… ok, so maybe a bit scary in the beginning, but eventually it went from fear to something that made me want to do everything correctly and as quickly and safely as possible in order to prove to Garret that not only was I listening to what he was teaching us, but I was taking those lessons and putting them into action.  I realize now the reason he did this to simulate, as close as possible to the real thing, a stressful situation that I could find myself in when using my firearm; this actually ended up helping me focus more on the task at hand.  He was also ensuring I would think about everything that had to be done to get from the start of the exercise to slowly clearing the gun.  One of the most important lessons I learned is that speed is not always the most important thing – staying aware of my situation, even it it meant taking an extra half-second to think through it, ensured that I acted in a safe and appropriate manner.

You might be wondering what I learned during these two days of hell training.  On day 1, I learned the ideal body shooting position, drawing from concealed carry, jam correction, proper body positioning for search mode versus distance clearing mode, and even what to do if you fall while shooting, among other things. Day 2 was much more intense and included using cover, how to clear and search rooms, doorways and hallways (which, as Garret explained, any city or location can be viewed in this way), how to shoot as both a driver and a passenger in a car, and much much more.  The photo below doesn’t do it justice, but is a small sample of what I got to do.

Garret demonstrates proper technique for shooting a target through a doorway.

Now, people who know me know that I’m both über-competitive and a perfectionist (yes, I’m a proud Type-A), so I did have to constantly remind myself that when Garret learned these skills and many, many more, he did it over 24 grueling months of training and three years of active duty service.  So the fact that I was good-not-great (-sometimes-bad) was OK by me.  And the best part is that I got both Garret’s book Israeli Security Concepts and his DVD Ultimate Israeli Instinctive Shooting and Pistol Combat Training so I could continue practicing these skills long after he returned home.

It was interesting, near the end of day 2, Garret asked us which was more important – training or experience.  I knew the answer to be experience, but at the same time I think a combination of the two are just as important.  You can have great experience but with no training, you might not be doing things correctly.  So ladies, here’s my advice to you: if you see a firearms course that looks interesting you to, check it out and sign up for it.  Even if it seems too advanced.  If you’re with a great instructor like Garret, he or she will be able to cater the training to yours and others progress, and instill a new confidence in you that you previously didn’t have.  However, if you choose to take one of Garret’s courses or any course for that matter, heed a few pieces of advice:

• You should be familiar with your firearm – you end up putting around 200+ rounds through your firearm each day, so this is not a time to be trying out something new.
• You should be in fairly good shape – I wasn’t the best, I wasn’t the worst, but I certainly have stepped up my strength training so that when Garret comes for the next round of training, I’ll be better prepared physically.
• Speaking of being prepared physically – you need to be strong not only in your arms (which is where I concentrated my efforts pre-training) but also in your legs (which I neglected and therefore suffered the consequences post-training). If you need some tips, we put together a post on exercises for shooting recently.
• Individual courses should be part of a larger training program – as with any pursuit, training and experience are necessary to become even proficient in it, so once you sign up for this or any other firearms training course, make sure you continue to practice what you learned long after the instructor leaves, and continually educate yourself.  This can even be in the form of participating in IDPA – I did so a week after my training with Garret and the women I shoot with mentioned a noticeable change in my ability!

So what was I left with other than a sore body and a few cuts & bruises?  A new confidence when carrying my pistol, skills that I continue to practice so they become “muscle memory” and I’m comfortable using them, a huge appreciation for what the men and women of Israel’s military go through, a stronger sense of the ability to defend myself in certain situations, and in the words of Bridget Jones, let’s face it, a bit of a crush now, actually! 

——————————–

If this sounds like something you’re interested in, Garret travels around the country offering various training seminars that are part of the Israeli Professional Tactical Training (IPTT), which is a program under the International Haganah Federation (IHF).  It consists of 21 individual training segments, including the two I took.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t give a great big Texas-sized shout-out to Dan from Austin Self Defense, who coordinates the IPTT training for the Central US region – without his help this never could have happened.  If you’re interested in self-defense courses in general, Austin Self Defense is a great place to do it.  Honestly, if they weren’t located so darn far from where I live, I’d definitely be taking part in some of their regular programs, which include Krav Maga, Haganah, and other fitness; some of the self defense-specific courses they have are hand-to-hand tactics and self defense as well as tactical knife courses.

Garret has plans to be back in the Central Texas area every couple months, and we’re happy to get you in touch with Dan from Austin Self Defense if you’re interested.  His email is dan@austinselfdefense.com and his phone number is 512-918-9999.  If you’re in the Miami area and want to learn more or set up some training, call 954-475-2333, and in New England, 610-888-8212.  If you’re located elsewhere or have any questions for Garret, you can reach him at garretmachine@yahoo.com.  Just be sure and tell Dan & Garret that Katie from GG2G sent you!

You just finished reading Tactical Training with Garret Machine on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

I wasn’t quite sure where to start on my quest for my first concealed carry handgun, so I headed down to the range and chatted with the guys there about some solid recommendations.

As we’ve mentioned before in our posts, it is critical to try out a gun before you buy it. No one can do it for you. This is a very personal experience and only you can know which one fits you best. If you take the time to do it right, your weapon will be the  firearms equivalent of your favorite pair of jeans: cute, comfy, and reliable. That said, here is my list of a few choices to get you headed in the right direction. If you don’t see your fave on the list, leave it in the comments section below.

Kahr PM 9mm

Kahr PM9

Suggested Retail: $786.00

Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 6+1, 7+1 (magazine with grip extension)
Operation: Trigger cocking DAO; lock breech; “Browning – type” recoil lug; passive striker block; no magazine disconnect
Barrel: 3.0″, polygonal rifling; 1 – 10 right-hand twist
Length O/A: 5.3″
Height: 4.0″
Slide Width: .90″
Weight: Pistol 14 ounces, Magazine 1.9 ounces
Grips: Textured polymer
Sights: Drift adjustable, white bar-dot combat sights
Finish: Black polymer frame, matte stainless steel slide
Magazines: 1 each: 6 rd flush floorplate & 7 rd extended grip

Glock 19 9mm

Glock 19 (Laser not included. I just thought it looked cool.)

Suggested Retail: $511.00

HK P2000 SK 9mm

HK P2000SK

Suggested Retail: $797

Seecamp .32 caliber

Seecamp .32

Suggested Retail: $446.25

More information available here: https://www.seecamp.com/

Sig Sauer P238  .380

Sig P238

Suggested Retail: $693

You just finished reading Square One for Concealed Carry on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

Ever wonder how you would react when faced with a threatening situation? What if you could actually shoot the bad guy in a real live fire scenario firing non-lethal but realistic ammunition out of your own Glock or Sig? Picture the kind of force on force training used by police officers and the military to simulate a real time crisis situation and now imagine it’s you, suited up and facing off with a gnarly-faced bad guy. We can always practice how we would respond in theory, but what if you could actually practice retrieving your pistol and shooting at the intruder as he was running up the stairs in your home, towards your family? That is what will soon be available, for the first time, with civilian Simunition training.

I was fortunate recently to attend a demonstration of the Simunition program. I arrived early and found myself sitting in a class of fifty men, many present and retired police officers, where we learned what “simunition” is, what types of protective gear are used in the training exercises and how the conversion kits and specially formulated “ammunition” work with most major types of firearms.

The first question to be answered was what exactly is Simunition? It provides realistic training situations to individuals and teams to improve tactical skills and conditioned response to fear. Used since the 1980s to help law enforcement officers, military personnel and emergency response teams, the same life saving training products are going to be within the reach of civilians.

For protective gear, all observers and participants in training wear safety glasses like one would at the range, however hearing protection is not needed. The FX non lethal ammunition, creates realistic gunfire noise, but does not damage the ears or cause any ringing due to the low sound decibels emitted.  All active participants wear a hood with a neck guard and a groin protector as standard attire, a vest and gloves are optional. Being shot feels a bit like a bee sting, enough to make you remember it, but not enough to cause any serious injury.

The actual Simunition firearm system utilizes the frame of most popular firearms onto which a special slide is attached (for a semi-auto). They presently have around 70 different conversion kits for semi automatic handguns and rifles — more are in the works as well. The conversion kit, for example, for the Glock, consists of a replacement slide which is blue in color so as not to confuse it with the real thing. The sights mimic standard factory Glock sights but can be manipulated to match what you would use on your own personal firearm, making the simulation as real as possible. Everything on the gun will work the same way as with normal operation, however the magazine will only load the FX ammo and you cannot chamber a real round in the barrel. The barrel is actually of a two piece construction, specially crafted to fire only the simulation ammunition.

Although this demonstration took place indoors in a classroom, a range environment is best because the training is meant to recreate real combat or confrontations which will bring with it all the stress and adrenaline that one would encounter with a real gunfight. Simuntion is not a game, and it is for this reason that they only approve training for qualified ranges. In our case a range “safe” environment was carefully created in the classroom. A safe direction was established towards the front and blocked off by tables. All participants were required to leave the room and be searched for weapons several times before returning. Once “clean”, participants were able to either watch or participate in the exercises.

First up was firing at paper and three dimensional targets both while standing still and on the move. This exercise demonstrated the way the conversion kits and the ammunition worked. When hit, small red star shaped blotches appeared on the clothing of the “human” targets. The “rounds” are made from a plastic material and filled with a thick soap detergent that is specially formulated to be thick enough to leave the marks. (You can read more about the FX ammunition at www.simunition.com.) If you get hit and have the colored blotches on your clothing you can simply throw it in the washing machine to clean it. I got a chance to fire the Glock 19, which I own. I stood in the safe area with my back to the observers and fired two shots to each of the three dimensional targets. Since this was a demo class the targets were less than ten feet away — so it wasn’t a training exercise as much as it was just to try out the product. It truly feels and performs exactly like the Glock but with less recoil. In my opinion, it felt similar to using my Advantage Arms .22 conversion kit.

Next up, several students left the room to be suited up in protective gear, then came back, one at a time, with their concealed guns and were confronted by an attacker with a knife. Each participant had various levels of firearms training and it was interesting to see how each person reacted to the attack — for example, at what point during the confrontation did they actually reach for their weapon and how close the attacker was to them when they actually fired. In a Simunition training class, the whole scenario was video-taped and replayed for the student, so response time and technique was analyzed. It was interesting to see that all three participants waited too long before they fired at the attackers and although they each had a full magazine available to them, they only pulled the trigger a few times. This would probably not be enough to eliminate the threat, and certainly not enough in those few precious seconds to ascertain whether or not the attacker was still advancing. It is well documented that people who are shot will continue to advance on their victims, either not registering they are injured, or so pumped up on adrenaline or more likely, drugs, they don’t care.

Standard Simunition firearms

Realistic firearms training is hard to come by for most of us everyday people. But there are many who have CCW permits and/or guns sitting in a safe at home that we hope we don’t ever have to use for home defense. Imagine if we could really have an idea of how a confrontation would play out. How great would it be to “wake” up in your bed, reach into the night stand for your personal safe containing your self defense pistol and then act out exactly what you (and your husband and anyone else in the house) would do when confronted by the bad guys. You could acquire the skills and conquer some of the inevitable fear.

The first training of this kind will soon be available at a new state of the art range being created by Gun for Hire, the firearms school in NJ that hosted this demo event. It is definitely worth checking out. (www.gunforhire.com) Target practice serves its purpose in firearms training, but when it’s the difference between life and death we all want to make sure we have what it takes to come out on top.

Thanks, Maggie. This is fantastic information. We look forward to hearing more about Simunition products soon!

You just finished reading Guest Post: Simunition on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

Julie Golob at Steel Challenge

As we dig a little deeper in to the world of firearms, we’ve discovered that there are some pretty interesting circles out there. One of the more fascinating aspects of the gun community is competitive shooting. This goes far beyond the world of skeet and trap or even what you see on Top Shot. Below you’ll find a short list of the more popular shooting competitions in the United States. Because there are so many cool competitions in the US, we’ll tell you about the handgun side of things this time around. Check back soon for more information on shotgun, rifle and mixed firearm competitions.

Last August I hopped in the car for a little road trip to the 2010 Steel Challenge in Piru, CA. I went up there to support  and see my friend and GG’s resident expert, Julie Goloski-Golob, in action. This smoldering day out on the range was my introduction to competitive pistol shooting.

Steel Challenge

Natalie and Julie Golob

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I drove on to the range, but since the Steel Challenge is considered “the ultimate display of speed and accuracy”, I knew I was about to experience an impressive event. When I arrived, it was clear that this was a serious firearms contest. The sponsorship signs were ubiquitous – Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, Glock, Safariland and many more made their presence known. Each company sponsored one or more of the competitors and it was clear that they are proud of their investments. I asked around for the location of the women’s teams and within a few minutes of hunting found some of the top shooters in the world doing exactly what they were born to do.  Everywhere I looked was an Olympic athlete or world champion shooter and they made hitting those targets in record time look like they could do it in their sleep. I had done enough research at that point to be pretty overwhelmed by the general awesomeness of the accomplished ladies around me; just to be invited as a competitor to this event is a huge deal. According to their website, “The Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships are one of the crown jewels of the shooting circuit and the premier professional pistol competition in America. With more than 220 of the world’s fastest shooters competing for over $390,000 in cash and prizes in 2007, it has found a permanent place on the shooting schedules of every major competitive shooter.” Wow. I’m officially impressed.

My favorite thing about these shooters, besides their undeniable talent, is that they are all incredibly affable and welcoming. Besides our friend Julie, I got the chance to chat with several legendary shooters including Jessie Abbate, Maggie Reese (of Top Shot season 2), and Randi Rogers among many others.

Natalie and the Women's Super Squad at Steel Challenge

Essentially, these ladies are in a race to shoot metal targets at varying distances as accurately and quickly as possible. There are, of course, many factors that make this task quite a bit more challenging, including movement and all sorts of regulations. The creators kept this game pretty simple on purpose, however.  According to Mike Fichman, one of the founders, “We wanted a match that was challenging and fun but would also be easily understood by non-shooters who would see the competition and find within themselves a greater desire to join the shooting sports.” Mission accomplished, Mike. This game is perfect for beginners like me! Look for a video about my time at the Steel Challenge to be posted very soon.

Until then you can find more information, including rules and history of the Steel Challenge, by clicking this link: https://steelchallenge.com/

Photography by Jack Nischik

IDPA

The International Defensive Pistol Association, or IDPA, is a shooting sport that simulates self-defense scenarios and real life encounters.  Basically they put you in scenarios that you might encounter in real life and test your ability to handle stressful situations while using your firearm.  There are 5 divisions based on type of firearm:

1. Custom Defensive Pistol (.45ACP semi-automatics only);
2. Enhanced Service Pistol (9mm (9×19) or larger caliber semi-automatics);
3. Stock Service Pistol (9mm (9×19) or larger caliber double action, double action only, or safe action semi-automatics);
4. Enhanced Service Revolver (.38 caliber or larger double action revolvers); and
5. Stock Service Revolver (.38 caliber or larger double action revolvers).

Shooters are also broken into skill levels including Novice, Marksman, Sharpshooter, Expert, and Master.  And this is one of the things GG2G loves about IDPA – you don’t have to be an expert marksman to get involved.  There’s an assumption that you know how to shoot, but you won’t be competing against someone who has no problem shooting the bullseye out of a target!  You also have to demonstrate skills like shooting with one hand and shooting with your non-dominant hand depending on the course.  Katie competed in her first match this past weekend and will post an article about it soon, but if you want to get involved, head on over to the IDPA Club Listing to see if you can find one near you.

IPSC

IPSC (often pronounced “ip-sik”) is the International Practical Shooting Confederation, and might be more along the lines of what you think of when you think “Shooting Competition”.  Whether you’re into handguns, rifles, shotguns, or airguns, IPSC has something for you.  Just like IDPA, there are different rankings depending on your skill-level, and the courses are set up to challenge you.    Check out the description from the IPSC website:

IPSC shooting is dynamic, challenging, and one of the fastest growing shooting sports in the world today. Courses of fire utilize many aspects not found in the more traditional shooting disciplines such as movement by the shooter, moving targets, multiple targets, and the freedom for the shooter to solve the shooting challenges presented in the courses of fire.

In general, the scoring is based on accuracy, power and speed.  I remember talking to one shooter who said the hardest thing for her starting out, after having been a bulls-eye competitor, was running through the courses!

One well-known IPSC competitor you might’ve heard about before is Athena Lee of this season’s Top Shot, who was the 1999 and 2008 IPSC World Shoot Open Women’s Champion.  Check out this video of her showing off her skills.

Click here to view the embedded video.

There are plenty of other exciting shooting games out there. If your favorite one isn’t listed here, let us know in the comments section below. We’ll showcase several more in the near future and we’ll make sure your request is one of them.

You just finished reading Competitive Shooting 101 – Pistols on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

Female-only shooting events of a casual nature can be hard to come by in certain parts of the country. Notwithstanding the ever growing number of women who are becoming educated in using firearms for defense and sport (and are purchasing their own guns) – we can still be a quiet minority in the shooting world. I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen a woman come alone or with a female friend to the range I regularly frequent, rather than with a boyfriend, brother or husband.

Getting the word out and banding together to have a good time sends a great message that we support each other’s commitment and enjoyment in shooting sports for recreation and personal safety.

So it was with pleasure that on Superbowl Sunday I joined a group of gun toting gals who came out to play! With plenty of time to make it home for kickoff, the pregame prep involved making some serious noise. The streets were quiet Sunday morning when the ladies headed indoors for some female only fun.

Hosted by a local range, the ladies event included some coffee and donuts to get the blood moving and then the beginner shooters passed around the Ruger 10/22 rifles and various handguns. The pop pop pops of the small caliber rounds peppered the targets as the women chatted each other up about where they like to shoot, what they like to shoot and what they hope to see for women’s shooting sports in the future.

Ruger 10/22 - A Great Starter Rifle for First-Time Shooters

Due to a smaller number of women shooters in this area of the Northeast and the lack of a women’s shooting club (but not for long!) it is always nice to find a few women who are enthusiastic about their guns and eager to share the thrill of making big holes in the targets. The ammo and the rifles were provided by the range but several women also brought their own firearms. So it was in a friendly atmosphere that they were passed around and everyone who wanted had the chance to try something they wouldn’t have otherwise.

I couldn’t help but think how awesome it was to meet women I would otherwise not have known through a mutual enjoyment of shooting. Stories were told of boyfriends and husbands who refuse to “share” their guns but have no problem sharing their love of driving around to every gun shop in the county on a Saturday afternoon!

When a group of women get together there are no “stupid” questions and no one feels intimidated by the “experience” peering over their shoulders. Even men with the best intentions, and there are certainly plenty who strongly support a female presence in the shooting world, can make a female shooter, especially a new one, feel unconsciously uncomfortable. So every once in awhile it’s great to let your hair down and hang with the girls.

So this group of women let the men buy the beer and chips today – we were still there to watch the game, but not before shaking up the field a bit.

You just finished reading Guest Post: Quality Time with the Girls on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

Hmmm. I wonder if this would count as "printing"?

I believe that now, among Texas Concealed Handgun License holders, 20% are women, and four years ago I joined the ranks of Texas women who have one.  This past weekend I had to complete a renewal course.   Four years ago, the reason I got mine was because I was commuting a lot and there are some roads in Texas where it can be a bit scary to drive late at night or early in the morning.   Of course it’s also my right both as a US Citizen and Texas resident, so why not?  The first time around required 10 hours of my time, including both a classroom and practical shooting portion — yes, thankfully with all the citizens that do carry in Texas, we must prove we can shoot accurately before they’ll let us carry a firearms where it’s legal to do so.  And you can’t just sleep through the classroom portion — you must complete a test.  Luckily the second time around for the renewal, the total time is about 4 hours — phew!

In any case, GG2G fan and friend Julianna Crowder, the Glock Girl herself, invited me to join a group she was instructing.

Julianna, "The Glock Girl" and my CHL Instructor for the Day

We started with the practical portion and although it wasn’t as cold as the other night, it was still cold and windy up at Best of the West in Liberty Hill, which, by the way, is a great outdoor range in the north Austin area.

No that's not me. I would've had more clothes on in the bitter cold!

Then I merely had to sit through the same boring stuff as last time.  Just kidding Julianna!!! In reality, Julianna is a smart woman and decided to use modern technology, unlike the instructor I previously had who gave us handouts to read (hello, not environmentally friendly!). So she lead us through a few PowerPoints covering everything from the basics to the laws we should be aware of.

One of the reasons we love Julianna here at GG2G is that she is sassy just like us. I imagine part of it might have to do with the fact that she’s the only woman in a household with a husband and two teenage boys, but I digress.  She kept things interesting, making jokes at appropriate times and answering all our questions.   My only disappointment was that my training was over before we got to the good stuff — the real world examples of how to handle situations in which one might have to use a handgun in self-defense.  Though for some examples hop on over to Natalie’s post on the Utah CCW class.

But there were some important facts I learned (or re-learned) that I wanted to share with y’all:

• Use of deadly force is only to stop someone who is an imminent threat to yourself or others.
• The NRA sets the standard for safety when it comes to all guns – something that inherently makes sense but I’d never thought of.  It’s the source of GG2G’s safety guidance.
• For all guns, keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot. Seriously.  There are too many stories of accidental discharges where someone takes their gun out of their holster with their finger on the trigger and shoots themselves in the foot.  Google it. You’ll see what I mean.
• When handling semi-automatics, always do a chamber check when it’s handed to you.  Even if the person who handed it to you did so, you should get in the habit of doing it yourself so as to avoid a “negligent discharge” should you not check – sadly, it only takes one time.
• Speaking of “negligent discharges”, there are two major causes of gun accidents – ignorance and carelessness.  Making gun safety inherent in everything you do when handling firearms will keep you and others around you safe.
• In Texas, after the Castle Doctrine was passed in 2007, your car is now considered part of your “castle” and you no longer need a CHL to carry in your car.  However, your handgun must be concealed; this is not true for long guns (I mean really, how would you hide the rifle rack in your truck?).  Check out Texas Custom Holsters for some pretty unique ways of concealing your gun in your car.
• Although Texas has reciprocity with 29 states and our CHL is recognized in 2, it’s always good to check with your destinations and/or the states you will be driving through if you plan to travel with your firearm.

Look at all that green! Yeehaw!

• If you’re looking for some online resources, especially if you’ll be traveling, check out HandGunLaw.US and OpenCarry.org.
• If you get pulled over, even if you’re not carrying that day, it’s always a good idea to hand the officer both your DL and CHL, because it’ll come up when he looks you up in his computer anyway, and let’s be honest, you really don’t want to give cops a reason to be annoyed with you, right?
• There is lo legal limit (in Texas) for intoxication and carrying. Yes, you read that right. I’ve always thought it was 0.08 like with a DUI. But here in the great state it’s all up to the officer to decide if you’re impaired. To be honest, I kinda like this. Because even though your BAC might read 0.08, if you’re a 5’2”, 100-lb girl this can be much different than, say, a 6’4”, 220-lb man. But this also means that you could’ve had one beer an hour ago and the cop thinks you’re intoxicated regardless of your BAC.

Overall, it was a good refresher, especially as I think Julianna covered more than I remember from the first time around.  And I highly recommend that if you’re a woman looking to get your CHL in Central Texas, see if you can get into one of her classes.   It really is less intimidating learning from a woman than from a man!

You just finished reading Why Not to Mess with Texas Women on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

So I spent an entire Saturday at the range. Theoretically that should be fun, right? Rather than practicing my aim, however, I was learning more rules. Now, obviously, obeying rules is incredibly important when it comes to handling guns. And while listening to rules and stories may not exactly qualify as fun, it is much more important than perfecting your aim.  Where I live in California, it is almost impossible to carry concealed legally.  I chose, instead, to take the Utah concealed handgun class because I travel enough to make it worth it, even if I can’t carry in LA. Utah’s certification process holds reciprocity with 33 states, and fortunately for me, they provide classes out of state. The length of the class varies depending on how many people attend as well as the instructor’s personal caveats, which in our case were well worth it.

Items either learned or reinforced during the class:

• First and foremost, TRAIN. When you do, you will develop critical “muscle memory” that could save your life if you ever end up in an altercation in which you need your gun. Things get crazy in dangerous situations and being prepared will make you much safer. By training you’ll also learn vital information about firearms that will make you more safe every time you’re at the range. Soon you’ll be sharing that information with others and making the (gun) world a safer place.
• Ammo is trickier than you think. You’d assume that any 9mm round will fit in a 9mm gun, right? Turns out that is not always the case. For instance, if you put a 9mm Black Talon round into 9mm Glock 19, not only will it not fire, it will do damage to the firearm. The casing of that particular ammunition differs from conventional 9mm rounds and impedes it from making it’s way past the chamber of the gun. This is yet another example of why it is vital to ask questions. There are plenty of unforeseen variables especially when it comes to ammo. There is no stupid question, so ask away.
• Ammo ages. Add that to the list of incentives to put some rounds through the barrel of your gun and keep your stock fresh. We heard a story about an elderly man whose home was invaded and he had not fired his revolver in a decade or two. When he cocked it and squeezed the trigger, the gun made a “thunk” sound and the bullet landed 5 feet from him. Probably not a super comforting sound to the poor fella. Fortunately, the thief realized that he might not be so lucky with the next round and he fled.
• Any time you draw your firearm under duress, in public or in private, immediately call the authorities when you see that it is safe to do so. We heard about instances in which a criminal called 911 to throw them off his trail. The bad guy gave the victim’s description as if he/she were the perpetrator, thereby confusing police, allowing more time for the bad guy to get away and causing untold difficulty for the actual victim of the crime.  Criminals can be smart and it is vital to protect yourself if you’re ever in this situation. After any encounter with a bad guy, call the police and immediately let them know what happened, that you have a weapon and whether you used it. Give them the bad guy’s description and then yours.
• A bad guy wielding a knife, as opposed to a gun, is 10-15 times more aggressive and intent on killing. Eeesh! If you come up against one, keep that statistic in mind and protect yourself as necessary.

Nolan, our instructor who just happens to be a deputy Sheriff in LA, also gave us some interesting insights that I had never considered about scenarios in which people used their guns. Unfortunately, having been to both Somalia and Iraq for our country in addition to policing the streets of Los Angeles, Nolan is all too familiar with scenarios that call for life and death decisions. He shared several stories with us that made us think twice about when to use our concealed weapons.

Note: The stories you’re about to read are not for the faint of heart and they involve children. Normally I wouldn’t discuss events that are so heartbreaking and disturbing. There are plenty of blogs out there that do that and I’d rather not add to the noise. In these cases, though, the stories illustrate vital points that would otherwise be lost if not for the gravity of these situations.  If you’re a bit tender-hearted and you’d rather skip to the end, look for the ***asterisks***. That will be your cue that it’s safe to jump back in. That’s for you, mom.  Here we go:

An off-duty police officer walked in to a McDonalds with his family.  The clerk told him, not knowing he was a police officer, that they were being robbed and the thief was in the back office with the manager at gunpoint. The officer had rehearsed worst-case scenarios with his family and they knew exactly how to react. He had his gun on him and once he made sure his family was safely in the car and that they had called 911, he went back in to take down the bad guy. The thief walked out not seeing the officer crouched behind a counter. He yelled, “Police! Drop your weapon!” The thief, being a criminal, started shooting at the officer rather than complying. The cop shot back – three shots to the chest. The bad guy dropped. The cop had done his job and done it well, even off duty. What he did not anticipate was that a 12 year-old girl would be struck one of the robber’s bullets. She died there on the floor. Had the officer waited for the on-duty guys to show up, the girl would likely still be alive today.

A man was with his 3 year-old daughter and walked in on a robbery at a bank. He got out the door with her and told her to stay behind his car. Once he was at a safe distance from his shielded daughter, he engaged the robber with his concealed weapon. In the midst of the chaos, he heard shots fired from behind him – in the direction of his daughter’s hiding place. He ran to help her but it was too late. She bled to death from the gun shot wounds. The bank robber had a get-away driver who was watching the scene and saw the man attempt to intervene in the crime. After the driver was caught and sentenced he told authorities that he shot the daughter so the man would be too busy attending to her to see the get-away car and which direction they went.

In another bank robbery situation, the bad guy pulled a gun on the teller and told her to give him money. He was unaware that the guy behind him was an off-duty Sheriff. The officer drew his gun and told him to get on the ground. Behind him, however, was the robber’s accomplice, who drew his gun and killed the Sheriff.

**********************************************************************************

Lessons learned from these tragic stories:

Be aware of your surroundings and know that you are most likely not seeing everything. You could very easily be outnumbered without realizing it.

Don’t be a hero. Call the authorities. Your concealed weapon should only be used if there is an immediate risk of death or physical harm. Use your brain in every situation and consider the consequences, known and unknown.

Above everything, operate with a reverence for human life. You are not there to punish the bad guy, only to stop him from harming or killing. These situations are exceedingly rare and we should be very slow to pull out our guns.

Along with the ability to shoot comes great responsibility. The famous phrase, “To whom much is given, much is required,” comes to mind.  Owning a gun is a right and a privilege in the United States and it should be honored as such by both our government and those of us who own firearms.  At the risk of being a bit of a Debbie downer, it’s incredibly important to consider the lessons learned at my concealed carry class. If you have other insights, I welcome them. Please leave them in the comment section below.

One last note I’d like to mention deals specifically with restraint. As we all know by now, the recent events in Tuscon exceeded an average citizen’s worst nightmare. But a surprising bit of activity, or inactivity, has been missed by much of the media.  It has come to light that there were plenty of concealed carry permit holders with their weapons on the scene when Jared Loughner opened fire. There was, of course, a great deal of confusion at the time. People ran in every direction. Some dropped to the ground, others froze in terror. In all of that chaos and with all of those weapons, I find it fascinating that the only bullets fired were Loughner’s. Yes, others drew their guns in preparation, but they did not fire. These people demonstrated restraint and did not pull the trigger because they were not 100% certain of the full scenario and because there were too many innocent people in the area who could be injured by stray bullets. I shudder to think what might have occurred if someone had been less careful or wanted to “save the day” with his or her weapon. But it’s important to point out that didn’t happen. Concealed carry permit holders are exceedingly responsible citizens. I’ll be proud to join their ranks very soon.

If you’re interested in attending a Utah Concealed Weapon class, click the link for more information: https://publicsafety.utah.gov/bci/concealedinstructors.html

You just finished reading Concealed Carry Class on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

This weapon is a serious hand cannon and you’ll want to take some extra precaution when you shoot it. The first time I handled a Desert Eagle, my initial observation was how much heavier it is than other guns of its class. I was pretty nervous about firing this weapon and when the guy behind the counter laughed after I requested to rent the gun, my anxiety wasn’t exactly quelled. He handed me the gun and then told me that the ammunition price was $2.50 per bullet. Yes, seriously.

Let me put it in to perspective. Here you see an image of a .22 (bottom), a 9mm (middle), and a .50 caliber Desert Eagle (top). This thing kicks harder than a Chuck Norris roundhouse and I know more than one sturdy guy who says it is a difficult gun to hold on to after squeezing the trigger. It is also super duper accurate and has been featured in over 500 Hollywood movies including Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle and Austin Powers in Goldmember.

You can find more information on the Desert Eagle at GunUp.com or at MagnumResearch.com. Click on the links or cut and paste them in to your browser.

https://www.gunup.com/pistol/magnum-research/desert-eagle/mark-xix

https://www.magnumresearch.com/index.asp

For your bonus viewing information and pleasure, I’ve included a video of Demi Moore in from Full Throttle with her famous gold Desert Eagle. In Spanish.

Click here to view the embedded video.

You just finished reading Gun of the Week: Desert Eagle on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!

But, we thought we’d make up a very special 12 Days of Girl’s Guide to Guns Christmas song.

But first, check out this great rendition from an amazing A Capella group “Straight No Chaser” from Indiana University.

Click here to view the embedded video.

And now, for the Girl’s Guide version (yes, please sing it in your head):

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

An antique single shot pistol!

J. Stevens Offhand #35 Single Shot Pistol

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

A double-barreled shotgun

Double Barrel Side-by-Side

and an antique single shot pistol!

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

An M3 Submachine Gun

M3 Grease Submachine Gun

a double-barreled shotgun, and an antique single shot pistol!

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

An M4 Carbine

M4/M4A1 5.56mm Carbine

an M3 Submachine gun, double-barreled shotgun, and an antique single shot pistol!

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

Five gold rings!!

What? We’re women. We always like shiny, sparkly things!

an M4 Carbine, M3 Submachine gun, double-barreled shotgun, and an antique single shot pistol!

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

A Colt Frontier Six Shooter

Colt Frontier Six Shooter

Five golden rings, an M4 Carbine, M3 Submachine gun, double-barreled shotgun, and an antique single shot pistol!

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

Seven swans… for hunting

What? Don’t judge.

A Colt Frontier Six Shooter, five golden rings, an M4 Carbine, M3 Submachine gun, double-barreled shotgun, and an antique single shot pistol!

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

A .38 Special

Smith & Wesson 38 Special Model 10-5

Seven swans for hunting, a Colt Frontier Six Shooter, five golden rings, an M4 Carbine, M3 Submachine gun, double-barreled shotgun, and an antique single shot pistol!

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

A 9 millimeter

CZ 75 B 9mm

A .38 Special, seven swans for hunting, a Colt Frontier Six Shooter, five golden rings, an M4 Carbine, M3 Submachine gun, double-barreled shotgun, and an antique single shot pistol!

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

A 10-gun safe for keeping

Sentry® Safe 10 Gun Combination Lock Safe

Here at GG2G, we’re all about Safety First!

A 9 millimeter, .38 Special, seven swans for hunting, Colt Frontier Six Shooter, five golden rings, M4 Carbine, M3 Submachine gun, double-barreled shotgun, and an antique single shot pistol!

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

A 1911

Volkmann Custom 1911 .45ACP pistols

A 10-gun safe for keeping, 9 millimeter, .38 Special, seven swans for hunting, Colt Frontier Six Shooter, five golden rings, M4 Carbine, M3 Submachine gun, double-barreled shotgun, and an antique single shot pistol!

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

A 12-gauge shotgun

Benelli Nova 12-gauge

A 1911, 10-gun safe for keeping, 9 millimeter, .38 Special, seven swans for hunting, Colt Frontier Six Shooter, five golden rings, M4 Carbine, M3 Submachine gun, double-barreled shotgun, and an antique single shot pistol!

You just finished reading 12 Days of (GG2G) Christmas on Girls Guide to Guns. Please consider leaving a comment!