Last weekend, our Guns Save Life Defense Training crew had a unique opportunity to grow America’s gun culture beyond the students enrolled. One student, a public school teacher, brought her well-behaved 8-year-old daughter along to the class. The young lady even spent some time behind the rangemaster, watching her mom and a gaggle of other students firing their first shots with great interest.
We noticed her interest in guns and shooting, along with how well she listened and behaved. Toward the end of the day Saturday, our instructor team must have been reading from the same hymnal. Even before I’d asked mom if we could let Ruby Jean do some shooting while the students were in a lecture segment, others had already asked mom about letting the little girl shoot. Mom enthusiastically gave her blessing and consent – along with her precious little girl.
Ten minutes later, we had Ruby Jean all set up and started with a quick review of the gun safety rules and how to make a little Ruger Wrangler cowboy-style single-action pistol go bang.
While she understood the “Keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction” right out of the gate, the “Keep your finger off the trigger” part of things took a couple of minutes, but Ruby Jean proved herself a quick learner.
Things quickly came together. Minutes later, we had her almost ready to fire her first shot.
And then she got her chance. BANG! Nothing but smiles. As you might imagine, she was pretty stoked after firing her first shot with the tame-shooting Wrangler with .22 target loads. And we gave her a souvenir – the spent shell case from that first shot. A priceless memento she can carry with her forever if she chooses.
It didn’t stop there. Ruby spent the better part of an hour shooting.
Then Sunday, while mom sat in on a deadly force lecture, we had Ruby Jean back out shooting a Savage Rascal rifle and more trigger time with the Wrangler. Only this time, she barked commands at the target before firing.
“Get out of my house!” BANG!
“Get back!” BANG!
The precocious little girl had soaked up more than we thought at the home defense lecture segment and in the range segments. She had learned all about the role of guns in self-defense both in the home and for personal defense.
We created a very happy little girl who will remember this past weekend for many years if not the rest of her life. Welcome to the gun culture Ruby Jean.
Great job to our instructors Nick and Rosie for their great work growing America’s gun culture one infectious smile at a time.
This is what it’s all about. Educating our youth about gun safety, while creating fun and happy memories for a lifetime.
Lessons that will be passed on for generations.
☝️That!
I just spent 8 weeks teaching youth aged 7 to 17 how to show safely. BB’s, pellets, .22LR, and 20 gauge. That’s how I protect the 2nd Amendment. Fun with a purpose. Best kids in the world.
Education is liberation. Indoctrination is suppression. I always that simple.
Yes! I have three kids, a boy and two girls, and even here in Old Europe, I could bring them all to the range at 11. I’m RO there and have often time for them.
Great experience! Kids listen and behave much better than many grown ups.
And that teaches them more about personal responsibility than anything else!
Now I can enjoy my collection of handguns and milsurp rifles a lot more than before.
A tad expensive, maybe…;-D
On the East Coast from Maryland north that .22LR spent case can cause a heap of trouble (especially if found in a vehicle). N.J. & D.C. have sent good ‘folks’ to prison over spent casings,,, no joke.
Good lord. 🙁
Nice work John !!
Great job GSL!!!
So this is what Santa Claus does during the summer months. GREAT summer job! The future of our sport is these kids. So glad to see her all smiles. Keep up the good work, guys! I was 40 before I touched a gun.
That is very nice to see. Keep up the good work.
Readers at this site: please do everything practical to do the same with responsible people of all ages. Example, I recently assisted a woman in her mid 60s. I showed her safe firearm handling and helped her determine which firearm platform would be a good choice for her to purchase. A couple weeks later she purchased her very first firearm–a simple and inexpensive revolver chambered in .22 LR. She, too, was all smiles when she shared her news about her purchase.
My kids were 8 years old when they got their first Crickett rifles. One in pink and one in black – $99 each. We still enjoy shooting them to this day.
One day, if I am so blessed, I hope to shoot them with my grandchildren.
Great job. She had a great teacher
Kudos to the crew involved in the monumental effort! The little princess’s smile is so endearing to see! I can only imagine how happily she must tell her friends about her experience, and we should hopefully see many more young people influenced by her!
In my own little way, I am working with an Indian-origin group in Houston TX (we are also organizing chapters in Dallas-Ft Worth, Austin, Seattle, Washington DC, Chicago and San Jose) to promote gun safety and marksmanship training to young people. Of course, we will need to follow the laws at each location, but Texas currently allows children 7 and up to shoot if accompanied by a parent after the parents sign a disclaimer at ranges. We get the children started on Cricket rifles and then get them to “graduate” to Tippmans, Ruger 10-22s and Walther P22 pistols. For older children of 15 and up, we also offer the opportunity to shoot 9mm pistols and PCCs.
The response has been overwhelming and interestingly, it has mostly been women and girls who have been the most enthusiastic. Of course, we would like to collaborate with other Community groups, and the NRA has offered us support. Individuals at many organizations – my dear friend Oleg Volk and Tennessee based coach Josiah Maldonado, friends at BassPro, Primary Arms and several companies have also volunteered. We also have volunteer police officers, veterans and firemen and women helping us. I do think this kind of initiative needs to become popular across the US if our rights are to be preserved. And, even in hoplophobic states like California, the interest in guns and shooting is definitely strong. Time to fan the spark into a warm flame!
Terrific work John, Rosie D, Uncle Nick and the entire group of hard working volunteers at Guns Save Life!
This is the kind of teaching, training and education that the fake news media should have been covering ages ago. Very proud for this young lady and her mother who have been able to shun the brainwashing of the left to empower themselves with the proper knowledge and training to protect themselves and their loved ones and perhaps (hopefully) enjoy the sport and recreation of plinking, shooting and marksmanship.
You all have done good! Bless you all!
those dirty coons dont deserve guns!
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