different backgrounds and skill levels were eager to take a course, so he put me in a class with them and designed a modifi ed curriculum to suit all needs. Butler enlisted the assistance of his friend Maggie Reese (no relation to Sammy), also a champion shooter, to work with the women in the class. The session lasted 3 hours; from beginner to seasoned shooter, each of us learned and improved.
Learning Many training facilities will pro-
vide fi rearms for use in their sessions or allow the use of personal weapons. Such was the case with Taran But- ler. I just picked up my new Smith & Wesson M&P after the waiting pe- riod and wanted to get comfortable with it, so I brought it to the class. The other women used Butler’s 1911s, Glocks and SIGs. The introduction (or sales pitch, if you will) was short, as the women didn’t seem to care as much about the differences in models and manufacturers as they did about getting some hands-on experience. Butler proceeded to basic safety and handling, working with one person at a time, as the rest of us watched and learned. It didn’t take long for the ac- tual shooting to begin. Butler and Re- ese took turns working with each of us, instructing at the appropriate level to our experience. In the comfortably warm outdoor setting, we shot at tar- gets set at multiple distances, posing varied levels of “threats.” As the day went on, we continued
to load, shoot, clear malfunctions and shoot some more, all the while getting more comfortable and secure with our weapons. Some of us improved our speed and accuracy as well. We eliminated the steel and cardboard bad guys and saved the lives of hos-
10
tages. Okay, so a couple “hostages” were collateral damage in the learn- ing process, but ultimately, we dis- covered and cultivated our capabili- ties so that we may protect our self and families from danger. Butler also employed the use of an audible timing device and made us perform in front of the group (which included male range assistants and a photographer), to add pressure to the scenarios and help simulate a fraction of the stress of an actual deadly-force encounter. One of the women in the class had
never held a gun until that day. Per- haps she was the only person there surprised at how naturally she would take to it. Like many fi rst-time female shooters, her grip and stance came from an innate sense of what feels right, and was (to the rest of us, not surprisingly) naturally good form. Without any preconceived notions or affected movie macho bluster, women seem to be more ready to learn and settle into good habits from the start. Butler enjoys instructing women be- cause of this, and says he fi nds they often outperform men because of those basic differences. The other three women were also
relative beginners, but had shot be- fore. They didn’t own guns, and two of them had never loaded one or cleared a malfunction on their own. By the end of the session, they were deftly handling their weapons with confi dence — and, might I say, style. We were all smiling when the training concluded and were eager to shoot again. Empowered and confi dent, perhaps the students will now obtain their own pistols knowing they can handle their own personal protection. After the session was over, Butler
and Reese, showcasing their fast, ac- curate shooting skills, treated us to
a demonstration. It was impressive, to say the least. Then Taran let me run through a few timed scenarios he and Maggie were performing. I must say, this was the most fun part of the day for me. Having previously only shot while standing still, it was exciting to move and take cover and shoot fast to take out the “bad guys.” Taran and Maggie encouraged me to get involved in competitions, and it’s tempting. I’m defi nitely competitive by nature and it’s certainly exhilarat- ing enough. I could see myself becom- ing almost as consumed with shoot- ing as I am with golf. Hmmm!
Continuous Training Every new gun owner should go
through a hands-on training course. Without the experience, knowledge and confi dence gained from such a class, gun ownership can be danger- ous for the individual and counter- productive to personal protection. More seasoned shooters can benefi t from training as well, and should con- sider periodic refresher training to sharpen their skills. There are plenty of training courses conducted locally across the country, which aren’t diffi - cult to fi nd. There are the well-known leaders, such as Gunsite and Thunder Ranch, plus the NRA has an Educa- tion and Training Division with certi- fi ed instructors at retailers and ranges all over the US. You can also ask around at local law enforcement fa- cilities for referrals. Classes can range from a few hours to several days, and from under $100 to several thousand. Find the one that’s right for you or someone you care about, and sign up. Or just ask around and you may fi nd an international champion like Taran Butler conducting classes just around your corner. *
PERSONAL DEFENSE • FALL 2011 SPECIAL EDITION
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