On Saturday I got up at 3:45am(I have been telling everyone 3am, but my husband says he thinks it was more like 3:45 and he has a track record of being right, so:) to get myself ready for the big National Take Your Daughter To The Range Day Event. I had been supporting and following the progress since day one and I was thrilled that it finally had arrived!
Lynne asked me to get to the range by 6:00, so that is what I did. She and the others actually had everything under control when I got there, so I mostly did little things like open up boxes of juice and water and set them up on the table along with some scones. Basically, I did not do much, but that left me time to meet some of the other team members and by now most of you know how much I love to hear people share their stories.
One person I was fortunate to get to chitchat with was Dick Heller. I had met Mr. Heller one other time when I attend a conference put on by Students For Conceal Carry On Campus, but it was brief. He was a delight then and he was a delight on Saturday. He asked if I wanted my picture taken with him and I said, of course! He picked up a piece of paper and started to pretend he was teaching me something, but before anyone could take the picture he said “Wait, no, you should be teaching me.”
I asked if I could put the picture on the blog and he said yes and be sure to tell them I fought for their Second Amendment Rights, then he said, they probably won’t care. I assured him that the readers of this blog did indeed care. I explained that the fine folks that visit here are the ones who taught me about the importance of his landmark case. “Really?” he said. Really!
In case you are new to guns and you are not sure who he is, do not feel bad, just be sure to click on the link and read his story. It is remarkable.
Later he strapped on the gun that was at the center of the Supreme Court case and I asked if I could take a picture of it. He is extremely proud of that gun and he was quite particular about the photos being taken of it. I took 17 before he found one he felt was suitable for the blog.
He took pictures with everyone. One gentleman wanted Mr. Heller in the middle of him and his daughter, but Dick said , nope. He said the little girl was the hero and she should be in the middle and so it was. He tells a great story about a kidney donor they found and even though he told it openly and not in confidence to me, it is his story to tell. If you ever get a chance to meet him, ask him about it.
In addition to Mr. Heller I met a heck of a lot of other great people. I spent a lot of time with a woman named Laura. Laura is the wife of Evan, the President of Innovative Defensive Solutions. IDS is a major sponsor of the event. I meant to get my pic with Laura, but we got busy. She is a gorgeous thing and sweet as can be. Funny and has a potty mouth that she is kind of proud of. She made me laugh a lot. Smart, quick wit…I might have hit on her if we both were not already married.
I met The Director of Education and Training for the NRA, Mr. Bill Poole. What a fantastic man. Kind and encouraging. Really enjoyed my conversations with him. I also spent a great deal of time talking with a man who does security for high profile peeps overseas. Learned a ton from him and got some great resources. Funny, kind, encouraging, generous. Did a little smack talking with a young guy who works for IDS. Good times.
Every second was enjoyable, including getting to see my boss. John stopped by and Lynne finally got to meet him, but the very best part of the day was seeing those kiddos faces light up after they came off the range.
I was a greeter which meant that as families came in I handed them our form to fill out, explained how things worked, asked if they needed eyes and/or ears, let them draw for a door prize, that kind of thing. I also escorted kiddos to their lane on the range and I greeted them again when they were done shooting. Laura and Mr.Heller were also greeters.
The event was billed as Take your “Daughter” to The Range, but we had entire families show up to shoot. Boys as well as girls. We had girls as young as 6 who had never shot before and we had “girls” well into their 40’s. We had a girl about 9 or 10 come in with her father, both shooters and to see the confidence in her eyes was encouraging and inspiring. More than one of us became teary eyed more than once throughout the day. Every single person who left made sure they stopped by the table to say thank you and to let us know what a great event it was. People were actually asking to buy things like T-Shirts, mugs, etc. That is a very good sign.
Lynne and the whole crew were great to work for. We had lots of treats including the most delicious cake that I got to bring home. Another fab person, a man I took the Protection Inside The Home Course with, carried it out to my car for me. He told me a crazy story of a gun fight he was sort of in. Great people, great time, great event!! I truly can not wait until next year!!
WOO HOO!!! Sounds like a GREAT time! Tip for ya on the photo: If you’re in front of a window, turn the flash from Auto to ON. It’ll light ya up better!
Sounds like you guys also had a very positive influence on kids, young and old, about shooting, confidence, and safety!
Kudos to you, Lynne, and the entire team that put it all together!
Great tip…thank you!!!
Thanks so much for being there! I’m glad you had a good time. I teared up a few times…the little girls were so excited to show off their pink targets! I don’t think I will ever forget the feeling of the tense anticipation walking in and the joy and excitement coming out, and the very proud parents!
Next year will be even better!
Fantastic day! What marvelous interesting fine people you’ve been meeting. I would so enjoy doing what you do at the range with the kids. After I get the old bones and innards fixed up, I’d really love to get involved with my own local gun club and range. See … you really truly do inspire me, and so many more who come here. Thanks again and then again, my Friend! Your blog stories are so readable and so totally interesting.
Mazie, I feel the same about you. The way you continue to press forward with all of the roadblocks…amazing!
Sounds like it was a blast for all involved. I did have to look up Keller’s name. Once I got to the page, I was in awe that you got to meet him. We followed the case as it was happening, I just didn’t remember his name.
Lol, just like me. I click on all the links.
Excellent! Glad to hear you had a good time! Gun folks are so fun to be around that I wonder why there isn’t events like this more often.
Lynne could probably tell you why there aren’t more events…lots of work. I didn’t do much, but I think she was pulled in a million directions. I assume you didn’t mean for her to put more on, just more events in general, but my point is not many are willing to put that kind of work into it, me included. I don’t think I could do as good a job:)
You could. I was a facilitator, this would never have happened without the sponsors, the volunteers (like you), the people who helped spread the word and most important the parents who trusted us enough to bring their precious children out to participate. But, yes, I stayed very busy with emails, the website, the fb page, tracking paper work and my living room is still piled high with the bins! LOL
Way cool, A Girl! Good on you for volunteering. And Dick Heller sounds like a great guy.
It was fun and he rocks. He is usually at the guns show. Often times at a table with the AG or wondering around VCDL if you are interested in shaking his hand.
The more I read of your many exploits and adventures, the more jealous I become! Can’t wait until the Lil’ Nugget is responsible enough to take her to the range, too.
As North says, I am know by the company I keep…I have a pretty amazing life and it’s mostly because of the people.
You are good people and I don’t care what your wife says:)
Yeah, me neith…..hey…waidaminnit!!!
LOL She keeps posting dorky pics of me up on our blog, and I’ll start having to tell stories about her, too! Hmmm…maybe I’ll start with posting the pic of her wakeboarding…updside-down….
That’s great, and thanks for supporting it!
Anything for the cause. It’s a sacrifice:)
Really enjoyed reading your account of the wonderful day you had. You made it so enjoyable I really wish I could have been there. Keep up the great work.
Granny D
Thank you and you will be happy to know my iPad keeps me entertained while the kiddos are at the pool. Normally, I am in there jumping all around, but now I am just a big ol lazy mama blogging on her iPad instead. Ribs all happy and resting:)
What a wonderful event, and how great are you ladies for your parts in making it happen. Had my Mom not been LEO, I probably would never had the chance to handle a firearm growing up. I know how lucky I was.
I love that about your story. I love that my kids will have your story to tell and not mine. They will not have a journey to guns…they will just have a life with guns.
Sounds like a terrific time!
Dann in Ohio
Truly!
Mr. Heller exaggerates about the kidney donor just a little bit, calling him a hero and all that. He’s just a guy who had a spare that matched. But, I’ll let his wife exaggerate all she wants to, it’s hers now and less weight for me to carry.
Mr. Miller, I would say Mr. Heller has it just about right. You share his humble nature. I love that you stopped by. God Bless you sir.
Just trying to keep his hype about me on the down low. Cant’ have too many folks thinkin’ I’m easy 😉 You are welcome. Getting your message out is what ‘we’re’ all about. Kudo’s to you on that.
Ok, well your secret is safe with me:)
Thank you for your support!!
Well done!
🙂
What a great day. It made me badly wish my granddaughter had been there. I can’t wait to start her shooting.
It’ll be fun to hear the stories you share!!!
You had “girls” up into their 40’s?!!!!
crap. I’m 60 and now I feel kinda….depressed. The word is that a gun range has been okay’d by the powers-that-be, and will be within 10 miles of my house. It can’t happen soon enough. I hope I can get up the strength to hang my paper target….*gasp*….They’d better get the ground broken before I’m too old to pick up a hollow point and load.
Lol, well ya know none of us are getting any younger:). I plan to shoot until I am 98, but that’s just me…lol
Very cool. Yes, Mr. Heller, we really, really care. I’m so glad you got to talk with someone that shaped a bit of history. I’d frame that with a story and the SCOTUS decision for later family.
Yep!!
The range I’m a member of chose not to participate this year, mostly because the owners had a vacation planed and weren’t here the week before. His dad has a range a few miles north of here and they did have a shoot. I still took my daughter to my range. She is 31 years old but I think it still counts.
Bummer on the range, but good that you went anyway.
Our local range didn’t participate either, but my husband had planned to take our girls to shoot anyway, but they were sick:(
31 totally still counts…always daddy’s girl!