It being labor day and thus a holiday for Archerandshooter, we celebrated the still-beautiful weather here and went to the range. He took his .357 that's going with him to Wyoming in 2 weeks, and also his blackpowder revolver; I took my new Para 1911 and my own .357. Stood and waited for the range to go cold and while waiting, watched a dad with his son there for the first time.
Dad was doing a great job instilling safety. I heartily approve...too many kids running around and handling guns unsafely there have scared me spitless any number of times. He was conscientious, doing a great job, and when time was called, his very sweet and friendly son (maybe 7-ish? 8? or so) turned to us and himself included us in the conversation they were having regarding "how far can a bullet go?" Dad had answered him "a damn long ways". Then he asked A&S and I. A&S told him they could go a mile; I said, hoping to reinforce dad's safety lessons, "much further than you'd wish if you're ever careless". Dad scowled, and in a real snarky voice said, emphatically, "a damn long ways." I smiled, added "pretty much" and turned away.
Fast forward to second break; we're waiting to get our first targets and place another. Dad walked away for a minute and son, being a bright lad, saw his chance to talk to A&S & I without causing trouble. He was asking about what guns we had, we were explaining about blackpowder pistols, and just as dad walked up, I was saying "if you listen to your dad and do just what he says, you'll learn to shoot real well".
I got another scowl. Son starts telling him, "Dad you know what they've got? They've got a ...." Dad snaps, "I KNOW." Kid shuts up. Dad goes back to trying to teach him.
Eventually he did actually give his son permission to watch A&S shoot the blackpowder revolver just before we left, after being asked several times by his son.
We have four kids. We don't look even remotely threatening. We were being friendly to a young shooter. Didn't butt in, didn't contradict his dad, didn't do anything that should in any way have brought such a reaction. I feel real badly that, while the basics of safety and shooting were being taught, dad didn't take the opportunity for friendly interactions. That too is an important lesson for a child.
It did occur to me later that dad's target looked like a case of the measles, whereas A&S's had a VERY focused group in the bullseye. Hm.......
Springmom
Dad was doing a great job instilling safety. I heartily approve...too many kids running around and handling guns unsafely there have scared me spitless any number of times. He was conscientious, doing a great job, and when time was called, his very sweet and friendly son (maybe 7-ish? 8? or so) turned to us and himself included us in the conversation they were having regarding "how far can a bullet go?" Dad had answered him "a damn long ways". Then he asked A&S and I. A&S told him they could go a mile; I said, hoping to reinforce dad's safety lessons, "much further than you'd wish if you're ever careless". Dad scowled, and in a real snarky voice said, emphatically, "a damn long ways." I smiled, added "pretty much" and turned away.
Fast forward to second break; we're waiting to get our first targets and place another. Dad walked away for a minute and son, being a bright lad, saw his chance to talk to A&S & I without causing trouble. He was asking about what guns we had, we were explaining about blackpowder pistols, and just as dad walked up, I was saying "if you listen to your dad and do just what he says, you'll learn to shoot real well".
I got another scowl. Son starts telling him, "Dad you know what they've got? They've got a ...." Dad snaps, "I KNOW." Kid shuts up. Dad goes back to trying to teach him.
Eventually he did actually give his son permission to watch A&S shoot the blackpowder revolver just before we left, after being asked several times by his son.
We have four kids. We don't look even remotely threatening. We were being friendly to a young shooter. Didn't butt in, didn't contradict his dad, didn't do anything that should in any way have brought such a reaction. I feel real badly that, while the basics of safety and shooting were being taught, dad didn't take the opportunity for friendly interactions. That too is an important lesson for a child.
It did occur to me later that dad's target looked like a case of the measles, whereas A&S's had a VERY focused group in the bullseye. Hm.......
Springmom
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