It was so long ago, April 23rd, 2011. I remember like it was only a couple months ago.
A friend let my girl and I use his Springfield XD 9mm at the range so we could both try shooting his and see how we felt about shooting in general. I had talked to him a couple times and had a lot of questions (I know, hard to imagine...) This was something that I had badgered him about for about a year off and on and finally he knew I needed a push.
Both my girl and I were instantly hooked, but still kept saying "someday" we would get one. Well, after about 6 months went by he pestered me right back and got me the two of us to file for and receive our CCL, the game was afoot! I had stuck my head right into the fire at that point. I was reading about them online, researching what I wanted to know and decided I really liked his Springfield, and I was going to get one... "someday".
That same week as filling for the CCL, I decided I would never get moving until I went and looked in an actual gun shop. Having never stepped foot in one before, I didn't understand the culture, so it all felt very foreign. Lucky for me I got someone behind the counter that was willing to spend the time to work with me and let me hang onto several guns before settling on an XDm 3.8 9mm. I didn’t buy then and there because we were supposed to go to another shop the next day to look around. Not to mention I still held myself back saying that now that I found the one I liked, I would get it “someday”, but this time, my girl was looking at me like I just passed on a free trip to the moon.
The following day, I did the same routine. I talked to the guy at the counter, and ended up on the same gun. At that point, my girl shoved the paperwork in my hands and told me that if I didn’t do it, she was going to fill it out for me as a birthday present (my birthday was the next day and she had already decided I was getting a gun for my birthday).
I had to wait a few days for a pre arranged trip to the indoor range with the same friend to fire it. It was murder! I had talked myself out of it all for so long and here it was in my house unfired! Eventually the day came and off we went. Got to my lane, and loaded up for the first time. The first SNAP of the slide still resonates in my hand.
The first time pulling the trigger still is echoing throughout my frame. I was grabbed by the nape of my inner child’s neck and dragged into a new world with a big grin on my face. Between my girl and I, we put over 300 rounds down range that day. Both of us left there more relaxed that we had been in a long time.
From there it was all downhill. Our CCL’s came in approved, she got a Springfield XD Sub-Compact, I fired the same friends Mossberg and ended up with my 590A1, I bought her a .22 rifle, and I just picked up a Ruger Mark III .22 pistol to participate in the bulls-eye league at the gun club we joined.
I do have to wonder what kept me from doing this sooner, but I have arrived none the less. I still have a TON of questions, and lots to learn, but so far I have found a few good friendly resources to lean on when I need it. So, here is where I can say thank you for being one of the communities that helped me and continues to do so as I keep pulling the triggers!
