Not Bad After 9 Years

As I’ve said before, I’ve always been a gun owner and an active target shooter, as well as a firearms instructor in the military. When we lived in Arizona, there was a big gravel pit in our town where the public would go to shoot informally, and I tried to get out at least once or twice a month, sometimes more often. But in the 18+ years that we traveled as fulltime RVers, it was difficult to find places to shoot, so I didn’t do much shooting during that time, except when we went back to Arizona to visit our daughter and her family in Show Low.

Then we bought our house here on Florida’s Central Coast, and it’s been difficult to find places to shoot around here. There is one outdoor public range in Daytona Beach, a couple of shooting clubs with outdoor ranges that are very expensive to join, and two indoor shooting ranges in Daytona Beach. One of them charges $25 per person per hour, and the other one charges $20 per person per hour. The first one also has a sports bar, and even though they’re on separate floors, the idea of being someplace where alcohol and firearms can mix does not sit well with me.

Back when we were still publishing the Gypsy Journal RV newspaper, we did a story on the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum in Titusville, which I later shared as a blog post, The Thin Blue Line. While we were there, we popped in to check out the adjacent gun shop, which also has an indoor range. Then I forgot all about it until recently. As it turns out, they only charge $15 for the first person and $11 for the second person, for all day, not by the hour. That’s a big difference in price, not to mention the fact that the proceeds from the range go to support the Police Hall of Fame, which I consider a very worthy cause.

So yesterday, Terry and I drove down to Titusville to try it out. Unlike at some of the indoor and outdoor ranges around here, the guys working there were very friendly and welcoming. The range is set up very well, with a powered pulley system so you don’t have to walk back and forth to change targets, an excellent ventilation system, and expert instructors on hand if you are a new shooter or need to freshen up your skills.

They also have guns for rent if you don’t have one or want to try something different. And if you want a real thrill, you can even rent and shoot a machine gun at the range under the watchful eye of an instructor.

The last time I shot a handgun was nine years ago, and it had been even longer than that for Terry. I’m pleased to say that shooting a variety of different revolvers, we both did pretty darn good. I won’t say I was as accurate as I used to be back in the good old days, but both of us had several strings of shots where two bullets went through basically the same elongated hole.

Terry had a little short-barreled .38 revolver when we first got together that she had not fired. I took her out to the gravel pit, set up a silhouette target, gave her some basic instruction, and told her to have at it. She fired five shots, and I told her not to worry the first time around, that it was common to miss the target completely, especially with a short-barreled revolver. Then we walked up to the target, and you could have covered all five shots, which were right at the belly button, with a silver dollar. That’s the day I learned to say “Yes, Dear.” Yesterday she proved that she is still a darned good shot and doesn’t need any instruction from me or anybody else.

The range also has annual memberships available at an affordable price, which allow unlimited shooting, as well as unlimited admission to the Police Hall of Fame and Museum. Terry and I may do that, even if we don’t shoot frequently. As I said, the museum is a very worthy cause that we would like to help support

It was a fun afternoon, and on the way home, we went to Boston’s Fish House in New Smyrna Beach for a wonderful seafood dinner. Terry had blackened grouper, and I had linguini Alfredo with shrimp, scallops, and blackened Mahi Mahi in it. The portions were so big that neither of us could finish all of ours.

Every once in a while, we’d like to treat ourselves to days away from the house, just enjoying each other’s company no matter what we’re doing. But today, I need to get back at it. Proofreader Judy Rinehimer sent me several more chapters that she just finished going through, and I will make her corrections this morning, then send them off to Roberta, my third proofreader. With that done, I’ll be cranking out more chapters.

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – I am responsible for what I say, not what you understand.