Why I need to learn how to shoot a gun...

Yes, I said I NEED to know how to shoot a gun.  It's definitely not because I WANT to know...I don't.  Guns scare me.  Sure,  I love me a good power trip, but a gun is too much power for me.  Life & death...In a cold, heavy, black thing in my hand?  Nu-uh, not for me.

But here's what changed my mind:

Shauna was coming over Wednesday evening to help me wrap gifts.  When I got off work at 5, I went to Subway to get us sandwiches & to the Dollar Store for 2 liters.  Then I drove home.  It was around 5:30 & it wasn't dark yet.  When you come down the road, you can see behind our house.  And I always look because I'm paranoid like that.  I saw a big, huge, red pick up truck parked in my driveway that I didn't recognize.   Hmmm, wonder who THAT is?  B-rad was going to Brian & Shauna's to pone some noobs so he wasn't home.   I always get the mail first so I sat by the mailbox & tried to call B-rad.  No answer.  Then I called Cary.  He's the guy that coordinates all the hunters on our farms.  I thought maybe someone was hunting & he could tell me who it was.  No answer.  So I sat at the mailbox for a minute & thought, "Well, I can't sit on the road all night..." So I pulled in....  I scanned the exterior of the house quickly to make sure no doors were open.  Everything looked fine...

When I came around the back of the house, I stopped...because I saw 2 guys in the back of the field.  And when they saw me, one of them started to run towards the house.  Holy crap...

I hurried & pulled the car in the garage, ran out to take a pic of the license plate & then hauled my ass back into the basement & shut the door.

We have a 'man door' in the garage with blinds & I stood there to watch them.  I tried to call B-rad & Cary.  Again.  And they didn't answer.  Again.

Since I knew B-rad was at Brian's I called his cell phone.  Luckily he answered.  I said, 'Can I speak to B-rad?'  And when B-rad got on the phone, all the nervousness I was feeling came out in my shaky voice.  "There is a red truck here.  There are 2 guys in the field coming towards the house.  Do you know who it could be?"  B-rad is really good at stressful situations,  "Uhm, no..."  then crickets.  Holy shit, B-rad.  

So I continue my play by play of what's happening for him.  The first dude was in the yard still walking.  He was holding something in his hand but I couldn't see what.  He had long hair...longer than mine.  B-rad said, "They probably shot a deer & they're tracking it."  I said, "They don't have a deer.  They don't have hunting stuff."  Then he told me to get in the safe to get his gun.  UHM, Wha?!

I said, "I don't know how to shoot it!"  He replied, "They don't know that.  Go in the safe & get it."  So I walked over & got it.  THEN he tells me, "Be careful, it's loaded."  Oh good God...

I walked back over to the man door & the first dude was walking up the stairs on the deck (I couldn't see him...I could hear it.  Spooky...)  B-rad said, "Just don't shoot them outside."  Wow, thanks for that tip...

I heard the dude ringing the doorbell but I wasn't coming outta my house.  The second dude was still coming towards the house.  B-rad called Brady to see if he was home.  B-rad asked if his mom was there & if they could come over because there were people there.  I don't know what another chick & a 15 year old were gonna do, but hey - I was all about people coming over to save me.  

So the second dude got closer to the house.  And he was an older man.  I told B-rad, "The 2nd guy is older.  I'm gonna open the door just a crack & talk to him."  While B-rad was on the phone with me (& the gun was in my right hand) I opened the door a bit & said, "Can I help you?"  He didn't answer me.  (Looking back, he probably couldn't hear me), but I stepped out of the door a bit & made sure he could see the gun & said, "CAN I HELP YOU?"  

He said, "Oh yes, I'm Mr. Christie.  I live behind you here on Kennedy Mott.  Our horses got out & were up here in your yard so my grandson & I came to get them."   Oh good God again...  Uh, the things in the first dudes hands I couldn't tell what it was were ropes...for the horses....sigh. (Apparently they drove to the house, got out & rounded up the horses & walked them...through our field...back to their property & were walking back...through our field again...to get the truck.)

I started apologizing & explaining that I was home by myself & that we've been broken into twice & I was scared blah, blah, blah.  He said he understood & that his grandson was knocking on the door.  I said, 'I know, I heard him.  I was too scared to open the door!'  

About that time, here comes Lora & Brady down the road.  I told the guy, "See, here's the calvary now..."  And then he held is hands up in the air & said, "Oh no, ok... You weren't kidding..."  

That's right old dude, don't mess with me.  I gots back up... 

So, once again I had the bejesus scared out of me....for the nine thousandth time.  I tell ya, there is nothing, & I mean NOTHING worse than being scared to be in your own home.  Perhaps I jump to conclusions too quickly, but I was seriously scared...

So, yea - I need to know how to use that gun.  Not only do I need to know how the damn thing works, I need to be more comfortable with it so I don't accidentally kill someone or myself with it.  I'm sure if I was more confident holding it & more confident in my ability to aim & actually hit a target, I wouldn't shake so much while I was holding it.

Now, I realize that some of you may not agree with people owning guns or having them in their homes or whatever.  I'm not a huge gun fan either - I told you, they scare me.   B-rad is very responsible with our guns.  They aren't just laying around all over the house & especially when the kids were young & would come over they were NEVER EVER anywhere but locked up.   

But I will ask you this:  if you had 2 strange men near your home & you had the choice to be able to put up a fight & defend yourself by having a gun, or wait for them to do whatever they wanted to you (or your children, if applicable...) while you stood defenseless... which would you choose?