With the trip approaching, I thought to myself that I had to do one last CRAZYVEGAS thing before getting out of town. I decided to go ahead and take a trip to The Gun Store.
It has probably been 15 years since I last handled a firearm. I aimed that one at a rice cake in a river and nearly wet myself after taking one shot and handing whatever the gun was right back to its owner. I resolved that since I've spent plenty of time shooting Nerf Darts and cartoon chickens and cartoon zombies...it was time to go and see if I could actually defend myself against an attacker using a firearm in real life.
I could not myself believe what I was about to do. It's very anti-me in many ways. I was so nervous during the drive, thinking, "Why do I feel the need to do this? I should just turn around now and go home..." that I was unaffected by the awful pop music on the radio. Finally, I reminded myself that it's better to have a skill and never use or need it, then to never have it.
It was 105 degrees. The Gun Store is under construction as they expand and add a new range, but they are open. I stood outside with the tourists and waited for my turn to get my name added to the shooter list. It is worth noting that the Gun Store does in fact have a "zombie" package, because like I said on Tuesday, there are many schemes to separate you from your money. Lucky for me, there was a female zombie target for a SIGNIFICANTLY lower price, so I chose that one. After you choose your package and they try to upsell you, you then have to sign a release attesting, "that you're not pregnant or crazy," then you proceed inside, where you hand your ticket to a guy who gives you your target, you pay your fee and then are ushered into a line to wait your turn to shoot.
Incidentally, there is a $50 option for shooting, where you can get a more in-depth tutorial and a semi-private shooting room. Despite my crippling anxiety at the thought of holding a device in my hand that could very really and seriously kill another human, I chose the public range because...it comes with the package I paid for. After you pay and get into the line, you wait...and wait...and wait...and if you're me, you nearly chicken out.
But then a lil blonde lady in a bright pink dress comes out, composes herself and says, "Thanks!" Mackenzie Warren from News 3 was in the store getting footage for her story about how the Palazzo wants to install a gun range in their property on the Strip. This was enough of a distraction that when my instructor J.R., a nice young man who was very patient, ushered me through the door, I hurried in order to not be caught on video.
Going to the Gun Store is completely different from aiming at a rice cake in a river. There are ear protectors, safety glasses, and...well...J.R.s.
Today (Wednesday), as my Summer 2012 TTFN to Las Vegas, I put 19 holes in a paper zombie with a Glock 19. Granted, most of the 19 holes are in her hair.
J.R. offered to take a photo of me AT the range. WITH the gun. I declined. I'm still not exactly comfortable with the whole idea, and wasn't ready to have it immortalized on my SD card (or here). If I ever decide to go back there again, and somehow miraculously get a shot right through the middle of the zombie invader's forehead...then maybe. But that day was not today.
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