The day after Christmas (Radnor was right, of course!) was cold and rainy...but that didn't matter to a 10 year old with their first firearm. During the drive to River Road, A discussion about muzzle control, yellow lines, and cold ranges was shared. We paid for our time, then went over to the rifle range.
One cartridge was loaded into the magazine. 'Pfft' (well, it
was only a '22) and there was a hole in the cardboard over the target! Another, then two, were loaded. She quickly got the hang of loading the magazine, inserting it into the rifle, releasing the bolt, shouldering the firearm, aim, safety off, finger on trigger, steadying the aim, fire!
Initial hesitancy quickly gave way to capability and surety.
The black shoot n c taget gradually became peppered with yellow splats. And 30 rounds later, a young lady had taken another step toward a more confident and safer life.
It was still grey and rainy, but the day now seemed bright --lit up by the sunbeam of a smile. Was it the 10 year old's smile of achievement, or her dad's smile of pride?
