My Choice

MY Choice

I made a decision not to shoot. I thought, I can’t do this, I’m afraid. And I truly was.

A few months ago at the end March, my Dad took my sister and I to the shooting range along with his friend and his kids. We went there to practice for turkey season.

My Dad had recently bought us a new gun; to be exact it is a Tristar Semi-Auto 20-gauge. Brand new. I was so excited that my Dad had gotten that for us, I was ready to practice for turkey season.

When we got to the range I let my Dad shoot first. So he did. He said he loved it. My sister shot next, then the pressure was on, I didn’t want to shoot.
I sat down on the bench table thing that held the gun up, and my Dad handed me the gun. I said, “I can’t see over the gun.” But really I was stalling. My Dad put a bag of something under the barrel and said that I could shoot when I was ready. But I was never ready, I handed my Dad the gun and said, “I can’t, I’m sorry.”
I was upset because I felt like I had to, I felt that my Dad would be disappointed in me if I didn’t, then the pressure worsened.

But my Dad wasn’t disappointed in me, no Dad should be upset with their child if that child doesn’t want to shoot the gun.

I had decided on my own that I was going to wait to shoot that gun until next turkey season. That’s right, I decided on my own. For now I am practicing with my bow to go deer hunting in the fall so I am still target shooting!

So to anybody out there that feels like they have to shoot a gun in order to please somebody, when really, they don’t want to, they shouldn’t be afraid to say, “No” or “I’m not ready.” But never should anybody feel like they’re forced to.
I made a choice not to shoot, nobody was mad at me and nobody was disappointed. It was MY CHOICE. ☺

By : Mindy


Note from "Dad" - I can't tell you how proud it made me that my daughter was comfortable and strong enough in our relationship that she could make a decision like that. Even if she decides that she never wants to shoot I know she loves spending time in the woods with her dad and I couldn't ask for anything that makes me happier! Mindy, You Rock. I'll always be there to support you.