Fun Female-Friendly Targets by GunFun.com

So just how good a shooter is our camera-toting Marilyn "Bullseye" Vogel? You be the judge!

Recently, I had the chance to do some target practice with two of my favorite gal-pals, WOMA Chair Deb Ferns and WOMA member Marilyn Vogel.  Nothing unusual about that.  What was unusual was what we were shooting — GunFun.com’s line of female-friendly (and somewhat comical) targets.  Bennett Perritt, the company’s owner, started out with a publishing company that branched out into target printing after his son asked for an air rifle.  It took 8 months from the first printing until Bennett was satisfied with his targets.  That’s a perfectionist at work.

Melita Ellington points out her hits on the Female Intruder GunFun.com target

Gunfun.com offers many target packages to choose from — check them out at www.gunfun.com, like them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/gunfuntargets) and follow them on Twitter (@gunfuntargets).

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New at SHOT 2012: The Baby UpLULA

Guy Tal, MagLULA LLC, holds his newest invention, the Baby UpLULA

Introduced at Media Day at SHOT 2012, the Baby UpLULA, developed by Guy Tal.  As we arrived at Media Day, we really didn’t know what we’d see, other than the usual plethora of gadgets, firearms, and various other “things” that might or might not make it big in 2012.  And then something caught my eye, like a shimmering new penny in a sea of asphalt – the UpLULA.  The UpLULA is a clever gadget that helps shooters load magazines quickly, easily and painlessly.  [Go to http://www.maglula.com/PistolMagLoaders/UpLULA9mmto45ACPmags.aspx and click "view demo"].  Inventor Ran Tal was manning his booth, and I couldn’t help but tell him how much I adore this product.  Yes ADORE.  After all, I am a delicate flower.  When Mr. Tal told me he was the inventor, well I nearly tripped all over myself to hug this man!  Sorry Mrs. Tal.

New at Media Day - the Baby UpLULA

UpLULA was started in 2001 by Ran and Guy (father and son) Tal with the invention of their MagLULA, which stands for Magazine Loading and Unloading Accessory.  Ran and Guy invented their LULA line, and maintain design, production, and quality control of the product in Israel.  We spoke with Guy about the newest product introduced at Media Day, the Baby UpLULA, specifically designed for .22 and .380 magazines.  I, for one, am extremely excited about this accessory, as I use .22s in my classes and some of the magazines, although spring-loaded and pegged for ease of use, aren’t so easy to load.  This will do nicely, thank you.

Of course, if it were pink….  I did ask Guy if there was a chance we could get it in pink.  I’m not sure he’s so keen on pink, but if there’s a market to sell to, I think he’d be all for it.  I think his words were “I’ll think about it.”  Hey, that’s a start!

Thanks Guy and Ran for a terrific product.  Stay tuned for a product review on just how well this Baby works!

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Countdown to 2012 SHOT Show

I can’t believe it’s already December 19th — just 4 short weeks away from SHOT Show’s Media Day at the Range, which is Monday, January 16th! Read more

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A Time to Honor

A couple of weeks ago, I found something unusual in my mailbox.  Read more

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Turning Passion Into Action

As I have gotten older, I feel the need to change the world.  Well, maybe not THE world, but perhaps MY world.  I hope that I am doing just that by teaching other women how to defend themselves through the safe ownership and operation of a firearm.  I have come a long way, but I have much farther to go.  Being around some of the most powerful women I have ever known has enstilled in me the passion, compassion, and confidence to continue down roads which I might have otherwise avoided. 

Turning my passion into action is rewarding.  And I’m not alone.  Let me tell you about 3 other women who turned their passion into action.

Wendy Price trains for a cure

Wendy Price and I have worked together going on 15 years.  Wendy is a tall, beautiful blonde with striking blue eyes who moved to Georgia from Alaska.  After suffering the tragic loss of her best friend and only sister, Holly Price Tobias, to leukemia at the tender age of 39, Wendy resolved to help in the fight against leukemia and other blood cancers and joined the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training Program, began training for triathlons, embraced a healthier lifestyle, and raises money in hopes of someday curing these dreaded diseases that cut short her sister’s life.  Wendy has participated in more than 60 endurance events, including running, cycling and triathlons, with many of those raising money for various cancer research funds.  This November, Wendy plans to participate in the biggest event of all so far, the Ironman Arizona, which consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run, a total of 140.6 miles, all in under 17 hours.  Her goal is to raise $10,000, and she’s nearly there, having raised over $6,900 already.  For information on how you can sponsor Wendy, or for more information on starting your own Team in Training, go to http://pages.teamintraining.org/ga/ironaz11/wpricer8db or email Wendy at wendyloowho33@yahoo.com.  Go Wendy!

A new acquaintance was recently introduced to me by one of my best friends Chrissy Canfield.  Chrissy works in an office across the street from my office building, and while she’s not a gun person like me, she appreciates my love of the sport and tolerates my endless “gun chatter.”  Chrissy saw fit to put me in touch with one of her co-workers, Beth Waters, the wife of a Georgia Army National Guardsman and troop “mom”.  I met Beth at lunch after an email introduction and I instantly liked her.  Beth is one of those women who sees a need and does something to fulfill that need.  Recently when her husband’s group deployed to the middle east, she sent every soldier a care package.  Every soldier.  That’s devotion.  That’s passion.  That, my friends, is action.  Beth is on a new quest to raise much needed funding for supplies for our soldiers.  She is selling $5 raffle tickets for a Glock pistol and has also committed her time to sell $5 raffle tickets for a 2011 Jeep.  Dedication to a cause is the name of this military wife’s game, and she goes about it with the focus of a laser beam.  Oh, and did I mention that besides being a full-time military wife, working a full-time job, sending care packages, and raising funds for our troops, she’s also a full-time mom?  She’s my hero.  If you’d like more information on how you can help troops being deployed in your area, how you can volunteer, or how to purchase raffle tickets form Beth, email me at melita@thewoma.com or contact Beth directly at bethwaters10@gmail.com.

Eddie welcomed WOMA Veep Melita Ellington and friend Sandra Lawrence to Skyway Trap and Skeet Club

I had the pleasure of meeting a lady who really put her money (and time, energy and resources) where her mouth is.  She had to.  Eddie Warren (along with her husband) live near St. Petersburg, Florida and are the owners of Skyway Trap and Skeet Club.  A few years back, their passion was under fire, literally, by anti-gun groups that wanted to shut them down.  Long story short, four years and $350,000 in legal bills later, the club is still open, with a few caveats, including using only steel shot and specially-designed clays that disentegrate in water.  The club is nice, is well-staffed and is a joy to shoot.  And I will tell you that for its location, it is very reasonably priced.  Eddie is quick to make sure you are met with a smile and is especially welcoming to women shooters.  “I love to see girls come out and shoot.  There are just not enough of us lady shooters, and we need more!” she told me.  I’m in total agreement.  Her passion runs deep.  So deep, in fact, that she lives in a motor home on the property and goes home to mow the grass and check the mail.  Now that’s passion.  See for yourself — the next time you’re in St. Pete, look them up and bust a few targets — www.skywaytrapandskeetclub.com.

Now it’s your turn.  What’s your passion?  Email me, or comment below, about your passion and how you’ve turned that passion into action!  Your story could be the catalyst that fuels another person’s passion into action.  As my new friend Beth told me today, together we can move mountains, and I agree!

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Baby, It’s COLD Outside! 2011 IDPA Indoor Nationals

Viewing Gallery at the Smith & Wesson Shooting Center (Photo courtesy Smith & Wesson)

With nearly a foot of snow on the ground, the 2011 IDPA Indoor Nationals was the place to be.  Viewing Stages 1 and 2 from the Smith & Wesson Shooting Center’s viewing gallery located inside the firearm giant’s Springfield, Massachusetts’ retail store was much warmer than the 30 degree weather outside.  For this Southerner, I’ll take the inside, thank you.  Read more

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Membership has its privileges

If you’re over the age of 40, you probably remember the commercial tagline for American Express–”Membership has its privileges.”  I can personally attest that membership in the Women’s Outdoor Media Association has ITS privileges, too. Read more

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What Makes My CrossBreed a Breed Apart

I recently received a CrossBreed concealed carry holster from Mark Craighead, owner and innovator of the CrossBreed holster designs. I have seen many commercials about the CrossBreed holsters, and decided to give this one a try for comfort, fit and function. I was not disappointed.

The Supertuck Deluxe (picture from www.CrossBreedHolsters.com)

At first glance, the CrossBreed holster looks totally different from anything on the market today. The leather paddle can be manipulated to your body shape by using a blow dryer and forming it by hand. Because it fits just behind your side seam right on the hip, it needs to be customized to fit just right. The holster simply slides inside your pants waistband and the 2 exterior clips fit over your belt, making the attachment of the holster much easier than practically undressing to put on. This is a great concept. I do suggest carrying a smaller firearm if you’re like me, and have a bit of “hip” as the holster tends to be for the gals (and guys) with smaller frames. For my husband and me, utilizing the larger-firearms’ holster tends to not work due to having to wear bulky cover-ups that make us look even bigger…and bigger, in this case, is not better… Read more

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How Lucky? Beeman R7 Lucky!

The 2010 SHOT Show afforded me many opportunities: time with some of my favorite gal pals, vacation time with hubby Brian, and a chance to experience some of the newest and most technologically advanced products offered by today’s firearms industry. At the 2010 Bass Pro’s Media Day at the Range, I was the lucky winner of PyramidAir’s generous donation of an Evanix AR6 Huntmaster, a beautiful walnut stock, 5-shot .22 caliber air rifle.

Read more

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Voting: Privilege or Pain?

When you voted recently, did you feel a sense of excitement?  Do you consider voting a privilege or a pain?  I am excited to get out and vote.  It means I still live in a free country, with privileges that were bought and paid for by people willing to sacrifice their lives for the privilege.

We take for granted that privilege called voting.  And it was just 90 years ago (1920) that women were permitted to vote by constitutional amendment.  If it hadn’t have been for women like Susan B. Anthony, who in 1837 had the nerve to ask for equal pay for women teachers, who knows how long it would have taken for women to have this privilege.

Women's suffrage protest. Photo courtesy Library of Congress.

I got up early this morning, a little earlier than usual, to be one of the first to vote in person in my precinct.  I wasn’t first, or second, but at 7 am this morning, I was fifth.  I had hoped to be 25th, but it is a primary, after all.

What impressed upon my heart the most, however, was the person who was first in line.  A young lady named Dayannah Woody.  All of 19 years old, Dayannah is a college freshman and voted for the very first time today.  Those of us in line were so excited to see a young woman exercising her right to vote!  Dayannah is studying at Luther Rice University and plans to be a missionary.  After voting, I asked her why she thought it was important for young women (and men) to vote.

“I think it’s important to vote so that people running the country understand that we have a say in what goes on.  I think it’s important to let our voices and choices be heard,” Dayannah said.

I couldn’t agree more.  As one lady in line recalled a commercial in the 80s, if you don’t vote, you don’t count.  She said that really stuck with her and she makes it a priority to vote.

We all should make it a priority to vote.  After all, women and men died for the cause.  It’s the least we can do.

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