The story to-date ... here, here, here, here, here and here!
Today I received another letter from Police Licensing - with the correct club on it.
Still no sign of my actual licence yet, hence no guns yet either :(
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Range Report - First Day of Training for the New Year
Yesterday was the first day back training at the Club for the new year. The Club "closes down" over December / January which is good as it does get too hot to train during this period.
Sometimes February is also very hot, but yesterday was a perfect day. I'm not sure what the temperature got to but it was forecast to be 24C and it was a bit overcast with a nice breeze. Perfect training weather. Actually perfect weather in my book.
Perfect weather brings out people though. So we, the Chief Instructor and I, were expecting a horde to turn up for training and we got it!
We had 16 people on our books who attended part of the training course last year, of these 8 turned up yesterday (a couple rang to let us konw that they weren't coming this week).
We had also had received a number of phone calls over the last couple of weeks, so we were expecting a few people to come and see what it was all about and also some other ones to join.
Well, everytime I turned around yesterday, while organising the trainees, there was a new face. In the end we decided that if they joined (filled in the forms and paid their money) then they could participate in the training session. If they weren't ready to put the forms in and/or pay they could just watch.
We had 10 ... yes, 10 people, fill in forms and pay (of which 2 decided not to shoot yesterday for various reasons) and another 7 who decided to just stay and watch.
As we do holster training each of the trainees had to be "dressed" (belt, mag pouches, holster) and, of course, most have no idea! So one of the "old" trainees stepped up and volunteered to help the others get dressed - which was fantastic, otherwise it would have taken forever (I think his motivation was that the first two I passed his way were female :) ).
Then of course they had to load mags and finally they got their guns.
We decided that the Chief Instructor would take the "old" trainees and I would have the newbies. This is different to how we ran for the last six months. So I was a bit out of practice with what to do with them, for the first few minutes or so.
Because there were 8 trainees (and only 4 targets up) I split them into 2 squads and worked with each in turn. While one squad shot the others reloaded their mags and vice versa.
Prior to commencing I gave them a stict lecture on which way I wanted the gun to face at all times ... must have worked, no one pointed one at me. I hear, however, that the Chief Instructor got swept twice. (I definitely made the right choice taking the newbies).
Once we had gone through 70 rounds doing basic drills: shooting, drawing, reloading, reholstering, shooting while moving, we moved onto one of the competition stages to show them why they're learning all the different things.
The small stages were being used - one by the Chief Instructor and the other by some regular members letting the visitors have a go with their guns - so we had to use one of the big stages. It was a 31 round stage (15 paper targets, one popper), as my trainees only had 30 rounds left we decided to ignore the popper.
We walked through the stage together first. There were some really tricky bits were it was easy to "break 90". I warned them how to approach and shoot these. This stage was designed to have the shooter go down the left side and back up the right side of the range. So I lectured them about how to come uprange.
Then I took each shooter through one at a time and the majority did extremely well. A couple of "fingers on triggers" and one of the "easy to break 90 sections" claimed a few victims, but no one turned their gun up range and the majority of them hit the targets.
So all-in-all a good, but challenging day!
Oh just a note, of the 16 people we had shooting yesterday 6 were female. And there were 2 females out of the group of 7 who had come up for a look. Not bad ratios.
Sometimes February is also very hot, but yesterday was a perfect day. I'm not sure what the temperature got to but it was forecast to be 24C and it was a bit overcast with a nice breeze. Perfect training weather. Actually perfect weather in my book.
Perfect weather brings out people though. So we, the Chief Instructor and I, were expecting a horde to turn up for training and we got it!
We had 16 people on our books who attended part of the training course last year, of these 8 turned up yesterday (a couple rang to let us konw that they weren't coming this week).
We had also had received a number of phone calls over the last couple of weeks, so we were expecting a few people to come and see what it was all about and also some other ones to join.
Well, everytime I turned around yesterday, while organising the trainees, there was a new face. In the end we decided that if they joined (filled in the forms and paid their money) then they could participate in the training session. If they weren't ready to put the forms in and/or pay they could just watch.
We had 10 ... yes, 10 people, fill in forms and pay (of which 2 decided not to shoot yesterday for various reasons) and another 7 who decided to just stay and watch.
As we do holster training each of the trainees had to be "dressed" (belt, mag pouches, holster) and, of course, most have no idea! So one of the "old" trainees stepped up and volunteered to help the others get dressed - which was fantastic, otherwise it would have taken forever (I think his motivation was that the first two I passed his way were female :) ).
Then of course they had to load mags and finally they got their guns.
We decided that the Chief Instructor would take the "old" trainees and I would have the newbies. This is different to how we ran for the last six months. So I was a bit out of practice with what to do with them, for the first few minutes or so.
Because there were 8 trainees (and only 4 targets up) I split them into 2 squads and worked with each in turn. While one squad shot the others reloaded their mags and vice versa.
Prior to commencing I gave them a stict lecture on which way I wanted the gun to face at all times ... must have worked, no one pointed one at me. I hear, however, that the Chief Instructor got swept twice. (I definitely made the right choice taking the newbies).
Once we had gone through 70 rounds doing basic drills: shooting, drawing, reloading, reholstering, shooting while moving, we moved onto one of the competition stages to show them why they're learning all the different things.
The small stages were being used - one by the Chief Instructor and the other by some regular members letting the visitors have a go with their guns - so we had to use one of the big stages. It was a 31 round stage (15 paper targets, one popper), as my trainees only had 30 rounds left we decided to ignore the popper.
We walked through the stage together first. There were some really tricky bits were it was easy to "break 90". I warned them how to approach and shoot these. This stage was designed to have the shooter go down the left side and back up the right side of the range. So I lectured them about how to come uprange.
Then I took each shooter through one at a time and the majority did extremely well. A couple of "fingers on triggers" and one of the "easy to break 90 sections" claimed a few victims, but no one turned their gun up range and the majority of them hit the targets.
So all-in-all a good, but challenging day!
Oh just a note, of the 16 people we had shooting yesterday 6 were female. And there were 2 females out of the group of 7 who had come up for a look. Not bad ratios.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Getting there ...
The story to-date ... here, here, here, here and here!
Today I received a letter from Police Licensing saying:
As the Commissioner's delegated officer under the Firearms Act I approve the below mentioned firearm/s for licensing by yourself, relative to the notation "Approved Club Activities Only" with the following conditions in accordance with the Firearms Act 1973 and Firearms Regulations 1974:
It then listed my firearms - I've not checked the serial numbers, guess I should do that. It then goes on to say:
a) You must remain an active and financial member of and comply with bylaws / regulations of Sporting Shooters Association of Australia WA Inc. (S.S.A.A.)
It was at this point I freaked! Although I am a financial member of the SSAA, I didn't want this to be a condition on my licence.
The club that supported me for these guns was not a SSAA club.
(For my American readers the SSAA is somewhat similar to your NRA).
Anyway, chatted to a few people and we came to the conclusion that they must have been using a standard form letter and forgotten to change the club name rather than this being a real requirement.
Finally got through to Police Licensing Services (dropped off twice) and spoke to a guy who took my details and put me through to a gal. She took my details again, and the name of my club and said that she would send me a corrected letter.
BUT even with this letter I can't go get my guns. I have to wait for the actual licence piece of paper :(
Hope that comes soon!
(And I really must remember to check the serial numbers. We're licensed here for actual guns - so if the serial number is wrong I won't be able to get the gun).
Today I received a letter from Police Licensing saying:
As the Commissioner's delegated officer under the Firearms Act I approve the below mentioned firearm/s for licensing by yourself, relative to the notation "Approved Club Activities Only" with the following conditions in accordance with the Firearms Act 1973 and Firearms Regulations 1974:
It then listed my firearms - I've not checked the serial numbers, guess I should do that. It then goes on to say:
a) You must remain an active and financial member of and comply with bylaws / regulations of Sporting Shooters Association of Australia WA Inc. (S.S.A.A.)
It was at this point I freaked! Although I am a financial member of the SSAA, I didn't want this to be a condition on my licence.
The club that supported me for these guns was not a SSAA club.
(For my American readers the SSAA is somewhat similar to your NRA).
Anyway, chatted to a few people and we came to the conclusion that they must have been using a standard form letter and forgotten to change the club name rather than this being a real requirement.
Finally got through to Police Licensing Services (dropped off twice) and spoke to a guy who took my details and put me through to a gal. She took my details again, and the name of my club and said that she would send me a corrected letter.
BUT even with this letter I can't go get my guns. I have to wait for the actual licence piece of paper :(
Hope that comes soon!
(And I really must remember to check the serial numbers. We're licensed here for actual guns - so if the serial number is wrong I won't be able to get the gun).
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Need a Laugh?
from an email I received today:
I went to Home Depot recently while not being altogether sure that course of action was a wise one. You see, the previous evening I had prepared and consumed a massive quantity of my patented 'you're definitely going to shit yourself' road-kill chili. Tasty stuff, although hot to the point of being painful, which comes with a written guarantee from me that if you eat it, the next day both of your butt cheeks WILL fall off..
Here's the thing. I had awakened that morning, and even after two cups of coffee (and all of you know what I mean) nothing happened. No 'Watson's Movement. Despite the chilies swimming their way through my intestinal tract, I was unable to create the usual morning symphony referred to by my dear wife as 'thunder and lightning'.
Knowing that a time of reckoning HAD to come, yet not sure of just when, I bravely set off for Home Depot, my quest being paint and supplies to refinish the deck. Upon entering the store at first all seemed normal. I selected a cart and began pushing it about dropping items in for purchase.. It wasn't until I was at the opposite end of the store from the toilets that the pain hit me.
Oh, don't look at me like you don't know what I'm talking about. I'm referring to that 'Uh, Oh, Shit, gotta go' pain that always seems to hit us at the wrong time. The thing is, this pain was different. The chilies from the night before were staging a revolt. In a mad rush for freedom they bullied their way through the small intestines, forcing their way into the large intestines, and before I could take one step in the direction of the toilets which would bring sweet relief, it happened. The chilies fired a warning shot.
There I stood, alone in the paint and stain section, suddenly enveloped in a toxic cloud the likes of which has never before been recorded. I was afraid to move for fear that more of this vile odor might escape me. Slowly, oh so slowly, the pressure seemed to leave the lower part of my body, and I began to move up the aisle and out of it, just as a red aproned clerk turned the corner and asked if I needed any help.
I don't know what made me do it, but I stopped to see what his reaction would be to the toxic non-visible fog that refused to dissipate.. Have you ever been torn in two different directions
emotionally? Here's what I mean, and I'm sure some of you at least will be able to relate. I could've warned that poor clerk, but didn't. I simply watched as he walked into an invisible, and apparently indestructible, wall of odor so terrible that all he could do before gathering his senses and running, was to stand there blinking and waving his arms about his head as though trying to ward off angry bees.
This, of course, made me feel terrible, but then made me laugh.
.......BIG mistake!!!!!
Here's the thing. When you laugh, it's hard to keep things 'clamped down', if you know what I mean. With each new guffaw an explosive issue burst forth from my nether region. Some were so loud and echoing that I was later told a few folks in other aisles had ducked, fearing that someone was robbing the store and firing off a shotgun. Suddenly things were no longer funny.. 'It' was coming, and I raced off through the store towards the toilet, laying down a cloud the whole way, praying that I'd make it before the grand explosion took place.
Luck was on my side. Just in the nick of time I got to the john, began the inevitable 'Oh my God', floating above the toilet seat because my arse is burning SO BAD, purging. One poor fellow walked in while I was in the middle of what is the true meaning of 'Shock and Awe'.. He made a gagging sound, and disgustedly said, 'Son-of-a-bitch!, did it smell that bad when you ate it?', then quickly left.
Once finished and I left the restroom, reacquired my partially filled cart intending to carry on with my shopping when a store employee approached me and said, 'Sir, you might want to step outside for a few minutes. It appears some prankster set off a stink bomb in the store. The manager is going to run the vent fans on high for a minute or two which ought to take care of the problem.'
My smirking of course set me off again, causing residual gases to
escape me. The employee took one sniff, jumped back pulling his shirt up to cover his nose and, pointing at me in an accusing manner shouted, 'IT'S YOU!', then ran off returning moments later with the manager. I was unceremoniously escorted from the premises and asked none too kindly not to return.
Home again without my supplies, I realized that there was nothing to eat but leftover chili, so I consumed two more bowls. The next day I went to shop at Lowes. I can't say anymore about that because we are in court over the whole matter. Bastards claim they're going to have to repaint the store.
I went to Home Depot recently while not being altogether sure that course of action was a wise one. You see, the previous evening I had prepared and consumed a massive quantity of my patented 'you're definitely going to shit yourself' road-kill chili. Tasty stuff, although hot to the point of being painful, which comes with a written guarantee from me that if you eat it, the next day both of your butt cheeks WILL fall off..
Here's the thing. I had awakened that morning, and even after two cups of coffee (and all of you know what I mean) nothing happened. No 'Watson's Movement. Despite the chilies swimming their way through my intestinal tract, I was unable to create the usual morning symphony referred to by my dear wife as 'thunder and lightning'.
Knowing that a time of reckoning HAD to come, yet not sure of just when, I bravely set off for Home Depot, my quest being paint and supplies to refinish the deck. Upon entering the store at first all seemed normal. I selected a cart and began pushing it about dropping items in for purchase.. It wasn't until I was at the opposite end of the store from the toilets that the pain hit me.
Oh, don't look at me like you don't know what I'm talking about. I'm referring to that 'Uh, Oh, Shit, gotta go' pain that always seems to hit us at the wrong time. The thing is, this pain was different. The chilies from the night before were staging a revolt. In a mad rush for freedom they bullied their way through the small intestines, forcing their way into the large intestines, and before I could take one step in the direction of the toilets which would bring sweet relief, it happened. The chilies fired a warning shot.
There I stood, alone in the paint and stain section, suddenly enveloped in a toxic cloud the likes of which has never before been recorded. I was afraid to move for fear that more of this vile odor might escape me. Slowly, oh so slowly, the pressure seemed to leave the lower part of my body, and I began to move up the aisle and out of it, just as a red aproned clerk turned the corner and asked if I needed any help.
I don't know what made me do it, but I stopped to see what his reaction would be to the toxic non-visible fog that refused to dissipate.. Have you ever been torn in two different directions
emotionally? Here's what I mean, and I'm sure some of you at least will be able to relate. I could've warned that poor clerk, but didn't. I simply watched as he walked into an invisible, and apparently indestructible, wall of odor so terrible that all he could do before gathering his senses and running, was to stand there blinking and waving his arms about his head as though trying to ward off angry bees.
This, of course, made me feel terrible, but then made me laugh.
.......BIG mistake!!!!!
Here's the thing. When you laugh, it's hard to keep things 'clamped down', if you know what I mean. With each new guffaw an explosive issue burst forth from my nether region. Some were so loud and echoing that I was later told a few folks in other aisles had ducked, fearing that someone was robbing the store and firing off a shotgun. Suddenly things were no longer funny.. 'It' was coming, and I raced off through the store towards the toilet, laying down a cloud the whole way, praying that I'd make it before the grand explosion took place.
Luck was on my side. Just in the nick of time I got to the john, began the inevitable 'Oh my God', floating above the toilet seat because my arse is burning SO BAD, purging. One poor fellow walked in while I was in the middle of what is the true meaning of 'Shock and Awe'.. He made a gagging sound, and disgustedly said, 'Son-of-a-bitch!, did it smell that bad when you ate it?', then quickly left.
Once finished and I left the restroom, reacquired my partially filled cart intending to carry on with my shopping when a store employee approached me and said, 'Sir, you might want to step outside for a few minutes. It appears some prankster set off a stink bomb in the store. The manager is going to run the vent fans on high for a minute or two which ought to take care of the problem.'
My smirking of course set me off again, causing residual gases to
escape me. The employee took one sniff, jumped back pulling his shirt up to cover his nose and, pointing at me in an accusing manner shouted, 'IT'S YOU!', then ran off returning moments later with the manager. I was unceremoniously escorted from the premises and asked none too kindly not to return.
Home again without my supplies, I realized that there was nothing to eat but leftover chili, so I consumed two more bowls. The next day I went to shop at Lowes. I can't say anymore about that because we are in court over the whole matter. Bastards claim they're going to have to repaint the store.
Gonorrhea Lectim
The US Center for Disease Control has issued a warning about a new
virulent strain of Sexually Transmitted Disease. The disease is
contracted through dangerous and high-risk behavior. The disease is
called Gonorrhea Lectim..And pronounced "gonna re-elect ‘em."
Many victims contracted it in 2008, after having been screwed for the
past two years. Naturalists and epidemiologists are amazed at how this
destructive disease has become since it is easily cured....by voting
out all incumbents!
virulent strain of Sexually Transmitted Disease. The disease is
contracted through dangerous and high-risk behavior. The disease is
called Gonorrhea Lectim..And pronounced "gonna re-elect ‘em."
Many victims contracted it in 2008, after having been screwed for the
past two years. Naturalists and epidemiologists are amazed at how this
destructive disease has become since it is easily cured....by voting
out all incumbents!
Yes, it was THAT type of morning
Day 4 of the school year ...
Day 1 was pretty smooth (apart from the fact that I thought they were going back to school on Tuesday and only realised late Sunday night that they actually started back on the Monday!).
Aren't they cute:
However days 2, 3 and 4 have been complicated by them both having school swimming each day. So they have to wear sports uniform with bathers underneath and pack towel, thongs, knickers, hair brush etc, etc, etc.
These can't be packed the night before because the bathers are wet from that day's swimming. Mornings are challenging to say the least.
Oh, swimming finishes in two weeks time.
(Oh, the coffee was made and left for me on the kitchen bench for when I got back from taking them to school, by my dearest!)
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Yippee Yippee
My application for the additional guns has been APPROVED.
Took me four tries to get through to Police Licensing but I was told that it was approved YESTERDAY .... so yippee, yippee, yippee!
I wonder how long it will take for me to receive a letter so I can go get the guns?
For those who don't know the saga check here, here, here and here!
Took me four tries to get through to Police Licensing but I was told that it was approved YESTERDAY .... so yippee, yippee, yippee!
I wonder how long it will take for me to receive a letter so I can go get the guns?
For those who don't know the saga check here, here, here and here!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)