Hi everyone this is Marjory Wildcraft,
and today I have a really special story for you.
As you know,
gun sales in America have been increasing very rapidly,
and one of the largest categories of new gun owners are women.
And I have a story here
with my new friend, Peggy.
And I really want to communicate this to you,
it's very important.
So Peggy, you had handled guns
quite a lot in your life.
You are very comfortable with shooting.
I grew up with guns, sure.
And you then didn't use them very much.
And then you had an experience with a girlfriend.
You want to tell us
a little bit about what happened?
Sure.
We had reached that point
where people were getting a little bit anxious
about self defense and personal protection.
And I thought,
you know, I don't have a hand gun.
I have hunting rifles, shotguns --
I really ought to have a small hand gun.
Talked to some friends who are knowledgeable
and they suggested --
You know the perfect gun for you would be a .38 Special.
I thought, cool --
And within a few weeks
there was a local gun show.
My friend and I went,
we looked around and I determined
that this .38 Special right here, brand-new
was in my price range
and I’m going to take it home.
And I will feel much more comfortable and reassured
if I have that in my house.
And so you initially got back into it
just because of security and personal defense.
Right --
I’m a woman living alone in a rural area.
I thought it would be a good idea.
One of my friends
was married to a Winchester man.
She’s very familiar with firearms.
She and I decided to take our targets
and go out in the woods
where they had this target area set up
and do a little target practice
with our hand guns.
So the two of us,
we brought our long guns as well,
we went and set up the targets.
We both had hearing protection,
you know dangling around our necks
the way you’re supposed to --
And I have always used it in the past.
I fired nine millimeters as well.
So we got all ready,
targets set up.
And I looked at her --
I said, "You ready to go?"
She said, "Sure."
I said, "You want to start with the long guns or the hand guns?"
She said, "Let’s do the hand guns."
So I got my .38 Special,
and we looked off in the distance,
and I said, "Good to go?"
And she said, "Good to go."
We both raised our hands,
squeezed the trigger,
and the world went quiet --
Because our ear protection was still
hanging around our neck.
Now you say the world went quiet,
and you have never been able to hear again?
That's correct.
It wasn't just an initial blast,
and then after my ears stopped ringing it was normal again --
No.
I completely destroyed my hearing
with that one shot.
And when the ear doctor eventually --
When I eventually met with him,
he said that the small, like the .38 Specials,
have a greater percussion --
And I am probably not saying this right
or explaining it very technically,
but they will do more damage
than say my twenty two rifle would have done.
So I know a lot of us watch television,
and we see those guys -- bam!
bam!
And they’re just shooting,
there's no hearing protection or anything,
and what you've got to say to that --
Wear it.
There are a little tiny ear plugs
that you can buy in any drugstore
for a couple of bucks
that you can compress and squeeze into your ears
that will offer some protection.
And in addition,
I would recommend regulation earphones
that cup completely cover your ears.
For your own protection.
Your hearing is too valuable.
And now so what is it like?
You've got hearing aids that do help you
but so, for example,
going to bed at night
you take them out
and then you're not able to wake up with an alarm clock,
and there's lots of ways this has affected you.
That's right.
It’s really interfered with my social life.
For instance,
I belong to a couple of book clubs.
I have had to cancel one
because as we sit around the table
I simply cannot hear the other people speak.
What’s the point in belonging to a club
where you discuss a book
when you can’t hear anyone else's discussion?
That and when I'm one-on-one,
as I am with you,
no problem.
If I'm in a crowded room,
if there's background noise,
if there’s music going on,
I simply can't hear.
And I've reached the point
where there are some places
I no longer go
because I cannot hear when I'm there.
Well thank you so much for sharing your story
and I just wanted you all to hear
that it's really important.
I know a lot of us are learning
how to use guns
and they are powerful tools.
And especially for women,
they are force equalizers.
But let's not look at television
for a model of how to use them.
This is Marjory Wildcraft
and I'll see you on the next segment.