Ladies Night at the Shooting Range took place in the SDC last Thursday, bringing in a full house of participants. All 40 available registration spots were filled, and the range buzzed with energy as women of all experience levels stepped up to the firing line to build and practice their firearm skills.
Jeff Stroud, shooting Range Supervisor and Chief Range Safety Officer, and other instructors moved from lane to lane to provide guidance and support to the attendees. “We wanted to create an environment where they could come out and learn from an educated group,” said Stroud. “Being around an environment where there’s not that ego push, I think, is a great thing. I train all my guys to leave their egos at the door. Everybody here is learning; we were all new at one point, so there are no stupid questions.”
Stroud emphasized the importance of learning firearm safety and eliminating the mystery around firearms. Event highlights included an introduction to pistol shooting, trying a variety of different pistols, and target practice and challenges. “We brought 30-some different firearms for everybody to try, everything from high-end competitive pistols to basic 22 plinkers, so that everybody can get a good feel for exactly what’s out there,” he said.
Among the participants was Ania Petrosky, a Tech student who was returning to the MTU shooting range for a second visit. Petrosky explained that her family likes to hunt, so she was not unfamiliar with firearms, but she was eager to gain experience with different types of pistols. “It was empowering seeing a bunch of other women from the community partaking,” she said.
If you are interested in getting involved at the shooting range through classes, clubs, or open range hours, visit the Shooting Range page under the Michigan Tech Recreation website or email Jeff Straud at jsstroud@mtu.edu.
