Shootin' Guns for Fun
By Kristi Kastrounis, 03.09.06
There I stood with a Glock in my hands. I raised the barrel towards a pocked, human-shaped target. I aimed, I fired. It was then the weapons found in movies came to life. I felt the kick-back in my own two hands and saw the spark of fire at the end of the muzzle. I could be a movie extra.
Movies like “Saving Private Ryan” to the 10 disk DVD series “Band of Brothers,” depict the realities of war in all its gory detail. For many viewers these films are graphic in nature, and hard to watch.
James Gattuso, a researcher and expert in regulatory and communications is quoted on U.S. Info website, explaining that “the FCC prohibits the utterance of ‘obscene, indecent, or profane language’ on broadcast media and issues harsh fines when such speech occurs.”
Yet according to Gattuso, offensive material is based on an individual’s interpretation. NBC has aired in entirety “Saving Private Ryan,” as the film is an accurate depiction of WWII.
After my weekend of watching the entire 2001 Spielberg “Band of Brothers” series, I headed to the firing range for the first time. The graphic nature of the film did not bother me, instead created a desire to shoot a gun. I was not alone in my desire. I was taken back by the number of women, chain-smoking men, and college kids that raised arms at the “A and P Arms,” shooting range in Virginia Beach, Va.
Gun range shooting is not just a sport, or a hobby; for some people it is their favorite form of weekly entertainment.
“I really do believe that shooting is a form of entertainment,” said Paul Briggs, a Northeastern Computer Science Student. “Going to the range and letting off some rounds, the challenge of accuracy, the feel of the recoil, and the whole experience is quite enjoyable.”
Jonathon Douglas, a Virginia Beach native, said he enjoys going shooting with his brother-in-law who is a Marine.
“It’s all about competition,” Jonathon Douglas said. “Not just with the other men there, but competition with your self- to see how good you are. It’s like golf-well, the poor man’s golf.”
Yet, shooting guns isn’t a cheap hobby if you go regularly. If you do not own your own gun, you have to rent one. A and P charges $6 for a Glock 22. The lane rental on average is $8 and the rounds are $10 per a box. Each target is only $0.30. For a grand total of about $25 for some target practice. The manditory, protective glasses and ear wear are, however, complimentary.
Watching a war movie is one thing. Yet, once you have actually fired pistols, shotguns and old rifles, war movies will never be the same experience.
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