A true story from WSA student Patty

Catching Bad Guys in My Pajamas

I usually get up around 6:30 am but today I woke up before 6. Went out to the kitchen in my red nightgown and red fussy slippers and baby blue robe, poured my coffee and went to sit in my chair and have my morning devotions like I do everyday. Shaun came out to the kitchen to get his second cup of coffee and I heard him pour more water in the coffee maker. The coffee pot was sputtering as it made another cup. Boy it sure was noisy, made a funny popping noise. As I drank my coffee and tried to wake up I realized I was hearing noises but it wasn’t the coffee pot or the dogs that were stilled locked up in the kitchen.

I could hear noises coming from outside, between our house and the neighbors house. What in the world would Mike and Maryann the neighbors be doing outside this time of the morning? It was not garbage day. I decided to go outside to see what was going on.

I walked out onto our large deck that wraps around the back and side of our house. Walked to the edge of the deck and looked into the neighbor’s back yard. Nothing there. I walked toward the front of the deck and looked into their driveway. Nothing. What had I heard? Proceeded to walk to the front of the deck and looked down on our driveway and front yard. Suddenly a young man ran out from under my deck and across my front yard. He was running as fast as his feet could carry him. My mind tried to absorb every detail in the few seconds it took him to run across my yard and up the street out of site. I realized he was a young Hispanic male in his late twenties or early thirties, with short dark hair. He was wearing gray pants and a tray and white large stripped shirt. He was about the size of my youngest son Joey, 5 foot 6 inches tall and weighed about 150 pounds. Ran into the house locking the sliding door behind me which meant I slammed the wooden dowel in the track of the sliding door. Were there others trying to break into my garage or Shaun’s truck parked under the deck?

Shaun was in the den at the back of the house. He had heard me slam the dowel in the sliding glass door. “Shaun get Maggie!” I yelled. Maggie is our Ruger 357 revolver. From where I was standing down the hallway, I saw Shaun dart into our bedroom from the den to retrieve her.

“Someone was trying to break in! I saw him run across the front yard.”

“Call 911” he yelled back.

As Shaun headed out the front door in his robe and slippers with Maggie in his hand, I dialed 911.

“Police or fire department?” the female dispatcher asked.

“Police” I responded my voice shaky and a little high pitched. My heart was beating fast and I could feed the adrenaline.

“What is your name?”

“Patty McConnell”

“How can I help you?”

“Someone just tried to break into our garage. I saw him run across my front yard. He is running up Sagittarius.”

“Can you describe the suspect?” she asked.

“Yes” I said “a young Hispanic male wearing gray pants and a gray and white stripped shirt.”

“Are the stripes vertical or horizontal?” I thought about a prison uniform.

I thought for an instance “Horizontal, not vertical, like a polo shirt”

“How big is he?”

He was not big and I thought about Joey. “Not real tall maybe 5 foot 8 inches, probably about 150 pounds”.

I was told, “We’ll get someone there right away. What number can I reach you? “.Gave her home phone number.

As I hung up the phone, Shaun came back in the house. “They were trying to steal my outboard motor off the boat!”

I followed him outside to see what had happened. The tarp that normally covers the boat was neatly folded back to expose the motor. On the ground lay a large pair of yellow handled bolt cutters. The lock had been cut and was lying on the cement. Only one bolt remained to be unscrewed and the motor could be lifted off the boat. Shaun’s Ford truck was facing the boat. We debated what to do.

“You better stay out here in case they come back to finish the job and get the motor.”

“I’ll sit in the truck with Maggie. Go call the police again and tell them what’s happened.”

Dialed 911 again.

“This is Patty McConnell and I just called a few minutes ago. He was trying to steal our outboard motor off our boat. Are you really sending someone and should we not touch anything?”

“Don’t touch anything, officers are on the way and should be there any minute.”

Ran out to tell Shaun. He was sitting in the truck staring at the boat, with Maggie resting on the console.

“Be sure to tell the police you have a gun so they don’t shoot you “I warned. Went back in the house to watch and wait for the police. The phone rang; it was 6:45am.

“Is this Patty McConnell?”

“Yes”

“This is the Reno police department. We have a suspect in custody. Do you think you can identify him?”

“Yes I can.”

“We will have an officer come by to get you and take you on a drive-by.” I wanted to ID the suspect but I did not want him to see me.

I hung up the phone and ran outside to tell Shaun what was happening. In the back of my mind I thought “I need to get dressed”.

“They have apprehended a suspect and are coming by to get me so I can identify him”. As I start back into the house hoping to change my clothes an office pulls up and parks in front of our driveway. Too late. All thoughts of changing my clothes disappear and I immediately walk towards the black and white police car. He greets me and begins to move his gear off the front seat into the trunk.

“Go ahead and get in. We’ll drive down to Hunter Lake so you can see if this is the man you saw”. It was as surreal as I sit in the police car in my pajamas my hair its usual morning disaster. I could not believe I was riding in a police car at six in the morning in my pajamas. Inside I was laughing. As we head out I tell him the story. He makes a comment about the incident happening when it is daylight.

As we make a right turn on Hunter Lake I see him sitting on the side walk behind the police car with his hands in handcuffs behind his back.

“Oh that’s him!” I respond immediately. There was no doubt in my mind. He was wearing gray pants and the gray and white stripped polo shirt. It was amazing that I had described him perfectly. I looked at his face as we drove by. That was the only part of him that I had not seen.

The officer drove past the young man sitting on the sidewalk and the police car and pulled over along the curb. “I’ll be right back” He got out of the car leaving it running. I looked at the computer in his car a map displayed on the screen with my street name highlighted. I looked in the side mirror and I could see the suspect sitting there. It was such a good feeling knowing they had caught him.

“He told them he was jogging” the officer said as he got back in the car. We chuckled. The suspect had ratted on his accomplish and now everyone was looking for someone driving a Mercury, the get away car.

When we arrived at the house, Shaun was outside waiting for me. I told him they had caught him,

“Way to go honey!”

“Well now the fun begins, paperwork” He had a clipboard with a form attached.

We walked into the house and introduced our selves as we sat at the kitchen table. Maggie was laying on the kitchen table her five cartridges lying beside her.

“I carried a 357 when I was first started on the police force”. He picked her up and handled her like she was an old friend.

Officer Fred explained the form on the clipboard and I wrote down everything that I could remember.

Shaun told Fred that he looked like our neighbor Mike. Another office arrived so we went outside to the crime scene. For the first time we took it all in.

“He cut the cable and the safety cord! He didn’t need to do that” Shaun moaned in disgust. “And he busted the handle!”

Soon two plain white cars with detective arrived to gather all the evidence. CSI was on site right under my deck. All the officers tried to determine the best place to lift a finger print. One detective had a finger print kit and began dusting the motor and the back of the boat with a black powder. We left him to do his job and as we walked into the driveway I saw the neighbors Mike and Maryann leaving their house for their daily early morning walk. Seeing all the commotion and police cars, they walked over to us. I was wound up and retold the story. As Officer Fred walked up to where Mike and I were standing I said “This is my neighbor Mike.”

“Apparently I look like you” Officer Fred said to Mike. Yes I thought you two do look alike.

“When I went out to get the paper this morning I saw a car sitting on our side of the street and thought that was odd.” Mike said. Happened to be the Mercury everyone was looking for. The driver, the girl friend, had fallen asleep and had been there the whole time, a half a block from our house.

There was a divine chain of events that had taken place that morning. First of all, I usually don’t get up that early. Normally I would have been asleep and Shaun would not have heard anything from the far end of the house. Secondly when I went out on the deck to find out what the noise was, I walked directly over where the crime was happening. As I continued to walk around on the deck I had scared the would-be thief. So he ran, but he ran the wrong way. He ran up the street, uphill all the way. Girl friend accomplish was asleep in the car down the street. If he had run the other way, he could have jumped in the car and they would have gotten away scot-free.

In June of this year, I took my first class from the Woman’s Shooting Academy, Introduction to Handguns. I fell in love with shooting with my first experience and as a result Maggie came to live with us. My mindset changed as I became aware of how important it is to be conscious of our surroundings and what is going on. There are bad guys out there who try to do bad things. My curiosity was aroused when I heard unusual sounds at an odd time so I went to investigate. All these events had allowed me to help catch a bad guy in my pajamas.

December News

Be sure to become a fan of WSA on Facebook.

Reno police warn of criminals targeting shoppers.
(Recent RGJ Article)

Reno police are cautioning residents that holiday excitement can leave you vulnerable to criminals looking for as target.

Vehicle burglaries increase as criminals find gifts in busy shopping center parking lots. Lt. Mike Whan said. In the last two weeks, Reno police and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office received more than 90 calls about vehicle thefts.

“Thieves are looking for opportunities,” Whan said. “Don’t think they’ll avoid busy shopping centers. They will pull up right next to you and break inside.”

Homes are also vulnerable. In the last two weeks, more than 70 burglaries were reported to Reno police and the sheriff’s office.

Whan said to close window blinds and drapes and lock doors. Many residential burglaries occur during the day when people are at work, he said.

“Don’t let people see what you have,” he said.

Reno police recommend:
o Shop during daylight. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.
o Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.
o Don’t carry a purse or wallet.
o Carry a driver’s license or identification card, necessary cash, checks or a credit card you expect to use in a pocket outside of a wallet or purse.
o Avoid carrying large amounts of cash, and keep it in your front pocket.
o Stay alert to your surroundings. Knowing who is near is the first step to being secure. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, move in the direction of witnesses.
o Display confidence by walking with a purpose, scanning the area around you and making causal eye contact with others.
Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, con-artists may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.
o Trust your instincts. If you have an intuitive feeling something is wrong, trust your instincts and react immediately to reduce your risk. If someone approaches you and you feel uncomfortable, move or ask for assistance.
o When you observe suspicious behavior, note specifics about the person and or vehicle and contact police.
o Keep a record of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home, and notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.

INTRODUCTION TO OC PEPPER SPRAY:

It's about options and choices.
OC Pepper Spray is a great tool and has it's place. Don't miss your chance to jump in on an upcoming class. All dates have been updated on the website.
SIGN UP TODAY!

In closing, I want to to say thank you. The Women's Shooting Academy has had an amazing year. I am humbled when I look back and reflect on this past year. None of this would have been possible if not for many of you. It's friends and students like you that continue to inspire me. Thank you for your continued support.

I wish you much joy and peace~

Merry Christmas

Vicki-

November Newsletter

Here is a photo of Karen, a student from earlier this year. She started out with the Ladies Introduction to Handguns Course and look at her now. There is nothing like shooting an AR-15.......way to go girl.

This months newsletter is a little different. I have asked fellow instructor TK to write a little something. I hope you enjoy it.

Be prepared.

That has been the Boy Scout motto from day one. I interpreted that lesson when I was growing up to mean to be prepared for life. To be prepared for the unexpected in the wilderness, be prepared in your mind to learn for a life time, be prepared for life as an adult and be prepared to be a responsible American by giving back where needed.

But it seems the world has changed these past few decades. Life has become more complex, violent and uncertain. To be prepared has changed. Now it seems that not only must we be prepared but we must BE READY. Ready for the unexpected that is around every corner.

What is it “that” we must be ready for?

Watch the evening news or monitor the wires of the daily events around our globe and you certainly start to see what others have not been ready for. I am not talking about the whole terrorism aspect, which has its own level of preparedness. Ask any member of our valiant military personnel or dedicated law enforcement officials. They will tell you how they prepare for just that threat alone.

We now must be armed with a variety of skills beyond good map and compass reading. We must be ready with good defensive driving skills as you never know when you may encounter road rage or be involved in a severe accident. Fatalities on the highway are a daily headline. Then there is the random “crime.” From the weekly attempted home invasions, attempted rapes, shootings and robbery’s, there is a lot to “be ready” for. You may be shaking your head that I exaggerate. More likely, you have just tuned it out because we all know it is all around us. Check the call logs posted by your local police department and you will be more than shocked at what happens in our community.

It seems light years ago that we did not have to “worry” about such things. Perhaps it is nostalgic for me to think that we used to be able to play outside, ride our bikes in the neighborhood, walk to school unattended and go six blocks to a friend’s house WITHOUT our parents having to worry about our safety. Now they must be concerned about creeps watching us for perverted reasons. The fact that an organized syndicate exists for the exploitation of children for perverse reasons is often beyond my comprehension. But it is the reality of the world we live in today and you and I must be ready to defend that which we love.

For our family, being ready means a lot of things. Given where this article is being published, you know we have made the choice to exercise all our constitutional rights as citizens, and particularly the 1st and 2nd amendments. But most importantly, we have learned to go back to the old rule I learned as a boy scout. Being prepared means we are prepared for the realities of the world we live in today, not yesterday. Be prepared when you are alone in a parking lot, be prepared when you walk to school, be prepared when you drive for the unexpected; and be prepared not to be the next headline on the daily news.

Be prepared and ready for the unexpected. That’s the new motto of an old Eagle Scout in a different world.

TK~

CCW CLASS on Nov.15th still has a few spaces available. If you are thinking about getting your Concealed Carry Permit sign up today.

The Tactics class continues to sell out. Due to the high demand I have added another date. The next co-ed class will be on Sunday December 6th. I will be posting additional class dates on the website in the next few weeks.

Stay tuned for an exciting announcement!
A brand new course is coming in December. Keep checking your email, you'll be the first to know.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN.....DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR WHEN YOU GO TO BED SATURDAY NIGHT.

Until next time....

Vicki-

September Newsletter

Our First Gun Cleaning Class!

The first gun cleaning class was a huge success. Thank you to all who participated. In order for your gun to function properly it needs to be cleaned and lubricated regularly.

We will be having another class in November. I will let you know the date once I get it set.

The National Center for Missing Adults and Children.

The Women's Shooting Academy is proud to announce that due to our hat sales we were able to donate $200.00 to this wonderful organization. In addition to our hat sales donations I have decided to personally match that amount. The total donation amount was $400.00. All of our donations are made in memory of Dari Mansfield who was murdered back in 1985. Dari is the mother of Hanae, one of my wonderful assistants! Thank you so much for your support of our efforts through your purchase of WSA hats.

HUM....
Coolness and a steady nerve will always beat simple quickness.Take your time and you'll only have to pull the trigger once.

News on the ammunition shortages:

In speaking to some local gun shop owners it seems that ammo is starting to make it's way (slowly) to the shelves again. This was also confirmed in an article written this week in the Reno Gazette Journal. Let's all hope this trend continues!

TACTICS - TACTICS - TACTICS....you are only as good as your training!

The first Co-Ed tactics class scheduled for next Sunday Oct. 4th sold out in just over a week. Due to a large number of you who were unable to get in on the class I have set another date. I already have several people signed up so call right away....THE DATE IS SET FOR SATURDAY NOV. 7th. This Co-Ed class will sell out.

If you are a women and prefer to be in a ladies only class, the next tactics class will be held on Saturday Oct.24th at Scheels. Call me ASAP to register.

Just a little reminder from Vicki.

Because of recent abductions in daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation....

Pay attention to everything going on around you.
Awareness is your FIRST line of defense.

The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do.

If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ.
RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern.

ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT.

Have a plan ~ Practice your plan ~ Live your plan

A NEW NON-FIREARM COURSE WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN A FEW WEEKS...
This will include the proper use of pepper spray and a baton.
REMEMBER: You want as many choices as possible at your disposal.

Women’s Shooting Academy Blog Feed:

Subscribe the WSA feed so that you can get up-to-date news on the gun world on your iGoogle and My Yahoo pages.

I look forward to seeing many of you in the coming weeks.

Until next time...

Vicki~

August Newsletter

If you haven't tried this before I really recommend trying it, it is far harder than it looks. We really don't tell you to do what we are not willing to do ourselves. Make your practice fun and make it real. The idea here was to pretend that you were sleeping, when given the command you had to locate your firearm and then hit multiple threats. Speed and accuracy were a big factor. REMEMBER: Safety is always your top priority when practicing.


WOMEN'S SHOOTING ACADEMY IN THE NEWS!
I was recently invited to be a guest on Alice 96.5 morning radio with Bill and Connie Wray. I can't begin to tell you what fun that was. One thing I learned was think before you speak...when you're live you don't get a do over!

I also had the pleasure of meeting and working with Karoline Wightman from our local KOLO channel 8. Karoline was a lot of fun and made us all comfortable on and off camera.
Click below to watch the news story.


LEARN HOW TO CLEAN YOUR GUN....ONLY 10 SPACES AVAILABLE
On Saturday evening August 29th Kristy and Hanae will be up at the classroom from 6pm till 9pm teaching you everything you need to know. You will need to bring your gun/guns and all your own cleaning supplies. If you have your manual please bring that as well. We will also bring our own personal cleaning supplies and are happy to share. The cost will be $5.00 per person. Don't miss out, CALL TODAY TO REGISTER! Dessert and coffee will be served.
Jesse Teague a local gunsmith will also be available to assist and help in any way he can!

“Real American feminism is a woman with a car loaded with groceries, kids in the back seat and a 9mm she knows how to use in her pocket…” TK~

LADIES ONLY CCW We are offering a ladies only CCW this Sunday at Cabela's. I have room for a few more, call me if you would like to jump in.

Ladies Introduction to Tactics has been a huge success. For all you who have taken the Introduction to Handguns class I challenge you to step up and take this course. It is quickly turning out to be one of my favorites! Next ladies only class is on Sunday Sept. 20th.
SPACE IS LIMITED

GENTLEMAN I HEAR YOU...
I will be offering a co-ed tactics class beginning of October.
Please let me know if this is a class you would be interested in attending.

Women’s Shooting Academy Blog Feed:

Subscribe the WSA feed so that you can get up-to-date news on the gun world on your iGoogle and My Yahoo pages.

Until next time...

Vicki-

July Newsletter

Hi,

All is great for the gals and I. We have been very busy this summer. We are thankful for every class that we are able to teach. Men and women are realizing how important their safety is, and doing something about it!

This months newsletter is simple. A message from Hanae and the introduction of Jesse, a fabulous local gunsmith!


Until next time......

Vicki~


A Note From Jesse:
Jesse "Slim" Teague
I have been fond of guns all my life. I attended the Lassen College gunsmithing program in 2006 and then again in August 2008 to get Law Enforcement Armorers School (L.E.A.S.) full automatic certified. I have been doing freelance gunsmithing in Northern Nevada since January 2008.

I enjoy mostly working on, collecting and shooting surplus military rifles, as well as an array of handguns. I gear my business more toward the repair and minor customizing side of things. I feel there are enough gunsmiths out there that can build you a complete custom rifle from scratch, but there are very few that can do a repair, big or small, in a timely manner. That's where I come in. I won't take five weeks to do a job that takes one or two days, and in most cases I can have your gun back to you the next day, I am very flexible when it comes to time frames and can work around your schedule when necessary.
I realize most of the folks reading this will be carrying a gun for their personal protection and I don't want to deprive them of their gun any longer than I have to.

-Jesse "Slim" Teague
----------------------------
Slim's Gunsmithing
www.slimsgunsmithing.com


A special message from Hanae:
Always remember that safety is number one. Don't forget that keeping your gun or guns clean is just as important. If you go out and shoot and know that you won’t be shooting for a month or so, clean your gun before store it. The gunpowder and lead is very harmful to your gun and it causes the gun to rust and not work properly.

I recommend for quick clean try Birchwood Casey’s Barricade. It comes in a spray form that is easy to use. It will protect your gun from rust. It also lubricates the gun. Always lubricate the gun after cleaning. An easy way to remember what to lubricate is: metal on metal and anything that touches metal needs to have lubrication. A good lubricant is MiliTec. It’s a synthetic lubricate that doesn’t gum up or gather dirt. I really love it!

I would also like to take this time to thank Vicki for bringing me on the team to help instruct. I love seeing women empower themselves and learn safe ways to protect themselves and the ones they love. Vicki’s classes teach everything that I have been very passionate about from a very young age. I lost my mother at two years old to a crime that we stress can happen to anyone women, man or child.

Recently, Vicki came to me and said she would like to donate $5.00 from our Women’s Shooting Academy hats to a charity of my choice in the memory of my mom. I couldn't’t believe it! I thought to myself, Vicki must an angle that my mom brought to me.

So I am pleased to announce that in the memory of mom, Dari Mansfield, the Women’s Shooting Academy is donating $5.00 from the sale of each hat to The National Center for Missing Adults. Thank you Vicki for giving my family, especially my dad, and I the chance to keep my moms memory alive and strong.

Hanae
P.S Love you mom

There is still room in the upcoming CCW class on August 2nd.
Ladies Intro. to Tactics Aug. 9th, still has some availability. You REALLY should sign up ladies...it's a great class!
For additional information and dates you can always check the website.

TAKE CARE~

Vicki - Kristy - Hanae

June Newsletter

The girls and I had a recent photo shoot with local photographer Alexa Gintoff. Here is one of my favorite pictures. We will be sharing more photos in upcoming newsletters. Enjoy!

Exciting News...

I am excited to announce that The Women’s Shooting Academy now has its own permanent classroom. The new location is up on Parr Blvd. near the Washoe County Jail. We will be having some advanced classes coming to our new facility soon! Stay connected for more information. We always welcome your ideas and suggestions for upcoming courses.

Utah only CCW class on Thursday July 2nd.

For those of you who are interested in obtaining a Concealed Carry Permit from Utah I will be offering the 4 hour course on Thursday July 2nd. We will begin at 8am and be finished by noon. There is no firearm qualification required, therefore no need to bring your gun or any ammo. to class.

For those of you who already have your Nevada CCW, by adding Utah it allows you to carry in quite a few more states than your Nevada alone. If you are a Nevada resident and plan on carrying concealed you MUST obtain your Nevada CCW.

This is a great course for all of you Nevada non-residents as well.

For more information don’t hesitate to contact me. Class size is limited so sign up ASAP.

Below is a list of reciprocity sates that honor the different permits:

Nevada AK*, AR, AZ, FL, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MT, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT*,

Utah AK*, AL, AR, AZ, CO, DE, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NH, NM, NV, OH, OK, PA, SD, TN, TX, VA,
VT*, WA, WV, WY,

Illinois (IL) and Wisconsin (WI) are "Non CCW issue states".**Colorado (CO), Michigan (MI), South Carolina (SC), New Hampshire (NH), Florida (FL), Kansas (KS) and West Virginia (WV) only honor permits from residents of the issuing states. (* Vermont (VT) & Alaska (AK). Anyone who can legally own a firearm can carry it concealed. No Permit/license is required.)

States in red issue Non-Resident Permits. Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Maryland (MD),
New Jersey (NJ), Oregon (OR) and Tennessee (TN) have a very restrictive Non-Resident issue policies.

A special message from Kristy.

Summer time is finally here! The snow has melted, the flowers are blooming, neighborhood parks are packed and the aroma of a backyard BBQ is filling the air. It is time for us to dust off the camping gear, get the bikes out, head to the beach, or for many of you- it’s time to head to the shooting range!

This weather beckons us to spend more time outside: gardening, walking, biking, and sitting on our porches enjoying the summer evening. While sleeping, it is not uncommon for many to open up their windows and sliding glass doors to let the cool night breeze flow through their homes. Keep in mind, many of these activities lead to a greater chance of becoming a victim of a crime. I cannot stress enough how important it is to be aware of your environment and pay attention to your surroundings! No matter how familiar we are with our homes, our work, or the grocery store we frequent the most; we must never be complacent about our surroundings. Analyze the people around you, examine the shrubbery, dark corners, and parked cars. Small simple steps such as these can help us avoid potential victimization.

Being aware is just one small segment of the whole picture of personal security! If you haven’t already, explore and review your options for a self-defense weapon. The spectrum is wide and there is something for everyone: from pocket sized mace to a reliable and easy-to-conceal firearm.

Whatever your favorite summer hobbies are, it is important to keep your personal safety at the forefront of your daily activities; both at home or on-the-go! For more personal protection ideas and strategies that you can implement into your daily life; please join The Women’s Shooting Academy for our first Refuse to Be a Victim seminar June 13th.

Kristy-

Do you know how to treat a Bullet Wound?

Gunshot wounds are one of the most serious forms of trauma that you can encounter. Gunshots cause three types of trauma: penetration (destruction of flesh by the projective), cavitation (damage from the bullet's shock wave in the body), and fragmentation (caused by pieces of the projectile or bone). It is very difficult to predict the degree of damage done by a gunshot wound, and many of the injuries caused by a gun far exceed what you can reasonably treat. For this reason, the best option for most gunshot wounds is to get the victim to a hospital as soon as possible. Read on to learn what you can do to help stabilize a gunshot victim.

Make sure you are safe.

Call for help.

Do not move the victim unless you must do so to keep him safe, or to access care i.e.: in a rural or off-road setting.
General principles of first aid for bullet wounds.

Steps, warnings and tips are only for your consideration. Although the specifics of treating a gunshot wound will vary somewhat depending upon the part of the body where it occurs, these steps can be applied to all gunshot wounds.

Act quickly.

Check the A, B, C, D, E's.
A (Airway)
B (Breathing)
C (Circulation)
D (Disability)
E (Exposure)

Control bleeding.

Be prepared to treat the victim for shock.

Wait for help to arrive.

Special instructions for regions of the body.

* Head – Gunshot wounds to the head are frequently fatal. Your best option is to keep the head elevated and get the victim to a trauma center as soon as possible.
* Face and neck – These wounds typically bleed severely. Use direct pressure to control bleeding and keep the victim upright. Be careful not to obstruct breathing while controlling bleeding. With injuries to the neck, be careful that blood flow to the carotid arteries isn't disrupted, as this can reduce blood flow to the brain.
* Chest and back – Apply direct pressure to control bleeding; understand that it may be difficult to control chest bleeding because the ribs make it difficult to compress the structures that are bleeding. Gunshots to the chest can cause what is known as a "sucking chest wound". These happen when air travels in and out of the wound with each breath. Treat these as follows:
* Seal wound with hand or airtight material (e.g., plastic film).
* Apply an airtight bandage on three sides of the wound. Do not close the bandage on the fourth side.
* Lift the unsealed side of the bandage as the victim exhales to allow air to escape.
*Abdomen – Use direct pressure to the injury site. As with the chest, controlling bleeding in these cases can be quite difficult.
*Arm or leg – Use direct pressure to control bleeding. Arm and leg injuries from gunshots can be elevated above the heart to help control bleeding. Use pressure points in the arm, groin, or behind the knee if direct pressure does not control bleeding.

* Never use a tourniquet except to:
Save a life when excessive bleeding can not be stopped by pressure or to go to get help when alone.
If you must use a tourniquet, then to arm or leg only and above bleeding (never on any other part of the body.)!

* Never use wire, string or similar narrow material that could cause a new cut or bursting injury or additional bleeding when tightened.

You can now find many of The Women’s Shooting Academy classes being taught at Scheels. We are very excited they have embraced our classes and support our mission to educate
ALL women in the Reno/Sparks area.
For a list of class schedules please visit our website.

Coming next month....A special message from Hanae!

Let your gun therefore be the
constant companion of your walks-
Thomas Jefferson

There is still availability for the June 13th Refuse to be
a Victim Seminar. This seminar will be held at Cabela's.
Call today to reserve your seat!

EDUCATE - ENCOURAGE - EMPOWER

Until next time....

Vicki~

May Newsletter

Hello,

I hope you are all doing well.

Just a reminder that I will be out of the office until Monday May 11th. You can always go to the website for additional information.

The ladies introduction class on May 16th is now full. There are plenty of spaces still available for the June 6th class.

The Ladies Rock….

There are now over 35 gals on the shooting and practice roster. This is a confidential group designed for the purpose of meeting others to shoot and practice with.
For more information call Vicki.

THE TEAM IS READY…
I am excited to announce that Kristy, Hanae and Tim are now ready to begin teaching. They are all NRA Certified Instructors in multiple disciplines. Their commitment and dedication has exceeded my expectations. Safety is, and always will be, our number one priority! We don’t just talk a good talk, nor do we ask you to do what we don’t do ourselves. We will continue to train and educate ourselves and always strive for excellence.

Always be prepared:

I talk a lot about this in all of my classes. When you least expect it is probably
when you will find yourself in a situation of being unprepared.
You need to think of your safety and security all the time.
This concept is NOT always convenient.

The Refuse to be a Victim Seminar is a great place to start. This is a non-firearm NRA approved course. In just four short hours you will begin to develop your personal safety strategy plan. You need to start looking at all areas of your life immediately. There are simple things you can start doing today to improve your chances of NOT becoming a victim.

These seminars are beginning in June and will be taught around the greater Reno area on an ongoing basis. We hope to see you at one soon. Please check the website for a list of dates.

Below is an email I received last month from a recent student. I think it just reinforces the concept of being prepared and having a plan. Remember….when you need your gun, you need your gun!

Hey Vicki,
Steve and Cindy in Susanville and Quincy. This is my testimonial. Have been carrying for several years, recently took a course with you, but had become complacent! We have been living alone in an RV away from home, with my dogs and husband for the last several years. I have always carried......but one night recently I just needed to go to the car for an item (approximately six feet from my RV front door.) I did not pick up my handgun. Retrieved the item from the car (almost totally dark, RV front lights do not illuminate much) I turned to go into my house and right behind me was a male, back lit, could not see his face. Dressed in dark clothing with a hat on, asking me to stop and talk to him. The owner of the RV Park where I stay in was out of town. I hightailed it to the door of my RV, shut and locked it right away when the person tried the door. I work with the spouse of a sheriff’s deputy so called him right away. Sheriff and CHP were there within minutes, took my description, searched and searched, but found no one. Needles to say, I am the hardest one on myself for not being prepared and armed. Never again. Go Carry, Be Happy and Safe.
Cindy W.

The Four Basic Rules to Always Remember

Rule One: All guns are always loaded. This rule means that no matter what, you will always treat a firearm with the respect you would give it if you knew it was loaded. You never do anything with an unloaded gun that you wouldn't do with a loaded gun. This is the most basic rule and all other safety rules.

Rule Two: Do not point the gun at anything you are not willing to destroy. This rule applies whether the gun is loaded or not! (See Rule One...) Do not allow the gun to point at other shooters, no matter what you are doing with the gun and no matter where the shooters are standing.

Rule Three: Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target. Most new shooters have a hard time teaching the trigger finger to do what the brain knows to do, so there is no shame in being reminded. Make sure you understand that "off the trigger" also means "outside of the trigger guard."

Rule Four: Be sure of your target and what's beyond your target. Make sure there's nothing between you and your target, and if you're not sure the area behind the target is clear of people and will stop a bullet, don't fire.

COMING NEXT MONTH: A special message from Kristy!

"The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
Thomas Jefferson-

EDUCATE - ENCOURAGE - EMPOWER

Until Next Time...

Stay Safe

~Vicki~

April Newsletter

Hello,

I hope you are all well and enjoying this beautiful spring like weather. It's the perfect time to get out there and start practicing.

There are now over 25 ladies signed up to meet others to shoot and practice with. If you are a women and are interested in becoming part of the (confidential) group please contact Vicki.

FREE gun cleaning classes will be offered once a month beginning in June. More details will be announced in May's Newsletter!

Did you know.....
According to the FBI, states with "Shall-Issue" right to carry laws have a 26 percent lower total violent crime rate, a 20 percent lower homicide rate, a 39 percent lower robbery rate and a 22 percent lower aggravated assault rate than those states that do not allow their citizens to legally carry guns.

If you are interested in acquiring a multi-state concealed carry permit please contact Vicki. Do it while you still can!

"No free man shall ever be denied the use of arms"
~Thomas Jefferson

Below is the link to read the NRA article regarding Bi-Partisan Legislation to restore your Second Amendment in National Parks. You may have to copy and paste.

http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/NewsReleases.aspx?ID=12320

REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM.

Living your life in a constant state of awareness goes a long way towards avoiding trouble. Good habits and tactics apply to everything you do. Make a choice....Refuse to be a Victim!

Refuse to be a Victim is a four hour seminar that focuses on crime prevention and developing your personal safety strategy plan. I am very excited about this seminar. Hanae, Kristy and myself will begin offering this course to our community in late May.

Until next time....

Take Care, Be Well and Stay Safe

~Vicki~