Hey! Teresa here! Sorry it took so long to introduce myself.
Like most of you, I also grew up in a house without guns. When I was about 18, some of my friends did take me out to their usual shooting place (a dump) they were having so much fun, I decided to try it-well all I remember was the gun was black and it hurt like crazy after I shot it!! Decided right there it wasn’t for me!! Well, when I hit the big 3-0 I decided it was time to try it again. I took a Ladies Only beginners class in Maplewood & we shot at Oakdale Gun Club. They started us with .22’s and slowly worked us up to the larger calibers. Well, I was completely hooked!!!! I took all & any training I could find and before I knew it I was instructing with the same guys I took my first class with (they are the greatest!)
I guess the one thing that I’m most proud of, is I created and developed my own “Introductory to Firearm for Ladies” course and with great support with some friends I met at Oakdale Gun Club we started out with 1 class-there were 6 ladies. Within a few years, it went from 6 to over 40 ladies (with a waiting list) and we were doing sometimes 2-3 classes a year! It was so much fun watching it grow and all the fun everyone had! About 5 years ago, I started Instructing for Bill’s Gun Shop and had to sign a letter of no compete which meant I had to give it up. It was so hard to “give up my baby” but what made it a little easier was turning it over to another woman (Terri W.) who I knew would continue what I started.
I’ve been an NRA Instructor for many years and have traveled in MN & WI to many schools and safety camps to educate children with NRA’S Eddie Eagle.
For many years, I’ve also been a DNR FAS Instructor-although I don’t hunt with a gun, just my camera!
I started instructing MN Permit to Carry with AACFI (#037) and was part of a 5 man team that put together & published “Handgun Basics”
I still instruct at both locations at Bill’s and work at the Circle Pines location full time. I’m also Utah certified Permit Instructor.
I still sometimes wonder how this all happened!!
I will always admit my favorite gun to shoot is a .22 its just pure fun and always puts a smile on my face-and to me, that’s what shooting is all about
I’m really looking forward to communicating with you all and also hope to meet you sometime! I think we all can learn so much and have a really fun time!
Thanks Dawn for starting this thread
Teresa