Taking up a hobby is a common theme among retirees. For most, this hobby takes the form of a low-key activity, such as golf or painting. But Alexander City’s Pat Johnson took a different route, passing over putters and brushes in favor of guns and ammo.
In her sixties, Johnson became one of the many women to join the world of competitive shooting. The trend of women learning to shoot competitively goes hand in hand with the growing number of women who are taking up guns for personal protection.
kAm“%96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C H@>6? E@ E2<6 25G2?E286 @7 E@ 86E :?G@=G65 :? D9@@E:?8[” y@9?D@? D2:5]k^Am
kAm~?6 DF49 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 36 7@F?5 :? p=6I2?56C r:EJ :D E96 }2E:@?2= #:7=6 pDD@4:2E:@?’D W}#pX q2D:4D @7 !:DE@= $9@@E:?8 4=2DD 96=5 2E %96 $FC6 $9@E] %96 8F? DE@C6 @? w:89H2J ag_ 86?6C2==J D66D >@C6 >2=6 4FDE@>6CD E92? 76>2=6D[ 3FE 2 4@FA=6 @7 H66<?:89ED 6249 >@?E9[ E92E 492?86D 5C2>2E:42==J]k^Am
kAmp 5@K6? H@>6? @7 2== 286D 2?5 324<8C@F?5D 82E96C 2C@F?5 E23=6D D6E FA :? H92E :D FDF2==J E96 $FC6 $9@E’D :?5@@C 2C496CJ C2?86] t249 92D 96C @H? C62D@? 7@C 2EE6?5:?8[ 3FE E96J 2== D92C6 @?6 E9:?8i E96J H2?E E@ <?@H 9@H E@ D276=J 2?5 67764E:G6=J FD6 2 92?58F?]k^Am
kAm$FC6 $9@E @H?6C (@@5J q2:C5 :D 2 46CE:7:65 }#p 4@FCD6 :?DECF4E@C] w6 9@DED E96D6 4=2DD6D 23@FE @?46 A6C >@?E9] w6 D2:5 E96 4=2DD6D H6C6 ?@E >62?E E@ 36 7@C H@>6? @?=J[ 3FE H@>6? H6C6 E96 @?6D H9@ <6AE D9@H:?8 FA]k^Am
kAm“|6? 2=H2JD E9:?< E96J <?@H 9@H E@ D9@@E[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmq2:C5 D2:5 H@>6? 2C6 @7E6? F?4@>7@CE23=6 2C@F?5 8F?D @C 6>32CC2DD65 E@ 2D< BF6DE:@?D 7@C 762C @7 =@@<:?8 DEFA:5] w6 =:<6D E@ 86E C:5 @7 E92E 2H<H2C5?6DD C:89E 2H2J]k^Am
kAm“(6 DE2CE 2E DBF2C6 @?6[” q2:C5 E@=5 E96 2DD6>3=65 H@>6? @? E96 7:CDE @7 E96 AC@8C2>’D EH@ =64EFC6 ?:89ED] “%9:D :D 2 ?@\DEFA:5\BF6DE:@?D 4=2DD]”k^Am
kAmt249 92?58F? D276EJ 4=2DD :D DAC625 @G6C E9C66 >66E:?8D] ~? %F6D52J 2?5 %9FCD52J ?:89E 4=2DD6D[ DEF56?ED =62C? E96 32D:4Di EJA6D @7 92?58F?D 2?5 E96:C 7:C:?8 >6492?:D>D[ 3F==6E 42=:36CD 2?5 9@H E@ AC@A6C=J 8C:A E96 H62A@? 2?5 D:89E 2 E2C86E]k^Am
kAm%96 =64EFC6 4=2DD6D 2C6 7@==@H65 3J 2 $2EFC52J >@C?:?8 D9@@E 2E E96 p=6I2?56C r:EJ $9@@E:?8 r=F3 Wpr$rX C2?86 @? r@=6J rC66< #@25[ 36EH66? s256G:==6 2?5 p=6I2?56C r:EJ]k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ E96 E649?:42= D:56 @7 92?58F? FD6[ q2:C5’D 4=2DD 4@G6CD E96 =682= DECF4EFC6 @7 8F? A6C>:ED[ 4@?462=65 42CCJ =2HD 2?5 D:EF2E:@?2= 2H2C6?6DD >62?E E@ <66A DEF56?ED D276]k^Am
kAm“x7 J@F’C6 :? 2 D:EF2E:@? H96C6 J@F 766= E96 E:>6 92D 4@>6 E@ E@F49 J@FC 8F?[ E96? E96 E:>6 92D 4@>6 E@ 5C2H :E[” q2:C5 25G:D65]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ q2:C5[ E96 >@C6 2 A6CD@? :D 4@>7@CE23=6 H:E9 2 8F?[ E96 >@C6 H:==:?8 2?5 23=6 :D E@ FD6 @?6 7@C D6=7\5676?D6]k^Am
kAm“*@F’== 7:89E =:<6 J@F EC2:?65[” q2:C5 D2:5 D6G6C2= E:>6D @G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 9:D =64EFC6 4=2DD6D]k^Am
kAm%92E’D H9J :E’D :>A@CE2?E E@ EC2:? @7E6?] q2:C5 25G:D65 H@>6? :? 9:D 4=2DD E@ ;@:? @?6 @7 E96 D6G6C2= ?62C3J 8F? C2?86D D@ E96J 42? 4@?E:?F6 E@ :>AC@G6 E96:C D<:==D]k^Am
kAmu@C y@9?D@?[ 4@>A6E:E:G6 D9@@E:?8 3642>6 2 D@FC46 @7 A6CD@?2= 8C@HE9] y@9?D@? 4C65:E65 96C =2E6 9FD32?5[ pCE[ H:E9 6?4@FC28:?8 96C E@ 86E FD65 E@ 8F?D]k^Am
kAm“(96? H6 >6E 96 E@=5 >6[ ‘:7 J@F 5@?’E =:<6 E@ 9F?E 2?5 7:D9[ J@F’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ D66 >F49 @7 >6[’” D96 6IA=2:?65] “$@ E92E’D H92E H6 5:5]”k^Am
kAmp=@?8D:56 96C 9FD32?5[ y@9?D@? =62C?65 E@ 7:D9[ D4F32 5:G6 2?5 9F?E] %96 A2:C 5:5 ?@E G6?EFC6 :?E@ 4@>A6E:E:@?D F?E:= J62CD =2E6C[ 27E6C E96J 925 C6E:C65 E@ p=6I2?56C r:EJ 7C@> E96:C u=@C:52 9@>6]k^Am
kAm%96 y@9?D@?D DE2CE65 E96:C 4@>A6E:E:G6 D9@@E:?8 42C66C H96? D@>6 @7 E96:C ?6H p=6I2?56C r:EJ 7C:6?5D :?G:E65 E96> E@ 4@>A6E6 :? $E66= r92==6?86 DA665 D9@@E:?8 4@>A6E:E:@?D] uC@> E96C6[ E96 4@FA=6 AC@8C6DD65 E@ A:DE@= 492==6?86D]k^Am
kAm!2E y@9?D@?’D =@G6 @7 E96 DA@CE =65 96C E@ `d >:?FE6D @7 72>6 H96? D96 2AA62C65 2D 2 4@?E6DE2?E @? 2 a_`b 6A:D@56 @7 E96 E6=6G:D:@? D9@H k6>mp>>@ 2?5 pEE:EF56k^6>m]k^Am
kAm“x H2D ea 2E E96 E:>6] x DE:== 9@=5 E96 C64@C5 7@C 36:?8 E96 @=56DE 4@?E6DE2?E[” D96 =2F8965]k^Am
kAmpCE 2?5 !2E y@9?D@? 6?;@J65 ?:?6 J62CD @7 C6E:C6>6?E 367@C6 pCE A2DD65 2H2J 7C@> 42?46C :? $6AE6>36C a_`d] y@9?D@? D2:5 <66A:?8 FA H:E9 E96 4@>A6E:E:G6 D9@@E:?8 E96J 925 6?;@J65 E@86E96C 96=A65 96C E@ >2:?E2:? 2 D6?D6 @7 ?@C>2=4J 27E6C 9:D A2DD:?8]k^Am
kAm“b\vF? H2D @?6 E9:?8 x 5:5 E92E 96 5:5?’E[” D96 D2:5] “xE’D 8:G6? >6 2 D6?D6 @7 D6=7\:56?E:EJ] xE 96=A65 H:E9 7:?5:?8 >J A=246 27E6C 6G6CJE9:?8 E92E’D 92AA6?65]”k^Am
kAmb\vF? >2E496D A:E D9@@E6CD 282:?DE 2? @3DE24=6 4@FCD6 @7 >:I65 E2C86ED E92E >2J 36 2?JH96C6 7C@> `_ E@ d__ J2C5D 2H2J] r@>A6E:E@CD >FDE >@G6 E9C@F89 E96 4@FCD6 FD:?8 4@G6C E@ E96:C 25G2?E286 2D E96J D9@@E 6249 @7 E9C66 EJA6D @7 8F?Di D9@E8F?[ A:DE@= 2?5 C:7=6] %96 D9@@E6C H9@ 9:ED E96 >@DE E2C86ED :? E96 =62DE E:>6[ H:?D]k^Am
kAmb\vF? :D @?6 @7 E96 72DE6DE\8C@H:?8 D9@@E:?8 DA@CED :? E96 H@C=5] y@9?D@? 2EEC:3FE65 D@>6 @7 E96 DA@CE’D A@AF=2C:EJ E@ E96 724E E92E :E :D 82:?:?8 8C@F?5 2>@?8 H@>6?] w6C k6>mp>>@ 2?5 pEE:EF56k^6>m 4@\DE2C %6??:==6 r9:56DE6C 7:CDE 8@E y@9?D@? :?E@ E96 DA@CE 3J :?G:E:?8 96C E@ 2EE6?5 E96 a_`d qC@H?6==D {25J b\vF? !C@\p> r92==6?86[ E96 DA@CE’D :?2F8FC2= 2==\H@>6?’D >2E49 :? r@G:?8E@?[ v6@C8:2] y@9?D@? H2D DFCAC:D65 E@ D66 9@H >2?J ?6H 76>2=6 D9@@E6CD H6C6 :? 2EE6?52?46]k^Am
kAm“u@C AC@323=J 92=7 E96 =25:6D E96C6[ :E H2D E96:C 7:CDE\6G6C 4@>A6E:E:@?] %96J H6C6 ;FDE ECJ:?8 E@ 3F:=5 E92E a?5 p>6?5>6?E C:89E[” D96 =2F8965]k^Am
kAmy@9?D@? 9@A6D E92E[ 2D >@C6 H@>6? =62C? E@ D9@@E[ E96J H:== A2DD E92E <?@H=6586 @? E@ E96:C 52F89E6CD E@ 4C62E6 2 7FEFC6 @7 H@>6? H9@ 2C6 4@>7@CE23=6 2?5 67764E:G6 H:E9 8F?D]k^Am
kAm“x7 J@F 5@?’E F?56CDE2?5 D@>6E9:?8[ J@F’== 92G6 2 762C @7 :E[” D96 D2:5] “(6 ?665 E@ 6=:>:?2E6 E92E 762C]”k^Am
kAmq2:C5 D2:5 E92E 56\>JDE:7J:?8 8F?D :D E96 36DE H2J E@ 6?4@FC286 H@>6? E@ =62C? E@ D9@@E D276=J 2?5 C6DA@?D:3=J]k^Am
kAm“p 92?58F? :D 2 E@@=[ ;FDE =:<6 2 92>>6C @C 2 D4C6H5C:G6C[” 96 6IA=2:?65 E@ 9:D 4=2DD]k^Am
kAmu@C E9@D6 H9@ 564:56 E@ E2<6 E96 A=F?86 :?E@ 8F? @H?6CD9:A[ E96C6 2C6 >2?J 2G6?F6D 2G2:=23=6] %96 H63D:E6 @7 E96 }2E:@?2= #:7=6 pDD@4:2E:@? @776CD 2 H:56 C2?86 @7 4=2DD6D 7@C E9@D6 =@@<:?8 E@ 82:? D<:==D H:E9 A:DE@=D[ C:7=6D @C D9@E8F?D[ 2D H6== 2D 4@FCD6D 7@C A6CD@?2= AC@E64E:@? :?D:56 2?5 @FED:56 E96 9@>6] !6CD@?2= 8F? :?DECF4E@CD @C 8F? 4=F3D 42? 36 7@F?5 :? >@DE 4@>>F?:E:6D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ]k^Am
kAmy@9?D@? D2:5 D96 92D 6?4@F?E6C65 D6G6C2= 8C@FAD 7@C H@>6? H9@ H2?E E@ AC24E:46 D9@@E:?8 @C @E96C @FE5@@C D<:==D H:E9 @E96C H@>6?] %96D6 8C@FAD :?4=F56 ~FE5@@C (@>6? &?=:>:E65[ q64@>:?8 2? ~FE5@@C (@>2?[ q236D H:E9 qF==6ED 2?5 p v:C= 2?5 p vF?]k^Am
kAmu@C E9@D6 H9@ H2?E E@ >@G6 36J@?5 D6=7\5676?D6 :?E@ 4@>A6E:E:G6 D9@@E:?8[ pr$r @776CD 3@H=:?8 A:? D9@@E:?8 >2E496D 2E E96 r@=6J rC66< C2?86 @? E96 E9:C5 $F?52J @7 6249 >@?E9 7C@> DAC:?8 E9C@F89 72==] x7 b\vF? D@F?5D 2AA62=:?8[ y@9?D@? C64@>>6?5D E96 DA@CE ?@E @?=J 2D 8@@5 6I6C4:D6 7@C E96 3@5J 3FE 2=D@ 2D 2 H@C<@FE 7@C E96 >:?5]k^Am
kAm“%96C6’D 2 =@E E@ =62C? 23@FE E96 32==:DE:4D @7 J@FC 2>>@i 9@H 72C :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 8@ 2?5 H96C6 :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 5C@A] xE’D 2=H2JD 2 5:776C6?E 4@?7:8FC2E:@? @7 E2C86ED 2?5 2 5:776C6?E @C56C @7 8F?D J@F D9@@E[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm~?6 @7 E96 62D:6DE H2JD E@ 86E :?G@=G65 :? 4@>A6E:E:G6 D9@@E:?8 :D E@ 2EE6?5 2 >2E49 2E 2 =@42= 8F? C2?86 2?5 2D< BF6DE:@?D] |2?J 4@>A6E:E:G6 D9@@E:?8 8C@FAD 92G6 DF3\8C@FAD ;FDE 7@C D6?:@CD[ J@FE9 @C H@>6?]k^Am
kAmy@9?D@? D9@@ED 7C6BF6?E=J 2E C2?86D :? %2==25682 2?5 t2DE p=232>2 2?5 D2:5 D96 92D 7@F?5 4@>A6E:E:G6 D9@@E6CD E@ 36 6BF2==J 7C:6?5=J 6G6CJH96C6]k^Am
kAm“%96 D9@@E:?8 72>:=J :D G6CJ H6=4@>:?8 2?5 96=A7F= E@ ?6H3:6D] xE’D 2 8C62E E9:?8 E@ 5@ H:E9 72>:=:6D @C @E96C H@>6?[” D2:5 y@9?D@?[ H9@ 25565 E92E D96 42CC:6D 96C 9FD32?5’D >6>@CJ H:E9 96C @?E@ E96 C2?86[ H96C6 :E 42? 36 7@F?5 :? 96C 4966C7F= 2EE:EF56]k^Am
kAm“(96? H6 H6?E E@ 4@>A6E:E:@?D[ D@ >2?J >6? H@F=5 E6== E96:C H:G6D[ ‘J@F 36EE6C H:?P’ qFE 96 2=H2JD E@=5 >6 E@ 92G6 2 8@@5 E:>6[” D96 C642==65] “%92E’D >J >@EE@] pD =@?8 2D x’> =62C?:?8 D@>6E9:?8[ 2D =@?8 2D x’> DE:== 92G:?8 7F?[ x’== <66A 4@>A6E:?8]”k^Am
kAmu@C :?7@C>2E:@? @? FA4@>:?8 92?58F? 4=2DD6D 2E %96 $FC6 $9@E @C pr$r 3@H=:?8 A:? D9@@ED[ 42== (@@5J q2:C5 2E ade\bah\__g_]k^Am