The times., 1894-08-31
WOMEN WITH GUNS.
ANNIE OAKLEY GIVES SOME REASONS
AND HINTS FOR PRACTICE.

Outdoor Life, With Pleasure. Health,
Readiness and Precision, Attends This
Recreation-The Sort of Firearms Be-
ginners Should Use.
There are a number of reasons, in my
opinion, why every lady who has the time,
the means and the opportunity should
learn the use of firearms.
Until recent years woman has been de-
barred to great extent from participating
in many sports, pastimes and recreations
which in times past were looked upon as
fit only for the opposite sex.
Now, however, that her right to enjoy
some of these healthy diversions, especially
those of an out of door nature, are fully rec
ognized, l believe that such diversions
should be taken advantage of to the fullest
extent.
l do not wish to be understood to mean
by this that woman should sacrifice home
and family duties merely for outside pleas
ure, but that, feeling how true it is that
health goes great way toward making
home life happy. no opportunity should be
lost by my sex of indulging in outdoor
sports, pastimes and recreations, which are
at once healthy in their tone and results
and womanly in their character.
Under this category the use of firearms
must come, for does not this practice, as a
rule, bring one out into the open, where not
only the fresh air may be breathed, but Oft
entimes the beauties of nature be also en-
joyed2
If only as the means of benefiting the
health, the use of firearms by woman is
therefore well worth learning. Then, again,
shooting is not only healthy recreation,
but pleasurable one, and one in which
both body and mind are brought into ac-
tivity-the body in welding or handling
the weapon and the mind in exercising
judgment when aiming and firing at an OBJ
ject.
When learning the use of firearms, a
woman learns at the same time confidence
and self possession, for these qualities, to-
gether with good eyesight, nerve and judg-
ment, are necessary in the handling of q
gun or revolver with anything like pre-
cision or accuracy.
And are not these qualities of use also in
daily life and therefore all the more worthy
of cultivation?
Further, every lady who has the chance
should learn the use of firearms, so that
she may beable to protect herself in times
Of danger.
weapon is her tongue. but though this
might have been true half century ago, it
is not so true now for are not many ladies
nowadays accomplished shots and fencers
and proficient in exercises, knowledge of
which is likely to prove useful in time of
need for self protection?
Still the vast majority of my sex are
greatly handicapped when danger comes,
and, in my opinion, at least one great means
whereby she can do something to equalize
matters is by learning to handle a gun or
revolver-the latter of course being the
easier to carry and the more likely to prove
useful in the greater number of instances.
And now, having given one or two rea-
sons why q lady should learn the use of
firearms, will proceed to give few hints
as to the best method which, in my opin-
ion, she should pursue in acquiring knowl-
edge of the same.
There is no royal road to shooting, just as
there is no royal road to knowledge. Some
people follow one system and some another,
but all have the same object in view-name-
ly, the acquiring Of u certain amount of
proficiency in handling and using the
weapon, be it rifle revolver or shotgun.
1t is not in the capacity of all to become
first class shots, but by dint of hard work
and perseverance any lady should be able to
learn how to use firearms with some degree
of skill.
1t is best to commence, l should say, by
using light % caliber single shot rifle, un-
loaded, and practicing by pointing or aim
ing at mark with it few hundred times,
care being always taken to keep the muzzle
from pointing toward yourself or any one
else.
Having learned how to handle the rifle
with ease, you should commence to shoot
at a good sized mark. having some friend