Go Ahead, Make My Day!

By: Lynn Bolster

Probably many of you reading this have shot a gun. What do I know about guns? Not a thing. I’m not opposed to them, just the damage they can do in the wrong situation or wrong hands. Our world has drastically changed, and the reality of guns being everywhere was brought to my attention recently.

When I was first trucking, I worked with Norman from Hickory, NC, hauling new furniture north. I was green to the trucking world—all aspects. One night in Delaware, I offered to walk through the shady part of town to a convenience store to get us coffee. As I put my coat on, Norman said, “Do you want Junior to go with you?” I hadn’t a clue what he was talking about until I witnessed his outstretched hand holding a handgun. I stammered, “I guess…” knowing full well I wasn’t in Kansas anymore. I gingerly put junior in my coat pocket, stepping out the door. As I walked, I was certain it would explode in my pocket, shooting my foot off. What if I had to use it? With no license to carry, what if it fell on the floor of the Quickie Mart and killed someone? None of this happened, but fear was on my radar. Each step was taken with great trepidation.

Guns in trucks aren’t a bad idea. Most states approve some kind of concealed carry or allow people from other states to carry while in-state. But it’s not a universal thing. The problem is that laws vary from state to state, and sometimes local laws contradict state laws. Who can keep up with that? I guess you carry it and hope you’ll never have to use it. We never had one while trucking but instead opted for our cheater pipe and brute strength. I felt most threatened while living in our truck on the street in Brooklyn, NY, for three days while the consignee argued with our broker about the freshness of our watermelons—which, of course, became less fresh the longer they sat.

We used to stay in a trailer in a truck yard in Baltimore City while waiting for loads. Just outside, on the other side of our barbed wire, was the local drug drop. I armed myself with the cheater pipe, a hammer, a phony gun (maybe a thug can’t tell the difference in the dark), and other assorted ‘safe’ weapons. I never had to use any of these but somehow felt secure with them sitting next to me.

Recently, I was asked to join a group at an indoor shooting range—two women and two men. Since I had no gun experience, I said I would just observe. This didn’t go over with the feisty 78-year-old woman with us. She pulled out her .38 and said, “You WILL shoot today.” I replied that since there were only four spots in the invite, I would sit out. She adamantly said, “We’ll share the time.” Then sternly stated, “You DON’T know what you may have to face with all these shootings everywhere—you must know how to do this.”

I realized she was right. Just after that, guy #1 called me a derogatory name, with good intentions, to egg me on, which worked. No one’s saying that, and I’m sitting back? No sir! So in I went with guy #2, who is a retired cop. He was very methodical and patient while teaching. He explained the target, how to hold the pistol, and what to do and not to do. Then he said, “Are you ready?”

“To shoot?” I responded. The moment had arrived. “Yes,” he said, “and since this is your first shot, we don’t know your reaction, so I’m right here,” and with that, he placed his hand on my shoulder, reassuring me. I eyed the target, raised and straightened my arms, and pulled a very stiff trigger. And I did that twelve more times. I hit the target, but the recoil—my body absorbing the gun’s kickback—no one told me about.

Later on, guy #1 and I both felt exhausted. So I researched the physical effects of shooting and learned about recoil fatigue. Ours wasn’t extreme, but we were both wiped out for a little while.

You may find yourself in an active shooter situation at any time, and because of it, you will be facing your mortality unexpectedly. Are you right with Jesus? Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Don’t let it be too late to tell Him you’re on the way. He’ll be honored you chose Him! If you haven’t already, I’m asking you, for me, to please accept Him as your Savior, and like Clint Eastwood says, “Go ahead, make my day.”