I joined about 10-12 other bloggers, to include Andrew Breitbart, Matt Lewis, Roger Simon, Kathleen McKinley (Right Wing Sparkle) and Dr. Melissa Clouthier at Red’s Indoor Range (South) in Austin this afternoon for one of the most unusual and completely awesome campaign events that I have ever heard of — shooting guns with the governor of Texas.
Matt Lewis, Melissa Clouthier, Kathleen McKinley, and Roger Simon (L to R) at Red's Range
This thing had security nightmare written all over it — especially the day after a crazed man opened fire on the steps of the Texas Capital (Rick Perry’s office, effectively). As near as I can tell, there was only one Security man in the range with about 12-15 armed citizens and Gov. Perry. And his Security agent looked nervous as hell…but Gov. Perry insisted upon doing this event.
Seriously…think about it…the room we were in was effectively a hallway, about 5′ wide and 40′ long. All of us crammed in there, all of us holding loaded weapons. With only one Security agent. But, the truth is, Gov. Perry couldn’t have been in a safer room anywhere in the world.
Not only was Gov. Perry gracious enough to stop and chat with everyone in the room, but he took the time to actually allow a number of us to shoot his personal handgun, a Ruger LCP .380 with laser sight. And Governor Perry stood by and gave tips and pointers on shooting (the Gov. is a deadly shot).
Kathleen McKinley getting a private shooting lesson from the Governor of Texas
Kathleen and her new .22 squirrel gun...shades of Angie Dickinson, anybody?
Gov. Perry giving a few pointer to Larry from California
At one point, after Kathleen McKinley was done getting a private shooting lesson from the Gov. of Texas (seriously, how cool is that?), Gov. Perry looked over at me and asked if I wanted to squeeze off a few rounds with his personal handgun. I jumped at the chance. So there we are, Gov. Perry and I, squeezed into a 5′ wide alley…and the next thing I know, Gov. Perry has locked and loaded his handgun, and hands it to me and says, “It’s live.”
There I am, standing no more than 6-9″ from the Governor of Texas, holding his loaded handgun. There’s nothing his Security detail could have done if I had bad intentions (other than shoot me dead after the fact). But Governor Perry didn’t even blink. Honestly, standing there shooting guns with the Governor of Texas the way we did today was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done (politically), and only further increased my respect and admiration for the Governor.
I don’t think there are more than 2-3 other Governors in the US who would have put on an event like this.
It’s one thing to say you support the second amendment, it’s an entirely different matter to practice what you preach in such an open and awesome manner.
I only got one pic of me and the Governor and it turned out extremely blurry, but I know that Melissa Clouthier filmed it (to include Gov. Perry putting me in a headlock and rubbing my bald head)…so hopefully I’ll get some screen captures from her when she posts them.
Oh…and even cooler…Governor Perry signed my paper target with, “Shoot straight, vote Conservative. Rick Perry”, which will be framed and hanged in my man cave.
So… what does the Gov shoot?
He has a quite a collection. Yesterday, however, his personal carry piece was a Ruger LCP .380.
Very nice little compact with some nice power, but much too long of a trigger pull for my taste.
I’ve shot an LCP and don’t care much for it.
Still, cool to know that’s what Gov. Perry carries (at least, that day).
[...] and guns Posted January 23, 2010 Filed under: Guns, Politics | Tags: Guns, Politics | So Robbie got to spend the afternoon shooting guns with Texas Governor Rick Perry. And all at the local indoor range. Dang. I wish I had known I would have loved to have run over [...]
I am totally impressed, Robbie. Sounds like it was a blast.
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by rinaustin: Shooting with Texas Governor Rick Perry http://bit.ly/5A38LO #sgp #txcot #tcot #kbh #rickperry #tlot #rs…
What a great event, and a testament to the trust Gov. Perry is willing to extend to his constituents.
“Shoot Straight-Vote Conservative” is sage advice, and not what your typical politician would say. Too many say “give up your guns” or “vote Republican.”
Can’t wait to see the pic of the Gov. having some fun with you, giving you a noogie.
As for the security concerns, I’m sure you all had been run through the NCIC and TCIC long before y’all met up.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Patrick Ruffini, Perry Campaign, Robbie Cooper, Bradley Hummel, KL and others. KL said: Shooting with Texas Governor Rick Perry http://bit.ly/5A38LO #sgp #txcot #tcot #kbh #rickperry #tlot #rs [...]
[comment deleted by Robbie -- that lady in the blue shirt is not only a close friend, but a wonderful example of a Southern Conservative lady. I'll not allow you to disparage or denigrate her on my blog.]
Now Now, that’s uncalled for. I am sure Kathleen is a fine woman and an excellent shot. Keep that in mind. Hell hath no fury than an armed woman.
So there we are, Gov. Perry and I, squeezed into a 5? wide alley…and the next thing I know, Gov. Perry has cocked and loaded his handgun, and hands it to me and says, “It’s live.”
I came just reading this sentence.
Close encounters with celebrities and/or well-known politicians can be impactful experiences. My Dad met George W. Bush in RunTex (back on 12th street) one day in the late 1990s, when GWB was still governor. They chatted it up like old buddies, Dad introduced my Mom, and they chatted even more. Both of my parents came away with a very positive feeling, mostly commenting that GWB seemed just like an ordinary guy and they couldn’t believe he was so casual and friendly with them.
Perhaps we all think politicians and celebrities are somehow not normal, or bigger than life, but I think most probably do enjoy very much being with regular people in a casual informal setting.
Thanks for not shooting Perry. I have a feeling this next election will make for some good entertainment between him and KBH.
[...] Robbie also shared his .45 with me and I got to shoot a clip from his gun. I am left-eye dominant and right hand socialized, which means that I should be left handed (and in some sports I am). This makes me a not-so-great shot. Turns out that Robbie has the same problem and he helped me correct for that. He was very helpful. (A marine would be, don’t you think?) [...]
[...] was irritating. Roger Simon has a humorous piece about his gun trepidation that's worth reading.Robbie also shared his .45 with me and I got to shoot a clip from his gun. I am left-eye dominant and right hand socialized, which [...]
I.AM.Jealous.
[...] From Robbie Coopers Urbangrounds. [...]
[...] UrbanGrounds: 10-12 other bloggers, to include Andrew Breitbart, Matt Lewis, Roger Simon, Kathleen McKinley [...]
Robbie, I recall a video on the “round-up” thread, but don’t think it included the video posted at pjtv.
If you haven’t, thought you might like to see it.
PJTV: Shoot First, Blog Later: Breitbart & Simon Go Shooting with TX Gov. Perry.
[...] What’s not to like? Governor Rick Perry shot a coyote that went after his dog during a jog in February. Governor Perry gives shooting lessons to Larry from California at a campaign shooting event in January. (UrbanGrounds) [...]
[...] Cooper at UrbanGrounds has some good pictures of the Governor in action at Red’s Indoor Range with his Ruger [...]
The Coyote Special is a cute LCP limited edition. I looked at one last week. But, I’m not sorry in the least that I settled on a Sig Sauer P238 Tactical Laser. It’s a direct copy of the out of print Colt Mustang.