Unfortunately, Chris was unable to out-wit or charm the US Border Security and never made it to North Carolina. Fortunately, Tim had better luck and arrived on Monday so I have spent the week so far showing him the delights of North Carolina. We spent the first day touring Duke Campus and visiting parts I hadn’t had a chance to see yet, like the Duke University Chapel.
The following day I roped Tim into helping me collect pine cones as part of the work I am doing at Duke. The work was straightforward but it was cold, it even SNOWED on us! It was very light snow but it was a novelty all the same. You can see in the pictures that we are both wearing two jackets.
After finishing the field work and ‘borrowing’ a load of fire wood from the forest we took ourselves along to the Personal Defense and Handgun Safety Center Inc. in Raleigh. This story will give you some insight into the gun culture here - We went in and told the bloke at the counter we would like to try firing a gun. We made it clear that we had never fired a hand gun before. He made us fill out a form and then proceeded to ask us what sort of gun we wanted to fire. We asked him to recommend one. He placed two 9 mm pistols on the table, along with ammo, and pointed to the door leading to the range. Hesitating we asked if some one could please show us what to do. He sighed and without moving from the counter explained the gun to us and then pointed to the range again. So Tim and I were set loose in a shooting range with two 9 mm pistols and 100 rounds, having never fired a gun before and with no supervision.
Having fired a hand gun now I can confidently say I am even more scared of guns. Considering the amount of trouble I was having hitting a stationary human-sized paper target 10 meters away I don’t trust any average American citizen to ‘defend their loved ones' from a criminal, from a distance, possibly in the dark, whilst nervous, and expect to shoot accurately.
You can see the shooting fun by clicking the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FXpoCfh7LM.
In keeping with dodgy things, Tim also smuggled in some ‘contraband vegemite’ that was much appreciated by both of us!
Nic
6 comments:
Ngaaarrrrhhhh. That looked like lots of fun. And I ended up going skiing instead. Lousy Canadian sense of peace and harmony...
And they didn't let me in cause of a drug conviction!!! I should have been arrested with a side-arm - that way the US might have looked favourably on me!
So what else did you boys get up to? I head back to Perth on Thursday morning (arriving Saturday Perth time). All too fast I tells you.
this blog has gone on a downward spiral ever since nic took control - starting with the paveing of duram post. Not that it a bad thing, i like downward sprials. Good to see the USA hasn't quelled your appitite for the nerdy nic.
A long barrel revolver you say...
Trust me Chris, it wasn't 'fun' it was educational. We went in thinking we would ask to shoot the machine gun and have fun. We came out a little shocked.
A long barrel revolver you say...
Hmm, is madscotsman a member of the NRA? He/She seems to know a lot about guns...
Oh by the way Cam, It's a blog. You should always expet the mundane and the trivial. Personally, I find that the literary gold which is to be found in such journals is always "trace". So how's your blog going Cam?
hey nic and sal
ur blogs awsume happy belated xmas and happy new year hope ur havin a fantasic time in america
lots of love the Heaths xoxoxoxoxo
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