Just had to share this...

[marksg]

I have this Cuban freind at work that has been wanting to learn to shoot. He just became an American citizen about 1 1/2 years ago.Since then hes been asking me what gun would be good for him,what caliber,ect.

Well today we finally got to go to the range.Now i've helped a few people learn about shooting,mainly family,But this was different.His english isn't great, but he can understand and be understod pretty good. I did not realize how hard it was to explain "flinch" to someone.

We were shooting the GP100 with .38 spls. What i did was put 1 live round in and 5 spent cases(didn't let him see it), and handed him the gun.At the first click,the gun went way off target, i said"that is flinch". The lightbulb went off.Then i told him there was one live round and the rest blank,squeez slowly(he was jerking the triger too) untill it shoots.3 more clicks then BANG..in the 10 ring. I haven't seen him smile that big since he became a citizen.

We spent 2 more hours with the GP100 and then the SR9,just had a great time.When we got out to the cars,he told me to wait a minute,went to his van and brought me 2 Cohiba cigars and said "thank you my freind, that was fun,when can we go again" I think i might have a new range buddy.

 

[youngda9]

I want a Cuban friend so bad now...especially one willing to share his Cubans !!

Shooting your way through the language barrier !

Cool story. Thanks.

 

[danweasel]

"That is a flinch".

Very nice!

 

[Sky]

Great story!

 

[lloveless]

Marksg, good on ya. This is the way life is supposed to be.
ll

 

[Apple a Day]

From a first-generation American of Cuban descent, God bless you, brother.

 

[jfrey]

You both got the good end of the deal in this one. Those Cohibas are great cigars.

 

[danprkr]

I've used the empty cartridges trick before and it works wonders. You can, if you have snap caps use it on a semi-auto also. Just load a few rounds of live, then the snap, then let them pull through.

Good job on bringing a new shooter into the fold.

 

[marksg]

danprkr- It did work even when we switched to the semi. His shot went wide and he said"I flinch again" (didn't have any snapcaps)

jfry-I've never been a cigar smoker, but man this thing is good.Smoking one of them now.


Apple a day-It was my pleasure.We've been freinds for 7 years now, and since he became a citizen he's been asking about gun ownership,just hadn't made the plunge yet. But when we came out of the range, we looked at ALL the guns. He really liked the SR9 and wants one.


On a side note. He's the one that brought it home to me what it really means to be American. We print covers for books in our department. One day, just before he became a citizen, he came over to me with a stack of covers, flipped through them and said "In my country, this book-jail, this book-jail" for about 10 covers then came to one about Castro "and this one maybe execute. I will be proud to be American." That just really gave me a good feeling.

 

[Hardtarget]

Learning is fun...teaching is too! Sounded like a very good day.

Mark

 

[OilyPablo]

Wow great story. He can enjoy his USA freedom. You can enjoy the great post and great cigar and both can enjoy a good friendship. Nice - shooting IS relaxing.

 

[newbuckeye]

Good job for teaching a new shooter! Very few people appreciate what it means like your friend. I have an Uncle that was a young boy under hitler before and during WWII. He speaks of America with a reverent tone, and love in his voice.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Ha! I like stories like that.

 

[MrDig]

Thanks for passing along a bit of wisdom (the empty cases in the revolver) and passing along our shared hobby to another.
Good for you and enjoy those Cohibas.

 

[19-3Ben]

Absolutely fantastic story. Next time, take pictures and make sure he gets one so he has a memento. Besides, we need pictures! Sounds you guys made all kinds of smoke today. That's a good day!

 

[ljnowell]

What a fantastic addition to our country! Its great for immigrants who become citizens to truly appreciate what we have. Sometimes I think people like your friend appreciate and love America more than many or most of those born here. Thats sad.

 

[Capybara]

Your post made my day. You are the kind of people that we need more of, spreadin' the gospel. Great work.

 

[marksg]

19-3ben- I'll try to get some pics next time

ljnowell- It is sad. Just don't forget our vets that make sure we keep these rights either,another often overlooked thing.

 

[Fotno]

Fantastic.

To quote Capybara you are; "Spreading the gospel" thank you.

 

[wannabeagunsmith]

Awesome, I have always wanted to teach newcomers to the US to shoot (and to break the stereotype they get from the media over there of us shooters), especially a certain european girl at my school....

 

[luv2safari]

Great story! I like this kind with happy endings and new-made friends.

 

[ljnowell]

OP. I forgot to add, if your friend wants to repay your kindness, see if he can make a good cuban sandwich. He will quickly become your best friend for life.

 

[tryshoot]

That is a story that should be on the 6 o'clock news.

 

[JustinJ]

I have this Cuban freind at work that has been wanting to learn to shoot. He just became an American citizen about 1 1/2 years ago.Since then hes been asking me what gun would be good for him,what caliber,ect.

I'm not sure if this was the reason he was waiting but citizenship is not required for gun ownership. My best friend, a Russian immigrant, started going to the range with me and purchased his first gun long before getting his citizenship. He just had a green card although his first NIC's check did take a couple of days.

 

[OilyPablo]

OP. I forgot to add, if your friend wants to repay your kindness, see if he can make a good cuban sandwich. He will quickly become your best friend for life.

NOW we are talking!! Cuban sandwiches are even better than Cuban cigars. And that takes some doing!