Kim Rhode defends gun owners

[hso]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...oting-san-bernardino-kim-rhode-guns/76736630/

U.S. Olympic shooting great Kim Rhode said Thursday the tragic massacre that left 14 people dead in San Bernardino only furthers her resolve to protect the rights of citizens to carry firearms.

While the attack on a regional center for the disabled by suspects Syed R. Farook, 28, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, 27, quickly led to calls for enhanced gun control, Rhode, a five-time Olympian and three-time gold medalist, told USA TODAY Sports the horrific events of Wednesday did not alter her feelings regarding Second Amendment rights.

The attacks had a personal note for Rhode, 36, who is from Whittier, Calif., and whose parents own property in Muscoy, a town on the outskirts of San Bernardino.

“My heart goes out to the victims and their families; it is terrible,” Rhode said in a telephone interview. “But my views on gun control are that I support the Second Amendment and the right to be able to shoot and to protect your family. If anything, what has happened makes me have more of a reason to carry.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Rhode is one of a handful of people world wide to medal in 5 Olympics in a row and may become the first to do 6. Why she is not a national celebrity (or for that matter a feminist hero) is beyond me.

Mike

 

[bobmcd]

Why she is not a national celebrity (or for that matter a feminist hero) is beyond me.

Because guns.

 

[joem1945]

lame stream media views her like any other gun owning person. A person not to be talked to.

 

[BigBore44]

You know what really tweaks my melon is that she is representing us. She's competing for America. Is possibly going to be the only person to ever medal in 6 consecutive Olympics. And the American media can't give her any credit because she's medaling in a shooting sport. THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD....EVER!

 

[barnbwt]

"Rhode is one of a handful of people world wide to medal in 5 Olympics in a row and may become the first to do 6. Why she is not a national celebrity (or for that matter a feminist hero) is beyond me."
It must help when you compete in the one (?) Olympic sport that doesn't involve destroying your body within a five year span

To answer: because gunz, and because a lot of people don't see shooting games as a sport (and even more as an athletic sport)

TCB

 

[old lady new shooter]

"Rhode is one of a handful of people world wide to medal in 5 Olympics in a row and may become the first to do 6. Why she is not a national celebrity (or for that matter a feminist hero) is beyond me."
It must help when you compete in the one (?) Olympic sport that doesn't involve destroying your body within a five year span

To answer: because gunz, and because a lot of people don't see shooting games as a sport (and even more as an athletic sport)

TCB

Tangent, just to the point of shooting being an "athletic sport", yep, at least so far I've gotten DOMS after every range visit, just like when I used to go to the gym except of course concentrated in the shooting muscles.

 

[Grayrock]

Is she going to Rio?

 

[SwaneeSR]

Thanks for the OP. I will try to tune into the shooting sports part of the games.

I hope she is competing and has made the team for Rio and does medal. It would be a great story. Time to do a little research.

Update, yes she is competing and her story is being covered by USATODAY.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/07/25/kim-rhode-sixth-olympics/87507104/

I hope she medals.

 

[Old Guy]

I do not know how old this Athlete is, but to hold a pistol in one hand, and compete in the various Olympic pistol events takes strength, concentration, and skill.

Good luck.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

She's still young and is a shotgun sports shooter. Got her start with the 4H shooting sports program as I recall.
Unfortunately , in this day and age the Kim Kardshians of the world are more "influential"...

 

[Hypnogator]

I do not know how old this Athlete is, but to hold a pistol in one hand, and compete in the various Olympic pistol events takes strength, concentration, and skill.

She's in her mid-20s IIRC, and is a skeet shooter. I used to think I was hot stuff because I shot a case of shells in a weekend. She averages three cases each DAY!

 

[J-Bar]

According to Wiki she is 37.

Good luck Kim!!

 

[Slotback]

I hope she medals yet again.

 

[JohnKSa]

I've been a Rhode fan for years. I'm glad to see she takes an inclusive approach to gun ownership rights. It's not always a given when talking about the dedicated clay shooters. They can be critical of the gun owners who choose less genteel firearms and who acknowledge the harsh reality that sometimes firearms must be pointed at living creatures.

It's nice that she sees the big picture.

Kim shoots both trap and skeet, I believe trap may have been her focus initially. Two of her gold medals and her only bronze medal were won in double trap before double trap was discontinued as a women's Olympic sport. In fact, she won gold in double-trap the last year it was held making her, I suppose, the perpetual champion of Women's Olympic Double Trap.

In 2012, she placed 9th in trap but won a gold medal (her third gold and her fifth medal) in skeet.

Here's a good article about Kim and her achievements although it's a bit dated now.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/visit_Kim_Rhode.htm

Here's an article containing an interview with Kim which includes some interesting information about the possible politics behind women's Olympic shotgun sports.

http://eliteshooters.com/users/editorialdisp.php?mn=711098&fn=article6

 

[4v50 Gary]

She's right but as former Asst. Sect. of the Treasury (under Reagan) Dr. Paul Craig Roberts said, an armed populace is incompatible with a police state.

 

[4D5]

.
I got to meet Kim in the late 90's. She attended a shoot at the El Dorado Rod and Gun Club in Placerville, California. I still have a ball cap signed by her.

She brought her, then, first Gold Medal for all to see. She was great with the kids and they were all interested to hear her. She put on a small exhibition, what a great shooter and representative for the shooting sports.

.