ACHOLA ROSARIO IS TARGET PRACTICING THIS WEEK – SO SOFTLY SOFTLY STEP NOT ON HER TOES!
(Posted 25th September 2020)
It would be foolish to ignore the fact that there are many guns in Africa. From the big daddy moving around in town with his entourage trying to scare people, or the young blood trying prove a point in the club. To the hunter in the bush trying to prove his mettle as a “man”. Guns are there. Let’s face it. So why not learn how to use it?
Why would a travel show, should a travel show focus on guns exactly anyway? Because chances are you will encounter one in some form or other in your Great Big African Adventure. From the supermarket security guard with his ancient carabine that is likely to blow up in his face before it stops any purported looter or even a shoplifter, or the LDU (Local Defence Unit) allegedly keeping you safe at night. So again, the question begs to ask: why not learn how to use them responsibly?
Out of 18,000 registered and licensed private gun owners, there are only 2,000 that are registered with the National Gun Owners Association in Kenya. This means that there are at least 15,000 civilians running around with private firearms and no training whatsoever. We are not counting government and security officials. That is a very scary thought. This is not an American debate about the NRA, this the reality about how to react in the presence of a fire-arm.
I arrived at the National Gun Owners Association (NGAO) shooting range in Kirigiti Kiambu on Friday at 7.45am sharp, adrenaline coursing through my veins in anticipation of finally holding a gun in my hand. But it was not to be that easy. There were 6 people, 5 men and 1 woman, who were undergoing training drills and because I was a novice, I had to sit it out and watch. These people were serious professionals. Each had their own handguns ranging from Glocks to CZs and were already proficient in gun handling, being the fact that they have been trained by NGAOs director and Africa’s top shooter (gold medal from the Africa Pistol Competition) Eng. Robert Nyamongo. Today they were being trained by a Special Forces instructor who could not be identified for security reasons, on proper gun handling and speed draw, trigger management, vehicle ambush evasion training and of course target practice. This was all very exciting, even to watch, as it somehow makes you shed your polite skin and bring out the warrior in you.
NGAO are lobbying government to make them a stop-gap between purchasing and registering a gun, and getting training from them before actually using the gun. This is designed to stop that warrior impulse I just described and help you think and act rationally as a gun-owner. Much like martial arts teaches people not to be the aggressor, so does NGAO training teach you not to pull out your gun or point it at anything unless you have the intent to destroy. That way you have thought carefully about your actions and have deliberately made the choice to use it, and therefore admit responsibility and liability for your actions. In a world where many do not, this is therefore essential if we are going to have a peaceful law-abiding community. Out of the 2000 registered NGAO members, none has ever been involved in a scandal involving a gun-fight.
And government is listening. Last year, the Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Dr. Amina Mohammed, flagged off the NGAO team that went to compete at the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) Africa Championship 2019 in South Africa 2019, where the Kenya team won (again) beating even the South Africans who are notorious for their liking of guns. Dr. Amina has since joined the club and has become a bit of a sharpshooter herself.
So, what does it feel like to actually fire a gun. Awesome! Your grip and your stance are essential if you are going to aim accurately and manage the recoil, which is actually very strong when the metal spits out it’s bullet at a velocity faster than the human eye can capture. You find you arms jerking upwards and if your foot is not squarely planted with one slightly behind, you might actually fall over. I used a CZ-P10 with live bullets, and trust me, it is not as easy as it looks in the movies to load, lock the slide and cock the gun. I am not sure of the terms yet, but I can definitely attest to the callouses on my hand from trying to slide and lock the damned thing. But when I eventually got it, I felt very accomplished. I have been dubbed a novice sniper for managing to group my shots around my target’s heart, especially since this is the first time I have ever held and fired a gun. And I like it… a little too much.
Luckily I cannot afford one, so the world is still a safe place.
For more information, go to their website:
+254 722 528 374
To watch the F.O.M.O. Travel Show Ep43 NGAO Gun Trainers:
Stay safe
Contact Achola Rosario via coalrosa@gmail.com if you are interested to have your location featured on the F.O.M.O. Travel Show and on www.ATCNews.org
