Jasmine at the Gun Range

Jasmine walked up to the front door of the gun range and waited. A buzzer sounded. She opened the door, then walked to the man seated behind the counter.

She smiled as she approached.

"Good afternoon, Sergeant."

"Now, see? Why can't all young people show respect to their elders? It's OK to call me Joe, Jasmine."

"Yessir. Will do."

Joe chuckled.

"You know your uncle Demetrius was in here earlier?"

Jasmine looked surprised.

"Really?"

"Yes indeed. He said more of your family will be here this afternoon."

"How come?"

Joe smiled.

"We're running a 'Lethal Weapon' competition. If you can make a smiley face at 50 yards you get free 9mm ammo for a year."

Jasmine looked shocked.

"Oh, wow. How did Uncle Demetrius do?"

Joe chuckled and pulled out a paper target from under the counter and handed it to Jasmine.

Jasmine inspected the haphazard groupings.

She shook her head.

"Was he aiming?"

Joe laughed.

"He spent about an hour trying to get it - this was his best one."

Jasmine flipped the target over and looked at the torn paper around the exit holes.

"What was he using?"

"His usual - Sig M18."

Jasmine shook her head.

"Well, he can't blame the gun."

Jasmine put the paper target down on the counter and looked at the firearms behind Joe hung up on the wall.

"Anyone got close?"

Joe shook his head.

"Not yet. Probably ain't nobody gonna, since that was all Hollywood magic."

Jasmine nodded.

"Had to be with Gibson yanking on the trigger and flinching at every shot."

Joe laughed.

"Oh! You know the scene? I thought you were too young to have seen it!"

Jasmine continued looking at the guns behind Joe on the wall.

"My combat instructor made us watch it for what not to do."

"Figured your family would have drilled that out of you since you were a little girl."

Jasmine nodded.

"They did. I'd have fired better than Gibson at age 9."

Joe chuckled.

"OK then - you gonna go for it?"

"Of course - ammo's hard to afford on a government salary."

"What unit are you with?"

"StratRec."

"What's that?"

"We give technical advice to the military."

Joe grinned.

"So you're a desk jockey?"

"Something like that. So hey, do you have any restrictions on the gun I use?"

"Nope."

"Do you have a Sig P210?"

Joe shook his head.

"Does this look like the Ritz Carlton to you?"

Jasmine chuckled.

"OK, that would be cheating anyway. Do you remember what Gibson used in Lethal Weapon?"

"Beretta 92F."

"Do you happen to have one of those?"

"Just so happens I do."

"OK, let me use that to keep it authentic. 50 yards right?"

Joe stood up slowly from his stool.

"That is correct."

Joe braced himself carefully and bent down slowly to reach the Beretta 92F from under the counter and a box of 9mm ammunition. He placed the gun and box of ammunition on the counter in front of Jasmine.

Jasmine picked up the gun, disassembled it, inspected it, looked down the barrel, then reassembled it. She checked the action carefully.

"Do you mind if I dry fire?"

"Go right ahead."

Jasmine cocked the hammer, then held the gun with both hands. She pulled her hands to her chest with the gun pointed forward at a brick wall, then pushed the gun forward with both hands until her arms were almost straight. She pulled the trigger, and the gun clicked.

Jasmine pulled the gun back to her chest.

"That felt like 6 pounds. Is there a time limit?"

Joe smiled as he shook his head.

"No time limit. You think you can do it?"

Jasmine smiled as she put the Beretta back on the counter.

"So long as there's no time limit. Can I take practice shots?"

"Of course."

Jasmine looked at Joe and grinned.

"You know, a year's worth of ammo's a lot of money."

"Smiley face at 50s hard shooting for a desk jockey. Can I see your ID?"

Jasmine reached into the front pocket of her jeans and pulled out her ID. She handed it to Joe.

Joe looked at Jasmine's ID and whistled.

"That's gotta just about be the nicest looking ID I have ever seen."

Joe put on the reading glasses hanging from his neck and looked closely.

"What's 'Strategic Technology Recovery and Neutralization Division?' Is that black ops?"

"No, but we're pretty specialized."

"What do you guys specialize in?"

Jasmine grinned.

"Giving advice."

Joe frowned and handed Jasmine back her ID.

"Something tells me I'm about to be assed-out a year of ammo."

Jasmine took the gun and the box of ammo.

"You'd be in trouble if you had the P210. I still have to deal with the heavy trigger."

"What are you used to?"

"3.5"

Joe sighed.

"I'm definitely out a year of ammo."

Jasmine smiled.

"Do you need to record me or something?"

"Yeah, I'll record you on the phone, but I'm guessing I can't post it online. Was hoping to use it for marketing."

"You can post it online, just don't include my face or voice."

Joe nodded.

"Alright - let's go."

Joe walked slowly to the front of the store and flipped a sign to show 'closed for lunch'. He turned and led the way with labored steps towards the indoor firing range. 

Jasmine patiently followed him with the Beretta and box of 9mm ammunition.

Joe walked over to a cabinet and selected a paper target with the outline of a torso. He handed the target to Jasmine and sat on a stool. He gestured at the shooting stalls.

"You can take your pick of lane - it's just us."

Jasmine walked to the closest shooting stall and placed the Beretta and box of ammunition on the shooting bench. She reached into her pocket and pulled out an earplug case. She removed a pair of long black earplugs and screwed each into her ears.

Jasmine put the paper target on the target carrier and pushed a button until the target was at the 50 yard mark.

Jasmine took the magazine out of the Beretta and loaded it with 9mm ammunition. She slid the magazine into the gun, then racked the slide. She checked to make sure a round was chambered.

"I'm going to take a few practice shots."

"OK, go ahead. Let me know when you're ready so I can get it on video."

Joe put on a pair of earmuffs.

Jasmine took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. 

She held the Beretta in both hands in front of her chest with the gun pointed at the target. She positioned her feet shoulder-width apart.

Jasmine took another deep breath, then exhaled slowly as she pushed the Beretta out in front of her until her arms were nearly straight, bending slightly at the knees.

Jasmine squeezed the trigger 8 times at a slow, steady, methodical pace. 

She pulled the gun towards her chest and stood up straight.

She unloaded the Beretta, checked the weapon to make sure it was safe, then placed it on the shooting bench.

Jasmine pushed the target carriage button and waited as the paper target slowly came towards her.

She removed her ear plugs.

Joe removed his ear protection.

"Everything OK?"

Jasmine nodded.

"Yeah."

"You done?"

"Yep."

Joe frowned as he stood up and walked slowly to Jasmine's stall just as the paper target arrived. 

Jasmine removed the target and handed it to Joe.

Joe inspected the target.

"Good God almighty."

Jasmine picked up the box of ammo and the Beretta and turned to face Joe.

"I guess we're all done here."

Jasmine grinned.

"Since you didn't get to record it, you can keep the year's worth of ammo - but I want you to show this to any of my family if they come by and tell them it was me - deal?"

Joe smiled as he stared at the paper target in his hand.

"I will take that deal, but you shoot here for free regardless."

"Thanks Joe."