It's winter, and the doldrums are setting in. What better time to check out Ladies' Night at the Manchester Firing Line Range? The women (minus one anti-gun girl) report on the trigger-pulling excitement. Also, you'll notice a shift in the panel's lineup. To spare her teenage sons further mortification, Mela Stewart has graciously stepped down. In her stead, we introduce 27-year-old Elizabeth Hanna.

Melissa Hinebauch

Age: 37

Town: Concord

Family: Married, two kids, one dog and three garden gnomes

Occupation: Artist, copywriter and pain in the ass

Even though I am a Bambi-loving, tree-hugging mom of two small children, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a real gun and start firing away. Visions of Dirty Harry, James Bond, John Wayne and the hair-flippin' Charlie's Angels danced in my head.

As I dressed for my night at the firing range, I decided I was a bit beyond the Bond Girl or Lara Croft casting in both age and waist measurements. I figured I was more like Judi Dench as M: steely with a mean shot.

My bravado began to wane as soon as I walked into the firing range. Wall to wall guns assaulted my vision. It looked like Rambo's private stash. The ear-splitting noise and framed poster of Al Pacino as Scarface made my swagger evaporate.

First I shot a Ruger 22/45 semi-automatic pistol. I was quivering inside but finally got the hang of it. Then a fellow patron asked if I would like to take a shot with his Smith & Wesson AR-15, a huge, rob-a-bank-type of gun. I was too afraid to turn him down. As I held this monster and aimed at the target, all I could think was, What the hell am I doing here? I should be at home reading Goodnight Moon! Then I shot a nice big hole in the cement ceiling.

When I was done and pulled in my silhouette target, I was proud and a bit horrified. I was a mean shot after all (aside from the one in the ceiling). I drove home on an adrenaline high with a grin plastered across my face. I guess every once in a while it's good to have your life shaken, not just stirred.

Megan O'Donahue-Hodges

Age: 73

Town: Concord

Family: Married, five sons, five grandchildren

Single page