Turned out to be the tightest grouping of the night in the black.

Two shots went a little wild, but not too bad. I was pleased, considering I've only fired two shots on a pistol in my life before this evening. Having no bad habits to un-learn really made it easier, I think.

When we went to retrieve the targets, the instructor did an exaggerated double-take, then grinned. That was all the feedback I needed.

"Take this home and hang it on your refrigerator," he said. I agreed that would be a good idea, after I was done showing it off.

After the fun part, we went back to the tables, took a test and then were presented with our certificates. According to the National Rifle Association, the guy who once thought that organization was a quaint anachronism has successfully completed the NRA Basic Pistol Course. And I have the badge to show for it.

Honestly, though, I'm not sure what to do with the badge. I don't have a shooting jacket or anything, and it would look funny on a suit coat. A question for another day.

Overall, the experience was an extremely positive one. I had a lot of fun, learned quite a bit and now can understand basic weapons lingo. Recently, Dr. Helen wrote the following at Pajamas Media.:

Understand and be able to use a basic handgun. Many people will oppose me on this one; they are pacifists, uninterested in guns, scared of guns, whatever. Yet hear me out. Even if you hate guns, knowing the basics of how handguns work (and you might have to shoot one to find out) will save you from looking like a buffoon if you work as a politician, journalist or are just debating the merits of gun ownership and want to at least give the appearance of having some knowledge of your subject. Debating about guns without understanding the basics of how they work is like engaging in magical thinking about the boogey man—but then, many people do this. And a gun is a tool, so it is important to know how the darn thing works just in case you are put in a position where you have to handle one at some point in your life.

This is from a column about what adults should be able to do. I think she's right.

I don't know if I'm ever going to actually own a gun, and it's highly doubtful I'll ever be in a situation where the use of one will be necessary. However, what I've learned over the past three days is not just a new set of skills and knowledge of firearms.

I've also learned that I enjoy target shooting. The actual shooting is almost incidental to the calm and discipline one has to assume before squeezing the trigger and trying for a perfect shot. Most importantly, though, I learned that everything the media tries to tell you about legal gun owners is wrong.

These folks are concerned about safety. Extremely concerned. They know that politicians, the media and the public are constantly watching their every move, waiting for a mistake and they take that responsibility seriously. They, more than anyone, know this is more than about plinking cans or playing Rambo. This is a right handed down to us by men who thought we should be entrusted with it.

In taking this class, I saw an instructor who constantly encouraged his class to be safe, and met citizens who enjoy firearms and target shooting, but also take the Second Amendment seriously, and wanted to make sure they exercised the rights granted to them responsibly.

And seeing that was even cooler than the experience of putting rounds into a target.