As a GenXer, I had a glorious, feral childhood.
I grew up surrounded by hills and cornfields in Eastern Pennsylvania. My mother was an elementary school art teacher and my father was an engineer. Translation: she was artsy crazy and he was organized and sane.
Around eleven years of age, my father introduced me to the firearms we had in the house: he covered the basics regarding safety, and out back by the compost pit we shot his .38 revolver, and his .380 Colt Mustang using pumpkins from our garden as targets.
When I was fourteen years of age he passed away suddenly, and my mother moved us from Pennsylvania to Florida. At eighteen I worked as a bartender while living on campus.
Tending bar gave me an education of humanity, or rather, the lack of it. Being a small female and walking alone from the parking deck at 3am after a shift into the student housing on campus makes one keenly aware of potential dangers. My encounters were usually raccoons by the dumpsters or inebriated students making their way elsewhere. My only weapon was my enormous, solid metal bottle opener I used to pop open long-neck beers all night long at work.
I met my husband at that time; we’ve been married going on 35 years and have three adult children. He grew up using shotguns and rifles for hunting. I knew where they were located in our home but not how they functioned. I completely understood the defensive benefits of having one. Or three.
It frustrated me that I didn’t know how to use them.
Fast forward to 2017 – There was some criminal activity in our neighborhood, and my husband traveled at work. I was often home alone for days at a time, with three children. At my request, my husband purchased a semi-automatic shotgun for our anniversary. I took a class at the newest range in Flemington – The Tactical Training Center, and Scott Lessig taught me how to safely load, unload, reload and fire the weapon. I also went home with all the products, tools and knowledge of how to clean it.
The selection of handguns in the TTC showroom was eye-catching to me, and it brought back the memories of those times shooting pumpkins with my dad.
Resistance was futile – I ended up selecting a Magnum Research 1911 Desert Eagle chambered in .45 ACP for my first ever handgun in my name. I saw it in a gun magazine, ripped out the page and brought it with me. The retail person looked at me and asked, “Are you sure that’s what you want?” I loved the stainless and the wood look grips. An instructor here at TTC, Tom D., says, “The 1911 is God’s gun.” I think I made a good choice for my first one.
2018 into 2019: My husband and I would visit the ports at TTC – he with his Glock and me with God’s gun, and the Range Safety Officers were so helpful. We took TTC Basic and Intermediate Handgun classes together, but I wanted more. Holster Draw and a host of other classes, sometimes more than once were in my schedule, and I enjoyed the process of adding to my skill set.
My husband was the only person I could ‘talk guns’ with. Other moms were absolutely out of the question, because, well, this is New Jersey.
I wanted to develop a quality skill set and use these weapons effectively and to the best of my ability, should I ever have to. I also felt it was my responsibility to do so, and hope I never have to.
A women’s group called Armed Women of America (AWA) meets once a month at TTC. AWA’s belief is women can be their own self-protectors, creating freedom and peace of mind. At my first AWA meeting I immediately felt comfortable and encouraged. And hey – girls I can talk guns with!
Classes at TTC continued – after all, their motto is ‘Training is our middle name’. The forced shutdown in April of 2020 did not stop my training. I purchased a Sig P320 9mm and focused on drawing from the holster, magazine changes and dry-fire work at home, and ingrained muscle memory. Once the forced restrictions were lifted I pursued classes constantly at TTC to fulfill my quest for learning how to best ‘run my gun’.
I had my ‘Cinderella moment’, or my ‘Harry Potter wand moment’ during a one-on-one lesson with Brian B. He handed me a Sig Sauer P356X Compact, and I heard angels singing, smelled beautiful roses and the clouds even parted in the sky. I bought two.
Advanced classes at TTC filled my days. I would look at the class calendar for the upcoming month and sign up for at least one a week – often two a week. Some the best situational awareness classes were on the laser combat side. If you don’t know what this is, TTC offers a close quarter combat area as well. This side of the TTC facility does not allow any live ammo present and students are given an airport-style once over with a metal detector. Absolutely no knives – no weapons of any sort are allowed on this side of the facility. During the classes, TTC instructors would place the student or students in stressful scenarios where their knowledge of the law was tested, along with their skill set and situational awareness. These classes are incredible.
In March, 2024, I joined the TTC family as an instructor for women’s programs, and as an RSO. I am also a co-leader for the Central New Jersey chapter of Armed Women of America that meets the 4th Wednesday of every month at the TTC.
I am a product of the incredible instructors, RSO’s and staff at the Tactical Training Center. I am forever grateful and thankful to them for providing an environment to learn, grow and flourish.
Cindy Lyles
IG: @shes_indexing
