European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 05, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Daily by Anita Gosch staff writer Emise Smith had never hold a gun when her husband Cailton. A staff sergeant in Hanau West Germany brought one Home. Smith recalls she did t want it in the House now she s determined to team How to use it there s so much crime Lack in the states you hear about so Many break  Smith says you have to be two to know How to defend yourself " Mae York knows How to shoot the military taught her to fire m 16 rifles and the like but what the military did t teach her. York says was How to handle a pistol now she s determined to learn How to use one someone tried to break into my apartment once and i had nothing to defend myself  says York now a civilian who works in Frankfurt the intruder did t gel in still York was scared enough that she asked her Boyfriend to get her a pistol for Christmas you Don t Only need a weapon when you re Back in the states York says this is a crazy world you need something to project yourself wherever you go just Check the newspaper ladies Are always getting raped or beaten More and More women want to learn How to shoot that s the word from Robert Hillis. Range safety officer at the Hanau Rod and gun club in fact the interest is so great he Sas Hal he snarled a shooting course exclusively for women since the course began in ocl Cejer. Liis has had to increase the nun by a of classes offt a j from once a weak to three times a /. Currently the Gurte is booked in Romfh March Home defense is a major Factor Voth  Hiilis says when the husband s away a lady wants to be Able to protect Heiselt and her family " Louise Connor lakes aim during a women s shooting course at the Hanau Rod and gun club. Hitting the Denise Smith left Aims her pistol while instructor Robert Hillis watches Sheila Bartlett prepare to shoot at the target Down Range. The course runs Over four hours with an hour class each week Only Lour women can be enrolled each pcs Inri the Cost is about $80 Lor use of the gun and Price of the ammunition in the first hour Hillig stresses Basic safety measures he teaches the Wornon How to hold and handle a gun Hov to Load and empty one. And How to control the trigger throughout the course the women Advance from firing 22-caliber pistol to 32s. 9 mrs. 357 magnums and eventually. 45s they begin shooting at targets 10 meters away and move on to 25 meters Hillis also simulates break ins by using a moving Silhouette target As the figure rushes toward the student she must shoot nine rounds in 5 seconds. In order to graduate the women must hit 70 percent of their bullets on a target 25 meters away graduates receive a certificate a pin and a Patch which allows them to use the shooting Range Hillis admits that four hours is nol enough for women to become class a shooters he feels that 16 hours would be belter then i would say that they would be Good Standard shooters they would be Good in  he says he plans on offering an advanced course in which the students would be timed while shooting at a twisting target for now Hillis Hopes to work the women up to nol being scared of a  a lot of ladies have a problem with dissipating the  he says they re waiting for the gun to go off and they get scared of pulling the trigger " Hillis course appears to be working i was really nervous when i first came  says Smith rut Bob helped me with thai and i icon comfortable with guns no " Smith says she plans on coming to inc Range on Teruji to shoot eth Hor husband Sheila liar hell Rutilo of Opic Jeff  of Hanau Iol is she 5 go Iivo to need a lot More practice but i m Gotling better she Sas ii something happens. I could shoot at least enough to scare them away " monday. February 1990 the stars and stripes Page 13