New York's Gun Culture

There are quite a number of New Yorkers, mainly Manhattanites, who are still closeted. Their secret passion, if disclosed, is still likely to alienate their closest friends. Until a few weeks ago when I was invited to take a peek at this discreet, politically incorrect community, I had no idea it existed here in the most liberal city in the nation. We may have some of the toughest gun laws in the country, but that doesn't mean gun lovers aren't prevalent here. They just don't talk about it during the cocktail hour or with liberal acquaintances. Last year, I met Larry Wilson, the author of "Silk and Steel," an art-worthy book detailing the fascinating historical connection between women and their weapon of choice. I thoroughly enjoyed his expertise on the subject, and he offered to take me to Beretta, the Italian gun manufacturer. I was under the impression that I was going to visit corporate offices and perhaps be shown a sample or two of what Mr. Wilson described as beautifully made guns. My husband, an ex-Marine who grew up in Florida and has an easy familiarity with guns, accompanied me to Beretta at its Madison Avenue address near 64th Street. At first I thought we had the wrong address because in this area of exclusive, toney clothing boutiques, the Beretta store fits in perfectly. I had no idea that the store manufactured clothing and all manner of items connected with hunting. As we waited for Mr. Wilson to escort us through the store, we browsed the merchandise for sale. My husband, who collects knives, asked the price of one small exquisite gem behind the glass case. He was told $9,000. That was somewhat out of our price range, but it was a beauty nonetheless. A sample of other Beretta items confirmed our status as "just looking" browsers. Soon, Mr. Wilson joined us and took us in the rear elevator to an upper level where we met Ed Anderson, the gunsmith. The walls in the showroom were filled with gun racks filled with works of art in the forms of rifles and shotguns. The prices of the weapons that I examined ran from about $1,000 to six figures. Fliers on the table advertised an upcoming hunt in Romania. Photographs on the wall showed the hunters with their various catches of wild boar and fowl. Mr. Wilson told us that grouse hunting in Europe might cost more than a safari in Africa. Many notables, including women and an ex-president, were among those photographed. I had never held a rifle or any kind of long-barreled weapon, but my curiosity got the better of me and I picked up, or tried to pick up, an $89,000 elephant gun. Too weak, too old, too female I thought, but I was persuaded that women are effective sharpshooters. During World War II, many Russian women were trained as snipers. Ludmilla Pavlychenko was credited with killing 309 Germans. "Silk and Steel" is filled with numerous tidbits of women performing successfully in combat. Beware the weaker sex with the great equalizer in her hand. But I am a New Yorker, born and bred, and thus not predisposed to any interest in guns. I am weakening though since meeting Beretta's assistant store manager, Beverley Ruddock, or, as she is known, "English Bev." This Londoner was introduced to target shooting by her fiance, and she was immediately hooked. She showed us pictures she took at a Pennsylvania range that has a Wild West target tournament. English Bev shoots in full Old West gear and carries her set of rifles in a wheeled rack. She also looked as if she were having a lot of fun. She gave us copies of "The Cowboy Chronicle," the monthly journal of the Single Action Shooting Society. Within the pages of this journal are the monthly shooting schedules of the society-affiliated clubs, including two in the Hamptons. Through Mr. Wilson, I was also introduced to a documentary filmmaker, Riva Freifeld, who's awaiting financing for her film on Annie Oakley. This self-described "Jewess from the Upper West Side" told me of her epiphany about the gun issue 10 years ago when she was working on a documentary, "Armed and Law Abiding." She said after much money and a lot of hassle she finally got a gun permit, bought a Glock, and discovered that not only did she enjoy target shooting, but also that she was pretty good at it. She says the film industry is not especially tolerant of those sharing conservative viewpoints, nor can she discuss the issue rationally with even her close friends. Ms. Freifeld's documentary was unique in that it was an open-minded examination of the Second Amendment and documented that while guns can be used to kill, they can also save lives. There are 200 million guns in America and many gun owners are ordinary, law-abiding citizens. Many are also women who refuse to be victims and reject politicians who substitute rhetoric for an honest debate on gun control. Many even shop at a certain posh boutique on Madison Avenue. Yes, it's time to come out, come out, wherever you are.