Ok, no, not really famous…but one of my old photos has been making the rounds on Facebook.

To answer the inevitable questions:

1. Yes, her reloading technique needed work. It was the first time she’d fired an AR. She’s improved in the intervening years.
2. No, I’m not taking cover behind the side door/window. I’m bracing my arm against the A pillar, so I’m right where the windshield meets the hood. Should I be further forwards, and thus more protected by the engine? Probably, but I’m being a gentleman and yielding the best cover to the lady.
3. Yes, I should probably be less exposed.
4. The picture was intended to humorously illustrate Tamara‘s quote, “A true gentleman provides covering fire while a lady is reloading.” (I forgot the exact wording when I captioned the photo. My apologies to Tam.), not to be a serious demonstration of shooting skills.
5. The point was not that she’s reloading the rifle for my use and that she remains under cover during the gunfight — I’m providing covering fire for her while she reloads her own rifle, after which she’ll engage the enemy.
6. No, she’s not pointing the AR at my head. She’s about half a meter to my right and the rifle is pointing up and downrange.
7. Yes, a full-size AR-15 is a bit too big for her. Since the photo was taken, we’ve purchased an “M4gery”-style AR with an adjustable stock and a shorter barrel for better balance.
8. Yes, I’m left-handed. She’s not (hence why the reloading looks so awkward).
9. I’m shooting an XD-45.
10. That was one of our first dates, and we were out shooting in the Arizona desert with friends. I may be able to dig up the coordinates of where we were if anyone is interested.
11. I married that woman, and am the luckiest guy in the world.
12. Is a Camry ideal cover? No, but the big chunk of American¹ steel aluminum under the hood is certainly better than nothing.
13. Why is the Camry in the desert? What, you expect we’d walk way out there? The Camry can handle the road and suited my everyday driving purposes.

1. The 2006 Toyota Camry was made in the US from more US-made parts than most of the vehicles made by “American” brands. [↩]