ARMED & DANGEROUS: Last year, Dallas Voice interviewed Lt. Jim Dangle (Thomas Lennon, pictured) of “Reno 911”at the DFW Gun Range and Training Center.

In Texas, guns are a part of our culture just as much as football, cowboy hats and two-stepping. In fact, Gov. Rick Perry recently said he supported the Harrold Independent School District’s decision to let teachers pack heat during classes.

Gay gun groups are nothing new — even San Francisco has a “pink pistols” club. And according to an employee at the DFW Gun Range & Training Center, the Pink Pistol Club of Central Texas (San Antonio and Austin) recently visited the facilities.

A trip to the range isn’t terribly expensive: If y’all wanted to go on a date, each non-member would pay $16.99 for a range fee and $7.99 for a handgun rental (then you’d have to shop for ammo).

There are also annual memberships: individuals ($165) and family ($215).

Family memberships are defined as “mom/dad and any children under 21 living at home.” DFW Gun Range recently voted on whether to include same-sex partners — living at the same address — in their definition of family memberships.

Manager Joe Elledge told Dallas Voice that the gun range discussed the matter and decided against including gay partners in the family memberships. No explanation was given as to how they reached that decision.

— Daniel A. Kusner

DFW Gun Range and Training Center, 1607 W. Mockingbird Lane. 214-630-4866. The gun range president’s e-mail address is president@dfwgun.com

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LESBIAN SOCCER PLAYER HELPS U.S. GO FOR GOLD

WINNING SHOT: Kai’s goal Friday earned the U.S. team a 2-1 overtime victory over Canada.

On Saturday, Aug. 16., U.S. forward Natasha Kai scored the team’s second goal during extra time in the U.S. women’s soccer team’s 2-1 victory over Canada. Kai is one of 11 openly gay athletes competing in Beijing. On Monday, the U.S. defeated Japan 4-2 in the semifinals. As of press time, the U.S. will moves to finals against Brazil on Thursday night.





    
These articles appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition August 22, 2008.