Becky Yackley has been competing in the firearms sports since 1989. Learn more about this national and world class shooting competitor as she answers my standard five questions.
1. We’re eager to know more about you. Please give us a glimpse into your journey with firearms.
I started competing with firearms in 1989: Service rifle, Palma rifle and Summer Biathlon. Then, fast forward to the NCAA air rifle, smallbore and air pistol. As our three sons grew and became interested, we began shooting 3 Gun, USPSA pistol, IPSC pistol, IPSC rifle, shotgun, and a little PRS.
I write, blog, and create content for the different brands, organizations and publications we work with in the firearm industry.
2. What two pieces of advice would you give someone interested in learning how to shoot or purchase their first firearm?
The first piece of advice would be to grab someone you trust who is more knowledgeable and start trying things to find what you like. This can be as easy as going to a gun store and looking at the guns that interest you—then holding and manipulating them and seeing if you like how they fit your hands or your body type. Learn about whether or not you’re going to be able to rack the slide or reach the magazine release comfortably. Then, head to a range that rents guns and rent the ones that you would like to try.
The second piece of advice would be do not wait! I’m not saying to purchase something hastily, but don’t wait to start the process. If your locality requires permits or training, like to own a pistol for personal protection, the longer you wait to begin, the longer everything will take. Sometimes, it seems really overwhelming, and it can be just as simple as asking for help and taking that first step.
The community you will find in those who own and appreciate firearms is a community that’s very supportive of personal freedom and choices. Oftentimes, people paint firearm owners in a particular light, usually not all that flattering. But in fact, you’re going to find people who are more accepting of those with diverse viewpoints and beliefs than you could’ve ever imagined.
3. What is your favorite piece of equipment (related to firearms) that you own? Why do you like it?
My favorite piece of equipment related to firearms is my Wiley X glasses. I’ve used a lot of different types and brands of glasses, even going so far as using chemistry goggles with BB guns when we were kids because there were seven of us and we didn’t have enough pairs of safety glasses. The scratch resistance and great field of view I get in my pair designed specifically for shooting make them indispensable to me! And Wiley X sunglasses are also anti-rated. So even if I am casually around firearms and then decide I want to shoot or show something to someone else, I don’t have to hunt down specific safety glasses; my sunglasses are ANSI-rated.
4. What was something someone told you (or that you read) that significantly influenced your life?
It’s funny that I just answered a question like this for a print publication. It made me pause to appreciate how social media has created a sense of understanding for everyone’s story. Something that’s significantly influenced me is working with people who appreciate the story that every single one of us has. It doesn’t always have to be epic or full of Herculean tasks. Sometimes it’s the simplicity and genuineness of someone’s story that impacts others.
As far as some particular thing that someone’s told me or I have read, it would be the idea that you learned from your mistakes; “we learn in the breakdown.” We all strive to have perfection. Ideally, every undertaking goes easily or works out smoothly, but that is not a place where learning happens. If we want progress in our lives, we must make mistakes, pay attention to the process, and figure out what that is. We are learning in the breakdown. If we don’t break down and make mistakes, we will stagnate. So embrace your mistakes.
5. What do you wish you knew about getting involved with firearms right from the beginning of your journey?
What do I wish I knew about getting involved with firearms from the beginning? Honestly, firearms play such a significant role in my life that I’m not sure there’s anything that I’d change.
I think there’s one thing I would change: my ability to recall data about firearms and processes. I wish I knew what a huge role they’d play in my life because maybe I would have tried to retain all the things I’ve learned over the decades better.
My sons and husband have this sort of osmosis-like capacity to recall so many details on function, makes, models, etc. This is a blessing and a curse. Oftentimes, I feel like I don’t have to recall every last thing because I have walking encyclopedias living with me. I think it’s because I have other areas that I’m focused on while learning this information. For example, I might be at a museum. Someone’s showing us something, and instead of paying attention to this specific model and functionality, I am trying to get photos and videos for content. So, I’m listening to it but not internalizing it in the same way. So maybe if there’s one thing I could change, it will be the structure in which I intake information about firearms to recall it better later.