Comments on: Lucky to Be Alive

By: Ultra Trail News, Fri, Mar 25 - Ultramarathon News, Podcasts, and Product Reviews

Fri, 25 Mar 2016 13:03:19 +0000

[…] riders were shot at.Â I’ve run those trails dozens of times, so a bit scary! Â Reminds me of this crazy story (read it!) that Jen Benna shared a few years […]

By: Jen Benna Interview | UltraRunnerPodcast: Ultramarathon News, Podcasts, and Product Reviews

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 21:57:47 +0000

[…] Referenced story: Getting shot at on a training run […]

By: KRISTY

KRISTY — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:56:55 +0000

I’m Jen’s younger sister, gun enthusiast, avid hunter, and professional veterinary student. I’m the recipient of the National Turkey Federation Scholarship (Reno, NV chapter), and Co-founder of Cast and Blast (a gun club) at Washington State University.
I’m disgusted as a fellow lover of the woods and female hunter, the attack upon my sister by people who supposedly share my same enthusiasm for hunting and guns. I as she, was raised by my dad to use guns in an appropriate manner treated with the upmost respect and safety. Just to those who think I know nothing about hunting or guns- I began hunting at age 15, have received multiple hunting and wildlife conservational scholarships, and have been a small and big game hunter since beginning this enjoyable sport and hobby. I’m also interested in specializing as a veterinarian in wildlife.
What happened to her, and her sharing her story is not an agenda, or naive dramatic story to blow out of proportion or go against our cherished 2nd amendment, it is simply a warning to fellow runners to be aware about this specific location in Reno, NV, and again as a reminder to the arrogant, where she was running is a highly PUBLIC RECREATIONAL area, no not a gun range, remote area, or area to shoot into the backdrop of a mountain, or pit. I ask you all as a young 23 year old woman to be men, stop assuming she knows nothing of the proper use and handling of guns, and to show respect, act as men and uphold the good name of fellow gun enthusiasts and hunters. I hope she receives more support than this continual nonsense and negativity. We should all be concerned that irresponsible people who use guns such as these men she encountered that day, give bad names to the rest of US fellow gun enthusiasts and hunters. I sure hope nobody ever has to encounter what she did.

By: PLumps

PLumps — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 04:29:16 +0000

I am Jen’s father.
I am a hunter, gun enthusiast, belong to four big game conservation groups and the NRA. I am also a retired law enforcement officer of 31 years, and currently employed in private contract security for a federal law enforcement agency.
Jen has been around firearms her whole life. She has been taught the safe way to handle a firearm, the dangers of weapons, and how to target shoot.
She experienced a very scary experience of having a weapon discharged towards her, that could have easily injuried or killed her, her dog, or her running partner.
This incident was conducted by multiple irresponsible persons, discharging high powered rifles in a public use area, without the common sense to shoot targets safely into a proper backstop absent of bystanders.
I have conducted target shooting for the last 28 years living in Reno. Each and every time I used a high powered rifle for target shooting, I drove to the Washoe County Shooting facility on the Pyramid Highway, or the Carson Shooting facility near Moundhouse. I don’t enjoy the drive to either location, but that is where responsible firearm enthusiasts go to safely shoot high powered weapons.
Jen felt responsible to make runners, hikers, mountain bikers, motorcycle/off road enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys the outdoors aware of this incident and to try to prevent a tragic accident from happening in the future.

By: Paul Grimes

Paul Grimes — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 01:48:11 +0000

Scary incident Jen! Sorry you’re catching so much flack for recounting and sharing your experience!

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 23:45:38 +0000

Thanks Nathan- here’s a response to your group:
http://www.jenbenna.com/?p=679

By: Delta9

Delta9 — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 23:29:00 +0000

I”m a target shooter and gun enthusiast and am sure the negative comments are coming from people who have never had a gun fired in their direction. I believe that 99% of people that shoot outdoors are responsible and the 1% who are not can wreck your day and make the rest of us look bad. My friend’s car once took a bullet while driving up a main road near Santa Cruz because some idiots were shooting in an unsafe direction. I’m sorry that this happened to you.

By: Nathan Lee

Nathan Lee — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 23:19:31 +0000

Oh, we don’t want anything from you, as a whole. We are just reading and discussing what a bunch of idiots those men were. Some people disagreeing, but you know how that all works out.

Me, personally, I’ve been trying to train for Rangar, but I keep getting the shin splints. I’m not much of a runner though, mostly been into lifting and contact sports my whole like, but trying the whole running thing out. Shin splits are a pain. Not as bad as being shot at though; however, I would imagine having shin splints, while being shot at, would be a whole different level.

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 23:03:28 +0000

Nathan- I figured as much. But I have to commend you for having the guts to leave your full name and to let me know. Maybe you all can leave me alone. I am not sure what you all want?

By: Nathan Lee

Nathan Lee — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 22:58:01 +0000

Heya Jen,

Hundreds of avid shooters are currently reading your post actually and we’re currently discussing it in on our boards.

Avid shooters huddle.