Editor's note: This piece was originally posted on Guns.com.
The ninth annual Michigan subgun shoot on Aug. 11 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan saw the largest turnout of shooters in its history, especially among females.
Sean Callahan, an engineer and yoga teacher, and his girlfriend Johannah Zabal, a strength and conditioning specialist, drove 10 hours from their home in Washington, DC to attend the event. They made the trek to spend the weekend not only shooting, but with a group of good friends who they only get to see a few times a year at these events. They spent the weekend laughing, shooting, eating and making lifelong memories.
The Michigan shoot was Zabal’s third time shooting in a a subgun competition. Her boyfriend Callahan got her into it. When they first met, she didn’t know he was into guns and shooting as much as he is. He brought her to a subgun event that he was shooting in, and she watched. She thought it was really cool. Until then, she was unfamiliar with guns. So, Callahan taught her the basics of safety and shooting effectively. Now, she’s hooked.
Since her first competition at Knob Creek in October 2017, she’s become increasingly interested in the shooting discipline. Being both athletic and competitive, she’s now giving Callahan a run for his money in competitions. She’s also proud to join a small but proud subgun shooting community that hosts a dozen or so events each year to enjoy their fully automatic firearms.