Brian sits down with Maggie Reese for a candid conversation about her journey through competitive shooting, personal loss, and finding her way back to the sport. Maggie didn't grow up shooting despite firearms being in her household. Her dad took her to the range at 18 with a "learn how it works, then decide" approach, and she was hooked. Starting with a 1911 .45 (and stubbornly sticking with it despite plenty of mansplaining), she showed up at the 2007 Steel Challenge World Championships in Piru completely unprepared and was welcomed in by legends like Taran Butler, Dave Sevigny, Todd Jarrett, and Julie Golob, an experience that shaped everything that followed. Taran especially became a lifelong influence, pushing her into USPSA and 3-gun, and eventually introducing her to Michael Voigt, the longtime USPSA president who became her husband. Their marriage centered around shooting, travel, and shared passion until Michael's death from cancer, which coincided with a difficult period caring for her parents through her mom's dementia and eventually losing both of them. Maggie stepped back from serious competition and cycled through sponsorships with Colt and then Ruger while working through burnout. Recently, a phone call with Taran led to him sending her a TTI Combat Master and pushing her to shoot Area 2, where she rediscovered her love for the sport. She discussed her strong feelings on junior shooter sponsorships, believing kids should be kids without adult-level performance pressure, her instruction work with Girls Just Want to Have Guns, her role on the Women's Outdoor Media Association board and their Amateurs and Experts podcast, and her approach to advocacy through demonstration rather than debate. The Michael Voigt Scholarship Fund at USPSA came from her and Mike Foley's decision to redirect funeral flowers toward supporting the next generation. Maggie is now shooting her first IDPA match this weekend, embracing red dots on everything, and easing back into the sport on her own terms.


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Discover the world of competitive shooting sports through the eyes of industry leaders, top athletes, and match directors in the Behind the Lens Podcast, hosted by Brian Conley of Hunters HD Gold. Delve into captivating conversations that reveal the passion, dedication, and skill that define the shooting sports community. Brian, a steadfast supporter of the shooting sports, brings unique insights and expertise to each episode. Uncover the latest trends, techniques, and stories from the people who shape the shooting sports landscape. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of competitive shooting, the shooting industry, and the remarkable individuals who make it all possible.

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