SHOOTING SPORTS
Since "politically correct" people are easily offended by firearms and firearms rights and don't think that the "average" person has a need or purpose to own firearms, PLEASE remember that of ALL the Amendments to The Constitution of The United States of America, only one guarantees the rest.... The SECOND AMENDMENT!
...have become a way for me to relax and dump tension off on the side of life. Ted Nugent said it best in his book, God, Guns, And Rock-n-Roll, (Paraphrasing here) Hunting helps you find your 'True North'. If you don't understand, I suggest reading the book. It'll help those that don't understand the 'shooter' that lives (pick your place), and why they own guns.
If someone asks me, or comments to me that guns and gun ownership weren't meant for the general public, then I refer to their First Amendment right of free speech, and that the ONLY guarantee to the First Amendment of the Constitution is the Second, they either throw up their hands, or perk up their ears and actually listen. Some even learn a bit. I heard an old saying about this..."You don't generally learn when your mouth is moving." and it holds true to this day. Sorry, no I don't know who said that, but you can quote me on it!
I began shooting early. My first memory of shooting a gun is with my Uncle Wes and Grandfather, "Pop". They took me out somewhere out in Bond county Illinois when I was 7 or 8 and let me shoot Wes's .22 rifle. Boy, I thought I was top-notch when they did that. I remember to this day how much fun I had making those old cans jump from what seemed a mile, but more likely only 10 feet. The other memories of shooting weren't as vivid, but I remember going to My Grandmother's house (Norma, or "Nanny" as most of her Grandkids called her) and shooting her BB gun out the back door at whatever my heart desired, so long as I didn't break anything or hurt anyone. (I seem to remember her saying something about death if her dogs were shot, but I won't go into detail!) That old Daisy BB gun now resides in my gun safe, to be passed on again someday. I recently overhauled it, replacing the worn out rings in the compression cylinder.... That thing STILL shoots good!
Fast forward to late 1991, and Basic Training. I think on our second week of training, we all got farmed out to different areas of Lackland AFB, TX to do different 'details'. I somehow got picked to go to the Medina Complex to work in the base armory, cleaning all the M-16's and M-60's from the days prior. Wow... Never in my life to that point had I seen so many guns in one place. The group I was with spent 14 hours breaking down, cleaning, oiling, and wiping those rifles and machine guns. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world! After spending that long in the armory, I pretty much had the M-16 all figured out. By the time we actually got to go to the range for shooting, I was about to go stir-crazy with anticipation. I shot 37 of 40, and earned a medal in marksmanship. Thanks Pop, Wes, and Nanny for letting me learn!
After Basic, I learned more about weapon systems on active duty, both from the other guys and gals in my units, and from friends in the local communities that I made. I got to 'play' with such systems as the H & K MP5, M-249 S.A.W's, M-4's, M-2HB's and several others. Talk about being bitten by the bug. I couldn't stand it, so I went out and bought my very first gun the day I turned 21. Wow... What a let-down! I wasted way too much hard-earned money on a little Davis .380 handgun. I thought it was tops, though. I shot that thing (Davis P-380) until it finally couldn't hold a 12" group at 7 yards. It eventually moved over to the Ruger 10-22 that came shortly after the .380. I shot it and shot it and shot some more. Neither of the two remain in my humble collection, but they won't be forgotten.
In 2002, I did something that I NEVER would have thought possible... I went into business for myself! Doing what? Ummm... Selling guns! Yes, I took the plunge, got my fingerprints taken, photographs taken, and passed the insane background check that it takes to become a Federally Licensed dealer in Firearms from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Wow... a dream come true! Too bad it became a nightmare! Paperwork to drive you nuts, people that didn't have a clue, and here I am, trying to keep things legal. Ten months later, I found myself looking critically at this decision to be a dealer, weighing the cost of licensing, tax issues, as well as my ever-shrinking amounts of free time and wound up surrendering the license to the ATF. Yep... I regret it, but someday I might attempt it again.
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