chicharrones
needs more ammo
Sad, sad news, Gunny. I can't imagine losing a friend that way.
When a gun becomes more than just another gun
- Thread starter GunnyUSMC
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TomJ
Contributing Member
Gunny,
Is there something we can do to help the officers and their families, such as helping with their expenses?
Tom
Is there something we can do to help the officers and their families, such as helping with their expenses?
Tom
Sad news, Im sorry to hear that gunny.When does a gun become more the just a gun?
About eight years ago I bought a Taurus Model 85 from a friend at work for $200. It was my friend’s old backup gun. He had picked up a small auto to replace it and it had just been sitting in his safe.
I already had a Taurus 85, but who likes to pass up a good deal.
It was just another gun in the many I that I have until two days ago. My friend and another Officer were ambushed on Sunday. My friend was killed and the other officer is in critical condition.
I have lost ten fellow officers on my department in the line of duty in the last 17 years.
So this run of the mill Taurus 85 will stay with me. It will always be a reminder of the good friend that I’ve lots. It will always be more then just another gun.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Ill pray for their families and the recovery of the injured officer. Sorry, Gunny.
Shanghai McCoy
Member
Sorry for the loss of your friend and fellow officer Gunny.
Phaedrus/69
Member
Sorry for the loss of your friend! As you say it does drive home the value of those important folks in our lives and gives you another reason to treasure that Taurus 85.
MedWheeler
Member
Excellent tribute. I've heard of, and have been trying to follow the case. It's sickening.
I assume you'll be at the funeral. If not, try to put a round through it for him, even if you have to do it into the clearing barrel at the department. Or at least take it out on the job with you for a shift if permitted. I know I would.
I have three Charter Arms Undercover revolvers. The first one I got was purchased on the day I was sworn in, from the LE-supply store to which I'd been taken to be uniform-fitted. That one was made that year, in 1987. The second one I inherited from my dad, a former rural deputy in Colorado, when he died in 2010. It was made in 1966, making it as old as am I.
The third actually is "just another gun", a stainless one from around 1985, purchased by me in around 2016. When I carry it, the job both my dad and I did is never far from mind, and it does stand-in duty for either of the others so that, God forbid, neither would have to end up in evidence lockup.
I have a handsome Taurus 85, a stainless one with a three-inch barrel. I'll dry-fire it tonight for your friends before I turn in..
I assume you'll be at the funeral. If not, try to put a round through it for him, even if you have to do it into the clearing barrel at the department. Or at least take it out on the job with you for a shift if permitted. I know I would.
I have three Charter Arms Undercover revolvers. The first one I got was purchased on the day I was sworn in, from the LE-supply store to which I'd been taken to be uniform-fitted. That one was made that year, in 1987. The second one I inherited from my dad, a former rural deputy in Colorado, when he died in 2010. It was made in 1966, making it as old as am I.
The third actually is "just another gun", a stainless one from around 1985, purchased by me in around 2016. When I carry it, the job both my dad and I did is never far from mind, and it does stand-in duty for either of the others so that, God forbid, neither would have to end up in evidence lockup.
I have a handsome Taurus 85, a stainless one with a three-inch barrel. I'll dry-fire it tonight for your friends before I turn in..
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
I'm sorry, Gunny. Not what I expected when I opened this thread. It must hurt. I am glad you have a memento of your friendship.
DustyGmt
Member
I had an 85. It was a good gun. Good action. I bought it at a time when people told me to stay away from taurus. I went ahead and bought it anyway. I liked it. Should have kept it.
BullRunBear
Member
Gunny, My condolences on the loss of your friend. I hope you shoot his revolver now and then and remember the good times you two had.
Sometimes the guns are memorable for a good reason. My best friend and I trained his then little boys (they are in their 30s now) the basics of firearm safety and sight picture using a couple of gallery guns bought by his grandfather around 1900. I smiled thinking of his late grandpa's pleasure that his guns trained his great-grandsons almost ninety years later. My friend treasures those guns and has made plans to pass them along to a fourth generation of family ownership.
Jeff
Sometimes the guns are memorable for a good reason. My best friend and I trained his then little boys (they are in their 30s now) the basics of firearm safety and sight picture using a couple of gallery guns bought by his grandfather around 1900. I smiled thinking of his late grandpa's pleasure that his guns trained his great-grandsons almost ninety years later. My friend treasures those guns and has made plans to pass them along to a fourth generation of family ownership.
Jeff
Elkins45
Member
That’s just horrible. My sincere condolences to you and to the officers other friends and family.
Zaydok Allen
Member
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Jeez Gunny, I’m really sorry man. Losing a friend is always hard but like that..... terrible. I’m sorry for the family and for the loss of the other officers you mentioned too.
In answer to the theme, my grandfather gave me a Nylon 66 that he had sitting around about 12 years ago. He passed away about 9 years ago and that gun has been a treasure ever since.
Two years ago, my dad gave me a Henry 357. Never going to part with it.
The memories of loved ones can really transform a thing into an heirloom that aids greatly in keeping those memories fresh and alive.
In answer to the theme, my grandfather gave me a Nylon 66 that he had sitting around about 12 years ago. He passed away about 9 years ago and that gun has been a treasure ever since.
Two years ago, my dad gave me a Henry 357. Never going to part with it.
The memories of loved ones can really transform a thing into an heirloom that aids greatly in keeping those memories fresh and alive.
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WestKentucky
Member
Hopefully the sorry trash that did this gets locked away for eternity. An officers bullet is far too easy on scum such as this, but it is sadly far too often the outcome. At least you have the revolver to bring up memories of your friend, may he rest in peace.
I hope that the memories flood back like memories do with a few of mine, inherited from my grandparents. My granddaddy’s 20ga that I mowed the yard to get, which when I hold it I can taste the apples and pears in his back yard which we would sit and eat after I had mowed. Or the memories of sitting on the tailgate of the old Mazda b2000 in his later years “deer hunting” with a thermos of coffee and the radio on watching critters and never actually chambering a round. Grandmas 22 rifle brings back a hard memory, shortly before she passed I bought it from her to help her pay bills, then at Easter she asked how it shot and I told her the truth, I couldn’t hit squat with it. She proceeded to dance a 20ga hull across the yard until it was out of sight. Dad always told me he hated squirrel hunting with her if she took that rifle... “See it?”-“nope, where?”-POW “Right there” as it falls to the ground. Grandmas RG31 (32swl) is hard too, I bought it from her to give her the dignity of providing a cheap present to the little great grandkids. When I bought it she was already frail, and I tried to leave it with her but she tried for all she was worth to pull the trigger and just couldn’t do it, but she loved that gun for years. My grandpa that’s still livings 22 is in my safe now, and he taught me to aim precisely with it shooting snakes as they swam in the spring trying to catch minnows that we used for bait, or shooting starlings off of the tomato cages in the garden.
I truly hope that seeing that revolver makes you feel the presence of your friend. That the tangible connection draws out a memory of good times, a good friend, and a heart for serving.
I hope that the memories flood back like memories do with a few of mine, inherited from my grandparents. My granddaddy’s 20ga that I mowed the yard to get, which when I hold it I can taste the apples and pears in his back yard which we would sit and eat after I had mowed. Or the memories of sitting on the tailgate of the old Mazda b2000 in his later years “deer hunting” with a thermos of coffee and the radio on watching critters and never actually chambering a round. Grandmas 22 rifle brings back a hard memory, shortly before she passed I bought it from her to help her pay bills, then at Easter she asked how it shot and I told her the truth, I couldn’t hit squat with it. She proceeded to dance a 20ga hull across the yard until it was out of sight. Dad always told me he hated squirrel hunting with her if she took that rifle... “See it?”-“nope, where?”-POW “Right there” as it falls to the ground. Grandmas RG31 (32swl) is hard too, I bought it from her to give her the dignity of providing a cheap present to the little great grandkids. When I bought it she was already frail, and I tried to leave it with her but she tried for all she was worth to pull the trigger and just couldn’t do it, but she loved that gun for years. My grandpa that’s still livings 22 is in my safe now, and he taught me to aim precisely with it shooting snakes as they swam in the spring trying to catch minnows that we used for bait, or shooting starlings off of the tomato cages in the garden.
I truly hope that seeing that revolver makes you feel the presence of your friend. That the tangible connection draws out a memory of good times, a good friend, and a heart for serving.
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OP
OP
GunnyUSMC
Member
Yes it is, but no matter the price, we still keep working.
I understand.
I just spoke to Dale’s father the other week. We talked about Dale and how much he loved being back in uniform patrol.
I have no idea what I will say to him when I see him again.
The family had a small private service today, and there will be no funeral, Dale wanted that way.
The other Officer that was shot is Cpl. Derrick Maglone. I don’t know him very well. It was reported that he was alert today and talking, which has amazed the doctors. But it’s going to take a while for him to recover. I’m not sure if a fund has been set up yet.
https://www.kalb.com/content/news/Wounded-BRPD-officers-condition-improving-570016981.html
OP
OP
GunnyUSMC
Member
Thank y’all so much.
Please keep posting about the guns you have that have a special meaning to you.
Please keep posting about the guns you have that have a special meaning to you.
Riomouse911
Member
Man, I am sorry to hear about your loss... and the loss of all of your fellow officers over the years who were doing their jobs when struck down by evil.
Few understand how difficult it is being a human, with all of our human faults, doing the one job that you must be superhuman to do correctly 100% of the time..,or face the threat of discipline, termination, civil sanction, criminal prosecution, incarceration, eternal public humiliation, long-term injury or even death. No doctor, lawyer, CEO, academic or politician ever faces all of that, all shift every shift. It’s a job where perfection is expected... yet is performed without 6 years of college training before being allowed to solo... and doing it for wages far, far below many who have never felt even a hint of mortal danger.
All this, plus every day you must be ready at a moments notice to be a marriage counselor, peace keeper, civil law advisor, social worker, emergency medical technician, race car driver, mma fighter, championship shooter, all the while knowing that an hour later you’ll probably be told you’re being held over for forced OT so your child’s recital that evening will be one more event in their lives you weren’t at. A job that in reality very few do, yet after one edited clip on the TV 10,000,000 people emphatically state that they could do it better without ever spending a day trying. Sadly, these QWERTY cowboys never come forward to volunteer their time or talents to show everyone how to do it and make the world a better place... Instead they snipe from behind a keyboard... or on the street maybe even salute you with a finger.
As the pain subsides into that region we all have behind our daily facade, may you find peace, joy and good memories every time you look at that revolver. I have a Rem 1100 Trap that belonged to my best friend, a fellow officer who took his own life a few years ago. Every time I open the safe it’s a reminder of Tim, sitting right there in front of every other gun within...right where it belongs.
That gun means a lot more to me than being just a used Remington shotgun, as your Taurus now does for you.
Stay safe.
Few understand how difficult it is being a human, with all of our human faults, doing the one job that you must be superhuman to do correctly 100% of the time..,or face the threat of discipline, termination, civil sanction, criminal prosecution, incarceration, eternal public humiliation, long-term injury or even death. No doctor, lawyer, CEO, academic or politician ever faces all of that, all shift every shift. It’s a job where perfection is expected... yet is performed without 6 years of college training before being allowed to solo... and doing it for wages far, far below many who have never felt even a hint of mortal danger.
All this, plus every day you must be ready at a moments notice to be a marriage counselor, peace keeper, civil law advisor, social worker, emergency medical technician, race car driver, mma fighter, championship shooter, all the while knowing that an hour later you’ll probably be told you’re being held over for forced OT so your child’s recital that evening will be one more event in their lives you weren’t at. A job that in reality very few do, yet after one edited clip on the TV 10,000,000 people emphatically state that they could do it better without ever spending a day trying. Sadly, these QWERTY cowboys never come forward to volunteer their time or talents to show everyone how to do it and make the world a better place... Instead they snipe from behind a keyboard... or on the street maybe even salute you with a finger.
As the pain subsides into that region we all have behind our daily facade, may you find peace, joy and good memories every time you look at that revolver. I have a Rem 1100 Trap that belonged to my best friend, a fellow officer who took his own life a few years ago. Every time I open the safe it’s a reminder of Tim, sitting right there in front of every other gun within...right where it belongs.
That gun means a lot more to me than being just a used Remington shotgun, as your Taurus now does for you.
Stay safe.
James Fonteneaux
Member
Gunny, I am very sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. In response to the thread, I have my grandfather's Marlin 30-30. It's just a run of the mill gun, nothing special (other than the JM stamp). Years after my grandfather had passed, my dad gave it to me to fix the front sights and when I had done that and tested it out, he told me to keep it. Most of my memories with my grandfather involve camping in SE Colorado and fishing in the Dolores river. The rifle is a small way to remember a great man.
il.bill
Member
Gunny, I am very sorry for your loss,
I know I will think of You and your Friend the next time I take out my own Taurus 85.
I know I will think of You and your Friend the next time I take out my own Taurus 85.
I have a 107 tear old Stevens 12 g. side by side originally owned by grandfather , then my Pa , older brother , now me. It has the same approx weight as a bazooka , and those really cool musket style hammers.
I only knew gandpa as a stolid old farmer , barely ever heard a word from him ; on the rare occasion that he did speak it was usually in German. When I handle his shotgun I can envision him as a young man walking the predawn farm fields hunting for supper.
I only knew gandpa as a stolid old farmer , barely ever heard a word from him ; on the rare occasion that he did speak it was usually in German. When I handle his shotgun I can envision him as a young man walking the predawn farm fields hunting for supper.
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Legionnaire
Contributing Member
So in the spirit of the thread, I'll add one. My dad wasn't a shooter, nor his dad. While I shot competitively in college, I didn't really get into shooting and hunting as hobbies until I got married. My father-in-law was a great outdoorsman, and he got me started. He helped my wife purchase what became my first personally-owned firearm: a Mossberg 500 12 gauge.
Dad and I hunted together for 25 years or so, mostly whitetail, but also various small game. When we were in the deer woods, his firearm of choice was an early 1960s era Remington 700 ADL in the then-new 7mm Remington Magnum. He used that rifle on PA whitetail, Canadian caribou, Wyoming mule deer and prairie goats ... you get the picture.
Dad died of cancer four years ago, and I miss him tremendously. His field-worn 7mm Mag now resides in my safe. I don't care for the 7mm Remington Magnum as a cartridge, and the old ADL needs some work to get it in shape; I'll get to it eventually. But I'll never sell the gun.
Dad and I hunted together for 25 years or so, mostly whitetail, but also various small game. When we were in the deer woods, his firearm of choice was an early 1960s era Remington 700 ADL in the then-new 7mm Remington Magnum. He used that rifle on PA whitetail, Canadian caribou, Wyoming mule deer and prairie goats ... you get the picture.
Dad died of cancer four years ago, and I miss him tremendously. His field-worn 7mm Mag now resides in my safe. I don't care for the 7mm Remington Magnum as a cartridge, and the old ADL needs some work to get it in shape; I'll get to it eventually. But I'll never sell the gun.
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