A change of Philosophy

[ExpatGator]

Hey folks. I am saddened to say that I lost my Father yesterday after a protracted illness. He was a great guy and loved shooting, but was more of an admirer of firearms lately due to his health. He had a handful of guns and today my Mother sent one home with my wife.

Up until today I thought it okay for me to collect a firearm with the intention of letting it increase in value. In fact there is a pristine unfired S&W 520 in my gunsafe. Tomorrow I am going to take the Winchester Model 42 that my Dad left me and that 520 and I am gonna go shoot the crap out of them. I will never own another functioning gun that I will not shoot. My father would have loved to go shooting one more time and he did not get the chance. Guns are for shooting while we have the time, and my house ain't a damned gun museum.

 

[Pebcac]

I'm very sorry for your loss. Instead of thinking about the shots your dad didn't get to fire from that 42, think "Here's one for you, Dad," every time you pull the trigger. He's watching.

 

[treeprof]

I think it's entirely fitting to use an inherited or gift gun in the same manner the previous owner would have.

 

[fourdeuce82d]

sorry for your loss- I lost my father about six years ago, and I still find myself thinking "hey, this is a neat article- I should show it to dad."

Life your life, love the family you have left, and think about the good times.

bes regards,
ms

 

[wingnutx]

I still find myself thinking "hey, this is a neat article- I should show it to dad."

I do that a lot.

 

[BluesBear]

I lost me father 27 years ago. He was my best friend. But he was first and foremost my father. He is the one who taught me how to shoot, but before i was ever allowed to fire a shot he made sure that I knew safety and had respect for all guns.

Every time I pick up a gun magazine I see something that he would like.
I am thankful to him for that first subscription to Guns & Ammo back when I was 11.

I still have the shotgun he bought especially for me. I will never part with it. It is one of the few remaining physical links I have to him. (After all how many genuine Mossberg 500 with only one action bar are there anymore?)

I share in your loss ExpatGator, and I also share in your rejoicing of his memory.

I can assure you that your father will forever be with you. When you have a life decision to make his hand will be there, his widsom will guide you. For he is a part of you and that can never be taken away.

As we enter into this Holiday season, all of us should treasure the family we have. Make a few new memories while you still can.


ExpatGator, shoot that first cylinder full in rememberance of your Dad. and then fire a few rounds for those fathers everywhere that taught us the morals and ideals that enable us to take the High Road and then a few more for those who are making sure that tradition never dies.

 

[BigG]

My condolences on the loss of your father.

The idea of saving items in pristine condition can be overdone like anything else. I see guys at gunshows with plain brown cardboard boxes from the '50s that add a few hundred bucks to the price of their pristine contents. IMHO this is totally wrong-headed but who am I to set standards? A fifty year old gun with the little red warning tag hanging from the trigger guard is asinine, in my book, but people demand them (I guess) so what do I know?

Thank God there are gun museums where we can see the fabled guns of once upon a time in their pristine glory.

 

[ExpatGator]

Hey folks. Thanks for your kind words and your thoughtful reminisces (sp?). After re-reading my initial post I realized that I may have come off as being angry. That is far from the the feeling that I had at the time. I just wanted to express the blunt force reminder that I got whacked with the other day. That reminder being that we need to do today the things that we may not have a chance to do tomorrow. Take a kid shooting, yours or someone else's. Help someone who needs a hand. Simplify your life and squeeze that last FPS out of it. Take the high road, always. Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to yap.

P.S. It was 20 degrees today and I shot half a box of .38 and half a box of .357 through that old/new model 520. As they would say up here "it's a corker". My Dad would have loved it. I will have some time on Thursday and I will set up the thrower to try out that model 42. I will bust a few birds for him.

 

[abdrdude]

I'm so sorry for the loss of your father. You and your family will be in my prayers. Scott