Grew up around them. Both grandfathers were hunters, my dad and uncle owned guns, my former stepfather would go hunting with my grandfather, etc. I always thought they were kind of cool and interesting, but never figured I would own one myself. Then in 2006 or so the Dallas City Council decided that there were too many commercial false alarms, so they announced that the police would only respond automatically to residential alarms. If'n your business alarm went off, there had to be a witness that a crime was occurring, or had occurred. I live about 700 feet from the bar I manage, give or take, so's when the alarm goes off, the monitoring company calls me.
I then weighed my options. Do I really want to show up with just a determined grimace? Effective as my scowl can be, moseyed on over a pawn shop and picked up a 4" Smith & Wesson 64. Took it to a local range, and remembered that I enjoy shooting, even though I stink-diddley-ink with a double action revolver. Still do. Working on it.
Couple months later, a friend of mine ragged on me for having a revolver, so I went to Academy and picked up a Taurus 92. Took that to the range, and my inner Texan came flying out. Yes, with a Brazilian gun. Though it was eventually replaced with an Italian made Beretta.
Even though the police show up now, the damage was done. I now own quite a few more, from .22's to a couple .30-06's with many choices in between. New fangled plastic fantastic tech to replica 1873 single action revolvers to a CMP M1 and even an AR. Even bought a safe to keep 'em all in. Just got a reloading setup, gonna take that plunge. Taking my CHL renewal class this week. The wife has even talked about getting hers. From zero to Prepared American in just a few short years. It's been a fun ride.