Have you ever been called crazy insane or paranoid because you like/own guns?
Nope, not to my face anyway.
Those who know me like friends and co-workers who respect me know I happen to enjoy the shooting sports. Many of my friends and co-workers enjoy golf. I never took an interest in the game but I can respect their love of the game. They get up at 5:00 AM on a beautiful Saturday morning and head to the golf course. Hell, they even take one week trips down south to play golf for a week. Golf can be a challenging game requiring patience, self discipline and skills that are developed with practice. While I do not play the game, I know to become good at it requires work and effort.
My friends, family and co-workers know that during the summers I live to get up at 5:00 AM and head to the range for a day of shooting. They drag all their golf gear and I drag all my shooting gear. Golfers focus on hitting a cup and for me it's a target. My shooting is a sport! My love affair with the gun began in 1958 when I was 8 years old and got my first rifle. Some people take to the gun and some don't, many of those who don't end up on a golf course rather than a rifle range.
Paranoid? I know several people with guns who actually are paranoid and they scare me more than many of the anti-gun types I have come across in life. I have guns simply because I enjoy them, I enjoy my shooting as much as many enjoy playing golf. I sure as hell do not have guns as a result of paranoia and believe me when I was 8 years old I had nothing to be paranoid about. I would think any normal intelligent person could understand that and for those who don't quite get it? Matters not to me as I am not about to spend my time justifying my interest to them. My pursuit of happiness is a day at the range.
Just My Take
Ron