How Did You Get Introduced to Firearms?

[CWL]

Y'all,
Who introduced you to firearms, firearms-ownership?

I would like to understand where the Modern Firearms Owner/Shooter got their introduction and whether this was thru father, friend, military/occupation or whatever. I particularly am interested in whether we still have 'traditional' father-to-son types of firearms legacies, or if this has been replaced by individuals taking-up firearms ownership.

edit: Of course this includes women! I have only used male gender in the poll because I am too lazy to type extra words!

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

My dad has hunted before I was born, so I was introduced by him. But I have pursued ebr's and handguns more for myself...Now I'm kind of introducing them back to my dad.

 

[pax]

CWL ~

Complex question in my case!

Grew up deer hunting with dad. Well, occasionally anyway -- when I could convince him to bring the girl along and not just take my brother. Dad never owned handguns that I knew of, disapproved of them in general, and wasn't interested in self-defense.

When I hit adulthood, I married a non-shooter. Remained friendly to gun ownership as a human right, defended it on a political level, but apart from the battered old deerslayer hidden under the bed (unloaded, no ammo in the house) didn't own any and had no particular interest in guns.

Moved to the country. Wanted to get a gun for home defense, held off because I wasn't sure how to safely store it so the kids couldn't get it but I could use it in a hurry.

Very, very likely I would have talked myself into a handgun anyway because I was definitely headed that direction, and had done a little window shopping and tire-kicking on my own.

Instead, right around that same time frame, an old family friend rekindled his own long term interest in handguns and invited us to go shooting with him. My husband declined, but I accepted, and the rest is history. The friend urged me to go take a professional class about learning how to shoot handguns, and I did -- and then badgered him into doing the same thing even though he still shot better than I did. Too much of value in such classes to miss out on, I said.

Oh, it's possible that my own out-loud ruminations about defense guns actually triggered our friend's rekindled interest, too. Round and round we go ...

So how should I vote on your poll?

pax

 

[Aaryq]

When I was old enough to treat never keep keep, he gave me a BB gun and took me deer and phesant hunting. When I turned 10 he gave me 2 of his old 22s. When I turned 14 he'd let me and my friends go out into the country with our 22s. At 16 he taught me how to shoot a pistol. At 18, I joined the Marines and the rest is history.

 

[panther22]

I grew up in N.J. I had no exposure to guns except on t.v. I did love history though, and when I got out into a free state(Missouri) I met a guy who ran a gun shop and was facinated to find I could own Mausers and Enfields and 1911's like the ones I had seen and read about.
I've been hooked ever since.

 

[wolfman01]

My father owns several firearms. However, we never went shooting untill well after I bought my own. I pretty much got into shooting out of personal interest.

 

[Wesson Smith]

Having been raised in the city, I had no exposure to firearms through the hunting experience. My Dad, who was a decorated WWII vet, had absolutely no interest in guns. Never asked him why. As I grew older, I sort of figured out that he endured some pretty horrific times in the Ardennes, and probably spent a good part of post-war life trying to let go of those demons. Anyway, I bought my first firearm (Glock 17) in the '80s when I got married. Sole intent was protecting the family. I learned to shoot through the instruction of a friend, on a farm in S. Ohio. For years after that, the Glock sat loaded in a nightstand drawer at night, and that was about it. On a whim, quite a few years later, I decided to go for my CCW. I had the great fortune to have had an unbelievably wonderful instructor. I was hooked! I understood the need for practice, practice, practice after obtaining my permit. And the more I practiced at the range, the more I discovered my new-found passion. I continued to take additional professional instruction, and after having become a proficient handgun shooter, went on to the big boys - long rifles. To shorten a long story, I now own many various and sundry weapons. I've been passionate and diligent in learning to handle them all with respect for safety, as well as proficiency. What a fantastic pastime/hobby/lifestyle! I truly envy those of you who grew up hunting with Dad (or Mom) and learned to love the sport at such a formative age. Oh well...better late than never?

 

[dzimmerm]

Home protection

Someone tried to kick in our door while I was gone and my Wife was at home. The Wife was agreeable to having a handgun for home protection.

I am an engineer and guns appealed to me as an interesting and efficient machine.

Since then I have aquired a few more guns. My wife preferrs her shotgun.

I have learned a lot about the fight for 2nd ammendment rights that has been going on. I try to do my part without being too over the top.

For some reason at work I have become the "local expert" on getting a CCW.

Worse things can happen, .

dzimmerm

 

[jlbraun]

Parents don't own guns.

Sister was pistolwhipped after the robbers already took her purse. I developed an interest in guns three months later.

Decided to get one and my CCW, then found out that my girlfriend at the time was very anti-gun. We disagreed on keeping a gun in our future house and over my CCW, she left. I'm the better for it.

 

[kungfuhippie]

I grew up in the Democratic People's Republic of California. Mom and Dad, though conservative, didn't own guns. Mom doesn't like guns based on her emotional thought processes. Dad has shown interest but would rather "be happy than right" and so doesn't "approve" of me having guns. They are both pro RKBA, just not personally.
In scouts I was introduced to firearms, first blackpowder at the "mountain man rendevou(sp)" and then later at camp pendelton when the scouts got to camp over and spend a morning on the range with some m16s (semiauto only). The RO let those that actually showed competence and some ability (decent target at 200 yards) got to shoot 3rd burst 1st time I went. I loved it. Didn't think about it, at 14 and 16 I was still being indoctrinated by public schools and so my interest in guns was very limited.
I was invited to go shooting with a group from church. At first I wasn't sure I wanted to shoot around a bunch of people I hardly knew but went because it ticked off my mom and sister
My best friend said something about bring some guns, I knew his dad had some guns, but wasn't sure what because in over a decade of knowing that family I had no idea where the guns were locked or how many or anything, just that his dad took his revolver with him anytime we went camping in the desert.
I got to the shoot before my friend and all that was there were a bunch of .22 rifles and a few 12ga (never have had any interest in shotguns) The .22 rifles were boring to me, they just went pop, seemed like a bb gun. My friend showed up with his rifles; an enfield, an sks, a .22 marlin bolt and a mini 14. I shot those and was hooked. About a month later after researching what I wanted I got my mauser 24/47 from big 5 and about 1200 rounds of romanian surplus in the mail.

So the scouts helped me feel comfortable around guns and Jesus (well a church activity) helped me start getting my own guns.

It's been all downhill from there

 

[Dark_Harvest]

dad and graddad were military, and expert marksmen.

and hunters.

so i can't even remember the "first time" i was introduced to firearms. they've just always been there. and i was taught to not only use them, but to RESPECT them. great way to raise a kid, i couldn't have been more lucky.

 

[sctigerjeep]

my friend invited me to the range one day... after my first 15 rounds, i was hooked.

 

[Huddog]

I was a late born child often known as a surprize or mistake, etc. My Dad, who had been a hunter for years, had severe arthritus and no longer hunted. He died when I was 12 and my Mother was adament that her "baby" not get hurt. So even though we lived on a small farm I never got to shoot although my older/married brother would sometimes get the .22 out for rats and such. I only got to watch. At 16 I snuck off with a friend and went rabbit hunting. Loved the feel of the shotgun and the joy of the hunt. I was hooked. Later on I joined the local Sheriff's department as a dispatcher, one of the Deputies owned a gun store so I would go by on my off time and talk guns. Evenutally went to Basic Training and at that time the Department had personally owned weapons. The gun store guy found me a trade-in Model 10 S&W (didn't make much money) and a used web belt and holster. Been involved since then love em all. Just got into Mil Surp.

 

[meef]

It went sorta like this......

"Meef, this is Colt Government Model 1911."

"Colt Government Model 1911, this is Meef."

Me: "Well hey there good-lookin', damn am I ever pleased to meet you!"

Colt Government Model 1911 just sat there all coy and sexy with this "Why don't we go somewhere and get better aquainted look". You know what I mean?

Whoa! It was love at first sight!

Nothing was ever quite the same again.

 

[Hokkmike]

I got my "first" gun because of a desire to go deer hunting. It was a Winchester Model 94 in 32 special. Kept it in my dorm room at school. I couldn't do that now without a LOT of attention.

 

[10-Ring]

Growing up I had a friend whose dad had an FFL & sold & collected firearms...he was the coolest dad I knew (after mine!). My parents weren't gun people so we never had one in the house. When I finally moved out, got a job & could afford my own, I started my collection & path down the crooked road

 

[tmccray45]

Johnny Yuma (He was a Rebel, ya know) and his double-barreled sawed off shotgun.

 

[SolaScriptura139]

I kinda came by self-interest because of hunting. However, I did not get serious about firearm ownership and regular usage until I started working with Dave (Only1Asterisk). He got me extremely interested, and took me to the range a few times. Been hooked ever since.

 

[BigBlock]

My 4 legged body guard, and best friend died. I promised him I would find another way to protect myself.

 

[Cesiumsponge]

Was introduced by my father and we went to the range several times but we never had firearms as I was growing up as a kid.

I eventually pursued it myself at the age of 18 and I haven't looked back since.

 

[.cheese.]

I was not brought up around firearms really. My father owns a revolver but has not shot it so long as I have been alive. I'm curious to know if the cylinder full of ammo that has been the same for the last 24 years actually works after sitting that long.

The whole firearms thing was relayed to me growing up as evil and when I found his revolver one day as a kid, I was so afraid that it would kill me if I touched it, that I just left it alone. That's basically what I was brought up to believe, that guns could just go off if you touched them at all.

After I got out on my own and was able to start learning that the world as it exists in the minds of my parents is not necessarily the same world that I seem to live in - I one day realized that the safe world my parents are used to: with their high-tech security system, suburban home surrounded by a large fence, suburban quick responding police, cushy jobs in security enforced workplaces (one works in a hospital and the other a highly-secure tall office-building), etc etc...... is not the same as my fairly unsafe world, living in an old apartment building in a not-great-area that borders on a blatantly bad-area, with no security system, that 50% of the time doesn't have power because the main line is finnicky, in an urban major city, with high-crime, police officers who don't seem to care (or who may or may not respond to dispatch a day and a half after somebody finds your dead body from a mugging turned murder), dealing daily in non-security enforced places (or places with jokes for security guards), etc etc.

So, the day I realized that, I said, hmmmmmm. Maybe I should get a stun-gun?

Went to a gun store.... walked out alive.... was intrigued by the fact that no guns spontaneously combusted as expected.

I decided against the stun gun and few weeks later I scrapped together enough cash to buy my first gun, a Smith 340PD (which I have since sold).

Taught myself how to shoot at first (couldn't afford training) - yes on a 340PD, even using .357 mag loads. Eventually got a CCW.... and, have since bought/sold/owned 8 guns, soon to be 9.

Now, I need to stop buying guns, and save up enough cash to get myself out of this butthole of an apartment and into someplace a little safe where perhaps my guns' services are less required.

 

[sm]

How Did You Get Introduced to Firearms?

Well you see it was like this...

I was just brought home from being born a bit sooner than I was supposed to be, little, looked like a skint squirrel in that dresser drawer serving as my crib...
When Maternal Grandma stuck MY revolver with leather holster in the "crib" with me.

Word is I seemed to like My gun; I had a "Handsome Southern Boy Grin" , and seemed to know, sense or "something or another" about this deal.

Yeah that Maternal Grandma...she had been stepping, and fetching and carrying on when I was gonna show up, "Got something for the boy - if he ever gets here!"
'Tis said that is why I showed up early. Grandma was wearing out the hardwood floor pacing and carry-on and ...

For a bit there, I was darn attached to the holster. I mean I had a grip and nobody was gonna take that holster away from me. Get all nice and gooey chewing on it, and whack you with it when you changed my diaper...except Maternal Grandma, and another Mentor, for some reason did do that with them.

Around 3-ish, Grandma was pitching a fit for some shooting lessons with MY .22 nine shot revolver, being a Southern Gentleman and all - I obliged.

Grandma caught on right quick, and grandma was a crack shot with a Pistol.
Grandma was dang good with any firearm, be it a handgun, rifle or shotgun.
She passed away when I was about 5 or so, but she was my first Mentor & Elder.


Grandma, This Grandson turned out all right - no matter what some say...

Thanks,

Young'un

 

[rayman]

boot camp , "This is my rifle, there are many like it, but this one is mine"...

 

[Libertyteeth]

My Dad hunted since he was a child, and passed it onto me. I mostly hunted with him, and my brother hunted with my grandfather (all part of the same party).

I was given BB and pellet guns, then at age 10 or 11, a .22/.410 over under Stevens, and at 12, a .257 Roberts. At 13, I killed my first two deer. We hunted big game, upland game birds, and waterfowl.

I walked into the local sporting goods store alone at age 15 and traded the Stevens for a High Standard .22 pistol.

In the last 15-20 years I have increased my knowledge of firearms, and increased the stash, and increased the practice time. The Internet has sure helped.

 

[gbran]

Hunted with my dad since a child. Had guns my whole life. Did same for my kids and grandkids.