Ignorance is bliss.

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Creeping enlightenment....

Arfin, what a great post!

My own enlightenment was different, but just as much a sea change as yours. I've always owned guns from childhood on, but they were never more than furniture until I (through the direction of Uncle Sam), found myself living in California some 25 years ago. There, forced to suddenly deal with a myriad of prohibitions I suddenly saw them as the essential right they are. This changed my political outlook from liberal Democrat to (small "L") libertarian, or from collectivist to individualist.
 
I wish I could say I woke up like I was struck by lightning or something, but I was slow. I'd watch the news or even just the situation out in the world every day, and I'd think to my self, "Somebody needs to do something." After several years of this type of denial, I realized that nobody will do anything these days because most people are still waiting for government to take care of them.

That's when I also realized that my safety and the safety of my family rested solely in my hands. The police would only be there in time to do the paperwork. That's not meant to say I don't think they're doing their job or anything like that. There aren't enough, they aren't paid what they deserve, and they aren't given the support they deserve and need.

Most of all, I don't think people care anymore. That's why I started looking into self defense and personal protection. One of the first things I did was to try opening my wife's eyes. I'm proud to say that now she's a better shot than I am. I still think she needs some work on her situational awareness, but it's a continuing process of learning how to be awake and aware when you thought you were safe all of your life.
 
I was never asleep. Even when I was young I would ask questions that made the adults in the room uncomfortable. If the Constitution says this, how can they do that? My questions were always answered with "that's just how things are". How did they get that way? Did we lose a war that I didn't hear about? Greatest generation my patootie.
 
Generations

Did we lose a war that I didn't hear about?
Click to expand...
It's beginning to look like we did. Don't worry, though. It's not over. We didn't surrender, and we can still win it.

Greatest generation my patootie.
Click to expand...
It's possible for the smartest and bravest of us to be fooled.


I would suggest that a closer examination might reveal that their biggest mistake was underestimating the greed, cunning, and perfidy of those who owned and financed the conflicts in which they had served, and the subtlety and treachery of those who would be kings.

The greatness was, and is, genuine. There are generations alive today who got the message and understand.

The pretenders and weasels still lie, distort, and misrepresent, but with broad access and bypass of the compliant and complicit conduits of corruption, it's harder to fool the smart and the brave.

Of course, it's also possible that I have no idea of what it is I speak.

Maybe I, too, have been fooled.

We will know in due time.

 
All my childhood gun knowledge came from videogames and movies. Every gun holds 30-200 rounds. 'Sniper' rifles always hit dead center in the crosshairs. Shotguns are worthless after about 10 feet. I believed gun control was good for America. I knew 'everything' about guns.

My grandpa was the only person I knew who had real guns, and as far as I knew the only reason he had them was to shoot turkey.

I too, knew nothing.

After a burglary while I was home, I finally woke to the fact that MY security is MY responsibility. I was in my early 20's.

I lurked around gunshops listening to the old men talking, absorbing anything I could. Later, I braved asking "stupid questions". My first purchase was an 870 shotgun. I enrolled in several classes so I would know how to safely/properly use my new weapon.

My income has always been disposed of but it changed focus. I used to buy movies, games, and electronics. I switched to firearms, ammo, and training.

What did I learn?

Grandpa used to "turkey shoot" which is shooting a competition where the winner takes home a frozen turkey. The average gun holds 5-16 rounds. 'Marksman' rifles require math and observation to hit dead center in the crosshairs. Shotguns are perfect for defending enclosed areas. Gun control laws are only for HONEST CITIZENS, the criminals don't care. I know a LOT about 10 firearms. Hollywood doesn't know what its talking about!

I joined the ranks of Concealed Carry and was surprised to find out (after 2 years of secretly carrying) 4 out of 6 of my closest friends ALSO carried.

Ignorance is dangerous! But I did enjoy movies more before I noticed 10+ rounds from revolvers, full auto firing with the selector on 'safe' and the good guy escaping a point blank shotgun blast.

I envy those of you who started shooting in your youth.

(sorry so long)
 
Thread Drift

A few posts may have faded from view as a result of wandering off into political territory.

Let us not drift too far off the original topic.

I'm aware that there is often a political factor in one's "waking up" from ignorance, but let's not make that the main theme.

 
Yep, that pretty much sounds like my story. I used to not even care about 2nd amendment or even the bill of rights... it was there but I didn't worry about it. I woke up while I was unemployed and just hung out with my dad because I had nothing better to do. Got to put some rounds down range and realized what I had been missing for all those years. As soon as I got a job again I quickly saved up and bought my first firearm and its been crazy ever since. Once I got that Glock I hit the internet forums and have accumulated a wealth of knowledge that I would have never had before. Along with that comes some of the political and ideological changes that come with being a gun nut. I much prefer knowledge over ignorance.
 
In the beginning I went with my grandfather to watch (not shoot with) him shoot skeet. This at the time was the coolest thing I'd ever seen, and tragically the first and only exposure I would have with a real firearm for over a decade. The years went by and I was asleep one night. I woke to see a light blue beam of light moving slowly across my room. It took me a long moment to realize that someone was in my hallway looking through my room at 3 am. My mom woke to use the bathroom and made noise. I heard the door slam as the attempted thieves ran from my home. The next day I put my hard earned money on the table and bought the "coolest" shotgun I could find in the store. No, much to my shame now I didn't know how to use it or even know where the cheap chinese Saiga 12 knock off came from. A few years later I developed an interest in pistols and talked with my brother who helped me do the best thing I could. Enroll in a proper pistol safety course at our local gun club taught by a former military, and former sheriff. Wish I would have gotten the training before buying my first shotgun. Would have went with the 870 I own now.
 
My earliest childhood memories are walking the Creek Bottoms with an Uncle, hunting squirrels... Waking up in the country to the smell of Coffee, fresh Bacon.. and the way old paper shotgun shells smelled.... I was raised in a shooting, hunting family... All I have known. My 1st exposure to a gun, one of my uncles teaching me to shoot his Remington single shot 22, I was probably 5. My 1st handgun experience, at about 7 or 8, a Police LT, put a K-22 in my hands and walked me through it... I later shot that very same pistol when I came through the academy years later...

My father was an avid 2600 pistol shooter, he was a heck of a shot, but not the best teacher.. But he knew some really good ones and hooked me up.... Shooting has been a part of my life since my earliest memories...

However.. If Ignorance is Bliss... I am probably one of the happiest guys you would ever meet....

There is so much to know about shooting and all that is associated. Many of the newer powders, I know little to nothing about, alot of the newer pistols and rifles, I have little experience with. And AR's, I own several, however, I just never really got into them.. Now that I see what those old Mattel Toys have turned into... I am on a quest for knowledge and experience with them...
 
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