To the young men and women of The High Road

[Waitone]

Your parents are stupid but they will improve with time. Don't give up on them.

I can remember how profoundly stupid my father was. He stayed that way right up until my second semester in college. The guy turned out to be a flaming genius.

Stay with them. Honor them what who they are.

 

[azthistletoe]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I still chuckle that I'm considered an "adult" now - it's the last thing I feel like.

 

[HankL]

This being my 54th birthday, I feel like I'm in the middle here, yall know how old some of those old guys from Texas are I'm a kid at heart. I am a strong believer of TRTKABA but firearms are also a near lifelong hobby. If you bear arms or fiddle with them your knowledge of the proper and safe handling of each one you pick up is paramount.

Blues started a good thread here! Be safe, study the subject seriously and carry on! Never be afraid to listen but keep your BS meter tuned up as well.

 

[Stickjockey]

Read voraciously on a wide variety of topics. Fiction, nonfiction, history, politics, everything. You'll find yourself learning more than you ever imagined about things you didn't even know interested you.

 

[Madmardig0n]

I'm a younger member(17)
It's great that this board exists to spread accurate information about RKBA. While I have had the privledge and oppurtunity to be a shooter for as long as I can remember, some people I know haven't....It's nice to be able to take them shooting, and then point them in this direction so they can get more info, etc.

Good thread, BTW, and a lot of good advice that both young and old can take to heart.

 

[AZLibertarian]

Lemme throw a couple of nuggets out here, in no particular order.....

Vote. It doesn't matter what the election, get yourself to the polling place and vote. If you don't know what party best fits your thoughts, then sit down and think about what you believe in. Then listen to each party's political platform. Then take a step back and look at if that party is actually doing what they say they believe. Youngsters often believe that no one will listen to their opinions, but politics does matter, and the key is involvement.

After you develop an understanding of who you are politically, regularly write your representatives, and go to city council and school board meetings. Express yourself. Its your congress-critter's job to listen to his constituents. Don't be part of the silent majority.

I'll second the recommendation to read. TV, movies, and yes, this internet thingi are all great, but rarely compare to a good book.

For some, its real easy to do a lot of talking about things they may or may not know something about. The very wise person does more listening than talking.

Understand that you're not bulletproof. Of course, on THR this means that you need to know and obey the "4 Rules". But it also means that you need to take care of yourself. Eat right, get some exercise beyond 12 oz curls, develop a regular sleep pattern. Find your spirituality.

As profound as the problems are that I see facing today's teenagers, I envy them. Your generation is facing problems that dwarf the ones mine faced. It is evident (to me, at least) that there is a formidable group of evil people out there who are hell bent to do away with Americans (and the West) and what we believe in. It will take every bit of your creativity, bravery, and sacrifice to defeat them. Yet winning this War (as I know you will) will make you our newest "Greatest Generation". The rewards of our freedom will be worth the sacrifice you make. I wish I was young enough to be there with you today.

 

[zahc]

I am doing what i can. Being 20 i am in college...

Get lost, you're already ancient..

Ahem. It sucks not being able to buy 25 acp.

 

[TheBluesMan]

Many thanks to all who replied and added their words of wisdom. You have made this thread more than I expected it could be. Keep up the good work!

 

[CZ-100]

Read voraciously on a wide variety of topics. Fiction, nonfiction, history, politics, everything. You'll find yourself learning more than you ever imagined about things you didn't even know interested you.

This is excellent advice!

If you are young learn it NOW, the earlier you start the smarter you will be.

Also master the art of conveying your thoughts in writing. Which by the way I have not. but I stress this to my kids every day. (11 and 8)

 

[striker3]

There should actually be 5 Firearm Safety Rules:

5. Know what is behind your target.

The Three Rules of a Gun Fight:

1.Bring a gun.
2.Bring ammo.
3.Always prepare for the next engagement.

 

[TheBluesMan]

Striker - If you had read the link to the firearm safety rules at TFL, you would have known that knowing what is behind and around your target is a part of Rule #4.

RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

Know what it is, what is in line with it, and what is behind it. Never shoot at anything you have not positively identified. Be aware of your surroundings, whether on the range or in a fight. Do not assume anything. Know what you are doing.

 

[Kim]

As a woman of 45. Did I really say that! Then I must be honest. My father gave me my first firearm at age 18 a 38 caliber snub nose Smith and Wesson. Right there I think someone needs to file a law suit. Any lawyers out there that can tell me why someone at the age of 18 can't own a handgun. I'v e got a 19 year old niece that is pissed that she can't. Any way to get back to the wisdom thing. When my Dad gave me my handgun and showed me how to use it he said-----never pull it on another human being unless you have already made the decision that you need to shoot to kill. Was he woried about the legality of it ---no. He said when you pull it you better shoot or someone may pull it out of your hand and use it aganist you. Was that all hype ---maybe but it does make a good point. Ane I agree with the above writer---honor your father and mother once they are gone it is too late to tell them all the good things they taught you and how much you loved them. I was there when my father died as a statement of fact I was his Physician and the whole family was there and we got to say good-bye and kiss him for the last time. Precious. And the greatest thing is we know we will see him again in the by and by.

 

[HankL]

Kim, All I can say right now is bless your parents. Education comes in many ways, first and foremost from your parents and older siblings then the process grows.

 

[Kim]

Hank--- Thanks. I'm blessed that I had such a good father and am still blessed with a wonderful mother. The neat thing is she is 70 years old and we got our concealed weapons permit together. I bought her a semi-automatic hand gun for Christmas last year. I told her the old 22 revolver was fine but the 9mm was better. I was afraid the 45 that I carry would be too much for her. I'm not going to mention the other firearms she has at her disposal if needed in the home.

 

[P95Carry]

Kim ..... big welcome to THR ...... oh you are so right re honoring and enjoying your folks when they are alive ... my dad died 1997 ... and my Mom, I lost this year in March ..... GONE is a nasty word .. all the things you might still want to say .... not the same eh! Damn, I miss em.

Good to see you here.

 

[Blackhawk]

75% of the people you encounter will be jerks at any given time, and so will you be. Work on not being a jerk to inspire them likewise.

 

[powderific]

As an 18 year old who has been following this community for a while, (I was more involved at TFL), I would like to thank you all for your advice. Many times younger people are ignored by people in the firearm community, so myself and other young people I know always appreciate it when we are taken into account.


Regards

 

[BerettaNut92]

Hi Kim! Welcome....have you met Gus Dddysgrl? You sound kinda like her

 

[Dionysusigma]

Good advice, but...

It has a tone resembling a hero's dying speech in a good movie.

I've found that 19 is an odd age... just when you think you've got everything settled out straight, something comes along or you learn something new and you realize that you actually know nothing. Not being able to buy a Beretta 92FS sucks as well. However, knowing that one is not alone in their struggle is a comforting thought indeed. Thanks

 

[Brian Williams]

My advice AKA "Papatudes"

If you are going to do something DIRTFT Do It Right The First Time

find a Job doing something that you love to do and you will never work a day in your life.

If you carry concealed it means: CONCEALED

If you are "into" something and you love it do not let it die.

Get good quality, it lasts.

Don't trust a "quality" name, check it out any way.

BE KIND

Leave it alone! (it seems like I say this alot around my house)

Most of all protect your rights.

 

[Glacius_the_Invincible]

Two things:

"Your true character is revealed by the clarity of your convictions, the choices you make, and the promises you keep...What you say and do defines who you are, and who you are...you are forever."


And something that someone said earlier about how young people should listen to older more experienced people got me thinking about this...

Everyone knows something that you don't. You can learn new things from anyone, regardless of age or experience.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

Start a new major hobby every year while maintaining your old hobbies. It will keep you busy and by keeping you busy it will keep you out of trouble and teach you discipline.

Holy cow. Spoken like a single, childless man!

I have a wife and young children, a house and a job. I wish I had time for my old hobbies, let alone new ones!!

On the other had, this couldn't be more true:

Buy as many as you can before you get married and have kids!

 

[chaim]

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Start a new major hobby every year while maintaining your old hobbies. It will keep you busy and by keeping you busy it will keep you out of trouble and teach you discipline.
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Holy cow. Spoken like a single, childless man!

I have a wife and young children, a house and a job. I wish I had time for my old hobbies, let alone new ones!!

Ahh, you are making the mistake of assuming that all hobbies must be expensive, or work, or that time consuming. You are also making the age old middle class assumption that you have less time than you really do.

-Not all hobbies are work. Just one possible example, collecting baseball cards and doing the background research on the players is no work at all if you love baseball.

-Not all take money you might need for other things. Excercise can be free, or at least cheap. Some types of collections aren't that expensive. Learning to be a good cook, well you have to eat and prepare your food anyway.

-Time. Cooking, you have to prep your food anyway, and who says you must make a gourmet meal every meal. Some hobbies only need an hour a week, or month, or sometimes less to maintain. Camping, just camp when you go on vacation. Golf, take an hour every couple weeks to go golfing or to the driving range. Collections (any), take an hour or two at a set time to look at, plan, research your collection.

-You probably have more time than you think. Most Americans are very inefficient with their use of time. How much time do you spend on the computer or watching TV? Most Americans could open up an hour, two, or even more by simply limiting themselves to an hour of TV a day. Keep a calender, plan your day better, limit TV, put a time limit on the internet. Any one or two of those and you might find an hour, two, or more per week, or even per day that you didn't know you had.