Who are you?

[Invisible Swordsman]

Age 54, police chief (retiring in 4 days). Firearms instructor for local police academy and will be working part time security at a local technical college.

Married 28 years, with two grown daughters (25 & 26) and 6 cats (which is about 4 too many). It's amazing how many guns I could purchase once college tuition was no longer an issue. Probably have to slow down since retirement will mean an income reduction.

 

[Nando Aqui]

(I could have sworn I had done this before – maybe at The Firing Line?)

• I’m 59 years young
• Married 40 years – yes, to the same Indiana farm girl!
• We have made a point of going out on a date once a week – yes, with each other! – to dinner and a show for the past 30 years, and everyday we either workout with weights or walk (used to run and play tennis competitively, but my knees gave out)
• Purdue alumnus
• Two sons – each was in the Marine Corps for 8 years – now officers in the Air Force (intelligence) and the Army (UH60 pilot) – both close to retirement, but will likely stay in
• Four grandchildren
• Have worked for 10 companies, 16 divisions in 8 cities and 5 states – up to corporate VP
• Presently Independent Contractor, electromechanical engineering design and ISO Management Representative
• Started gun collection shortly after getting married
• Used to shoot NRA pistol course, skeet, HP rifle, and reloaded everything
• Now shoot HP rifle, just started in IDPA, and reload for both rifle and pistol
• Other hobbies include giant-scale radio control airplanes, model railroading, computers, carpentry, home machine shop

Oh, when I was 15 years old, I was a political prisoner in Havana, Cuba for working with the underground against Castro. This was during the Bay of Pigs. A few months later, I was in an orphanage in the U.S. I became a U.S. citizen after I got married.

Alex

 

[CAS700850]

Missed this previously, but glad I caught it this time. the longer I'm here, the more I see that my initial assumptions were way off. When I was "referred", I assumed it would be a lot of conservative, middle class, males talking guns. Wrong, huh?

As for me, I'm 36, married for 7 years, two great sons (4 1/2 and 2 1/2), and no pets (the fish all died). Episcopal christian, married to a liberal Irish Catholic (meaning she's pro-choice, pro-gay rights, etc.)

My day job is as an assistant prosecuting attorney (a DA). (Only the Boss is a full prosecuting attorney, and he got elected to that title.) Which means I'm an overworked, underpaid government lawyer, trying my best to live up to the image Law and Order gives jurors as to what a DA is supposed to be. Wife's a lawyer working for an insurance company.

Unfortunately, that means double the law school debt, so we are essentially paying the equivilent of three mortgages. Between that and day care, we eat a lot of mac and cheese. Shooting suffers as a result. I need to get my .22 repaired, so I can shoot more. Until I do, I soot a lot of 9mm and .38, because it's cheaper, and I can often scam ammo from local LEO's in trade for free training sessions. I often buy used guns, if the price is right and the condition is excellent, to save money.

I dream of the day when I can actually finish my novels, become a rich novelist like Tom Clancy, and buy what I want. Guns, that is, not a baseball team.

 

[Marko Kloos]

I'm 33, married for two years to my best friend, currently seven weeks away from our first child, a boy. Second marriage for me, first for her. Had a diastrous and thankfully childless first marriage to a rabid Massachusetts liberal anti. (Don't ask.)

Religion: none. I prefer the term "atheist", since "agnostic" merely means the same thing and has become the "socially acceptable" euphemism for non-belief.

Political leanings: hard-line Libertarian who thinks that all the articles of the Bill of Rights are sacrosanct, not just the ones you like.

I used to be a help desk jockey and messaging admin, but the dot-com bubble popping put an end to that. Now I'm going to school full-time, aiming for a B.A. in Education (K-6). I'll be wrapping that one up in a part-time evening program, because I'll be a full-time stay-at-home dad starting in February.

Born and raised in Germany, naturalized U.S. citizen since March 2004.

Used to have a whole lot of guns when I was single/divorced with a sizeable paycheck, but now the collection has shrunk down to manageable size. It's still my declared goal to have enough guns to fill a sizeable room in our new house, once we build it.

 

[MikeJ]

I'm 55
college graduate (U of A)
married for 13 years (first marriage)
employee trainer for past 15 years - short stint (2yrs.) as high school teacher - 15 years as mfg. rep. in the electronics/aerospace industries.
grew up in Phoenix, born in York, Pa.
got interested in guns at age 34
other interests - travel when we have the time and money and wannabee blues guitarist.

Original gun quests were to have a fine handgun example of major calibers and action styles. I pretty much accomplished this and have a very modest collection but as of late I have realized that all of my handgunning needs can be met with either the 9mm in semi autos and the .357/.38 in revolvers. I still like my .380's, .40's, .45's and .44 mag but don't see the need for any more in those calibers. Just thought I'd throw that in but maybe it's more information than you need.

 

[Moondoggie]

I'm 52, but the heart of a 16 year old still beats in there somewhere...Thanks, ZOCOR!

Retried Marine E-9. Now an independent owner/operator of an 18 wheeler, but semi-retired in that I only run a regular trip 2 days per week. Truck & refer trailer are paid for. I've also done just about every kind of part-time/temporary job imaginable from farm/ranch work, paperboy, bouncer, fast food, pizza delivery, cab driver, nuclear power plant security; the list goes on and on...all for the greater good. Nowadays I really enjoy my time in the hot tub or on the reloading bench.

Happily married 25 years, 3 kids (2 from 1st marriage) all grown and on their own. 2 dogs & 5 cats. We live next door to my wife's 80 year old Mom, taking care of stuff that she needs help with (like shoveling snow today!). Zen existentialist conservative. Don't smoke, like a drink every once in awhile, got a nice assortment of wines down in the basement. No drugs, but don't care if anybody else does as long as they color inside the lines.

Debt free except for 2 0% car payments that we could pay-off, but why???

We own 14 long guns, 14 handguns, + 2 blackpowder. There are several more on my "must have before I die list". I reload. I shoot IPSC and plan on branching out into 3 gun and CAS this year. Also trap/skeet. My beloved also shoots...some of the firearms are HERS, dangit!

 

[41mag]

Single,recently 35,no kids.

Three dogs,a few fish,& a small python collection.

Wanted a family of my own years ago.As time goes by it seems less important.

Currently waffling between moving South & going to school or moving North & becoming a hermit.

 

[Marnoot]

Single, 24, university student. I graduate in April (If all goes well), in information systems management. I work part-time in computer support for one of the colleges on campus. So far, most of my gun/ammo money has come from selling used audio/video equipment on eBay; unfortunately my source of cheap equipment is drying up. Time to find a new fountain of money.

 

[perry1963]

I'am 41, Married for 16 years
16 year old Daugther
14 year old Son
Aside from firearms i like golf, i'am a 8 handicap, and outdoor photogrphy, i'am a wearhouse supervisor and my wife is an EDI corrdinater, she makes more than i and doesn't really care how much i spend on guns aslong as the bills are paid.

 

[RON in PA]

Sixty-three year old married grandfather that does Neuroscience for a living.

 

[np15cgg]

I am

55 and somewhat worse for the wear. I am a scientist and university professor with an Italian wife and two lovely daughters. The younger girl is a fine shot. Grew up in Texas, went to school in Dallas and Boston, and lived in Europe for a bit before settling down. I make more than I used to but still not enough to make ends meet. I have a small collection of firearms that slowly changes according to my eye sight.

THR is a remarkable community.

 

[wardog]

35, single, Casino Manager.

No wife/kids + good job = nice budget for guns.
(although I'm currently cutting down on gun purchases in anticipation of pulling the trigger on either a 2005 Mustang GT or an SRT8 in a couple of months.)

 

[Rexrider]

I am 38

I am a computer tech/analyst for a large bank (no I will not fix your computer )

I have been happily married for over 2 yrs.

This hobby started the day after I turned 18 and bought my first firearm. A Marlin .22 bolt action rifle. The start of a long slippery slope.

My wife and I were both born and raised in PA. We moved out here to AZ in July of '03. This is my second move to AZ. I first lived here from '93 to '96 (did not go so well the 1st time. Doing much better the 2nd time around).

I by no means have unlimited funds for this hobby. New house, cars, motorcycle, two greyhounds really suck up the money. I am lucky that my wife is very understanding about my hobby and she is also enjoys shooting too. But the bills have to get paid first (darn bills!!). Not too mention our play money gets spit between computer gear, motorcycle, and my wife’s various hobbies as well.

When I was in my 20's I had more money than brains. I had a pretty respectable collection back then. But that all vanished after hitting a financial brick wall during my first move to AZ.

So these days I try to focus on quality over quantity. I may not be able to buy every gun I want, but I do enjoy the ones I have. Can't really complain.

 

[Zach S]

I'm 23, work in a factory for 36k a year, and I'm single.

However, I still live at home since Mom is a ????up and cant afford for me to move out, so in a matter of speaking I still have a family of seven (myself, three siblings, Mom, a cat and a dog) to support.

My life sucks.

 

[Indy7373]

20 year old college graduate and student.
Now working at a computer tech at an insurance company while going to college part time for my 4 year degree.
Single (boy that one hurt when it happened ) so nice budget for guns. Not old enough to buy pistols yet (from a dealer anyway), but I manage somehow.
Spend my time and money on guns, paintball, computers, and school. Fun times.
Often described as a bear of a guy (6'2 250 with full beard and mustache).
A little anti social at times, as most kids my own age annoy and irritate me.
Doing my best to learn more about my hobbies and life in general.

 

[cgv69]

36yo next week
IT field (Windows Server Support Engineer)
Married (13 years). 1 son (11yo in Mar.). 1 daughter (6yo in Feb)

Trust me, my gun budget is anything but unlimited!

 

[vito]

61 retured Army officer of 24 years active service, now a health care administrator since leaving the service 14 years ago. I own five guns, and could buy more if I wanted, but not sure why I would do so. I keep looking for the perfect carry/self defense gun and have two S&W 357's and two 45 ACP semi auto's, plus a 22 for cheap target shooting. If I ever find the "perfect" gun, and my new Kimber Ultra Carry might just be that, I might get rid of least some of the others.

 

[juggler]

1 Wife, 2 dogs, 1 (soon to be 2) horses, one cat. Live in rural CT on a one-lane road..... which I mention because after this morning's storm I am VERY glad I have my own plow. They don't get around to us in much of a hurry (low priority)

46 last October. Married 15 years in February. Former Marine. Spent some time traveling on a bike, worked on oil rigs in the gulf and power plants in the north. Currently in aerospace after a stint in telecommunications.

Enough money to get what I really want, but not enough for what I'd like.... horses cost a bit. Own a good selection of pistols and revolvers, enough for pin shooting, IDPA and bullseye. A decent skeet gun, a 30-30, a Nagant, .22 rifle and a Remington HD shotgun.

I was very impressed with this thread, good idea!!

 

[Zundfolge]

(I could have sworn I had done this before – maybe at The Firing Line?)

Well this thread did start over a year ago


I'm a 35 year old Graphic Designer, Married.

 

[Gunfyter]

61 Grandfather, married almost 28 years(#2), 7 grandkids
Bean Counter for a Biotech company
Action Pistol Shooter in IDPA
Reloader - you need to be to shoot IDPA
Fly Fisherman
Hunter - mostly deer
Still ride my Polaris Magnum 325 like a kid

I DO NOT tell my wife when I buy a gun, she thinks they have babies.

Just bought my second 1911, a Kimber Pro Carry.

 

[aguyindallas]

27ish
Internet Manager @ the #3 Acura dealer in the nation..woohoo!
Divorced with one son thats almost 6
Remarried to a "agirlindallas" that has a daughter that is almost 8
We have a 5 month old baby girl
House, 2003 Ford Explorer (mine), 2004 Acura TL (hers), and my newly aquired 1993 Buick LeSabre that was traded in by a customer of mine. Bought it for almost nothing and use it as a commuter car. Affectionately called the "Super Sabre"
She works as an Estimator for a contruction company.
Money is not tight, but not in large amounts either. We picked up 2 guns in the last year and I started my AR project that will be complete this month. I hope to have 4 new guns by the end of this year.

 

[goon]

I am 24, single, no kids, and starting a new job next week. I would post a pic but I am way too goofy looking for that.
I afford guns (and most anything else I want/need) by spending less money than I make. I have been peicing the same old Jeep Pickup back together for years now. My vehicle is a beater but at least I don't have a car payment. My means aren't unlimited but I seem to manage OK.

Hopefully I'll be able to afford some more guns before too long. My next one (which is on hold for me right now) is a Kel-Tec P-32.

My real "plan" for my increase in income though is a peice of wooded land with a cabin on it. After that, I'm going to look into going back to college and probably see about being a history teacher.
I think that a pro-gun history teacher could do a little bit of good.

 

[Ginger]

46, married 22 years (to the same guy), 4 dogs, 2 cats, work in the science side of air pollution monitoring and modeling.

You'd be surprised what you can squirrel away for firearms when you don't take vacations, buy new cars, or eat out a lot!

 

[CRridermike]

looks like im the youngster here. im 16, work at columbia truck care where im a truck mechanic on the weekends and after school. not married and no chideren, thank god.

 

[GTKrockeTT]

29, married 2.5 yrs, son that will be hitting 1 yr at the end of this month, network engineer.