556A2
Member
I grew up with them throughout my childhood. Had a Red Ryder and a Crossman 1911 BB gun throughout childhood also. It just kinda progressed since then into an "obsession" as some friends say. Oh, and I have a right to own them.
Why did you decide to own a gun?
- Thread starter MicroBalrog
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Grew up hunting with my dad. I enjoyed being out in the woods, but wasn't much into the shooting. And killing things didn't make me happy at all.
I was always pro-2nd Amendment, but for various reasons, didn't own a gun after I got married.
When my husband and I had kids, I got a lot more safety conscious than I'd ever been before (fire extinguishers and smoke alarms, locking the back door, that kind of thing).
When we moved out of the city into an area where a fast police response would be 30 minutes or more, we discussed getting a shotgun for the house. My husband was working late nights, and it seemed like a good idea for me to be able to protect our home and family, but I wasn't sure I could live with killing someone. I was sure I could kill someone, if need be, but I wasn't sure I could live with it afterward (an important distinction).
So even though I really thought I ought to have a gun, I kept putting it off and putting it off. Besides, a shotgun seemed too dangerous and too slow. If it were kept loaded and accessible, who's to say the kids wouldn't get it? My kids got into everything. And if it weren't loaded or accessible, what would be the point?
One afternoon I was pulling into our driveway after picking up our teenage babysitter when I got rear ended. When I got out of the van to check on the driver who rear ended me, he came at me shouting obscenities with his fists swinging. The babysitter got the kids into the house, locked the front door, and called 911. My husband's buddy heard the ruckus out front, and came barrelling out of our garage to settle the guy down. And what did I do? I stood there, dumbfounded. I didn't run away. I didn't get back in the van and lock the door. I didn't say anything, do anything, think anything. I just stood there, with my mouth open, while the folks around me took care of me.
I never want to do that again.
Shortly after that, my husband's buddy offered to take me down and help me buy a handgun, and then teach me to shoot. I took him up on it.
That was three years ago. Since then, I've bought a few more guns and taken a half-dozen shooting classes. It's a lot of fun, I've met some really great people, and I'm determined to learn how to shoot well even if I have to spend the rest of my life learning it.
pax
If I won't protect myself, what right do I have to expect another person to risk his or her life for mine? -- Sunni Maravillosa
I was always pro-2nd Amendment, but for various reasons, didn't own a gun after I got married.
When my husband and I had kids, I got a lot more safety conscious than I'd ever been before (fire extinguishers and smoke alarms, locking the back door, that kind of thing).
When we moved out of the city into an area where a fast police response would be 30 minutes or more, we discussed getting a shotgun for the house. My husband was working late nights, and it seemed like a good idea for me to be able to protect our home and family, but I wasn't sure I could live with killing someone. I was sure I could kill someone, if need be, but I wasn't sure I could live with it afterward (an important distinction).
So even though I really thought I ought to have a gun, I kept putting it off and putting it off. Besides, a shotgun seemed too dangerous and too slow. If it were kept loaded and accessible, who's to say the kids wouldn't get it? My kids got into everything. And if it weren't loaded or accessible, what would be the point?
One afternoon I was pulling into our driveway after picking up our teenage babysitter when I got rear ended. When I got out of the van to check on the driver who rear ended me, he came at me shouting obscenities with his fists swinging. The babysitter got the kids into the house, locked the front door, and called 911. My husband's buddy heard the ruckus out front, and came barrelling out of our garage to settle the guy down. And what did I do? I stood there, dumbfounded. I didn't run away. I didn't get back in the van and lock the door. I didn't say anything, do anything, think anything. I just stood there, with my mouth open, while the folks around me took care of me.
I never want to do that again.
Shortly after that, my husband's buddy offered to take me down and help me buy a handgun, and then teach me to shoot. I took him up on it.
That was three years ago. Since then, I've bought a few more guns and taken a half-dozen shooting classes. It's a lot of fun, I've met some really great people, and I'm determined to learn how to shoot well even if I have to spend the rest of my life learning it.
pax
If I won't protect myself, what right do I have to expect another person to risk his or her life for mine? -- Sunni Maravillosa
After living in Cali for a while and getting upset at some of the bond packages they passed, I finally got around to reading PC 12020. TPTB decreed that I couldn't have -- among other things -- cane swords, pen knives, or shruiken. But they would let me have a variety of firearms, and I felt compelled to take advantage of what was clearly an oversight on their part.
Ringer
Member
Strictly for home defense/protection.
Didn't grow up around guns, just made a conscious decision at about age 25 that I needed to own and know how to handle them safely.
Gordy Wesen
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pax is a girl!
but your experience is like everyone else. the old saying that a conservative is a liberal who's been mugged is true. everybody has been caught flatfooted but we refuse the darwin award by doing something about it. cool.
i did have a recovered memory while reading this thread from about 10 years old when i had a beautiful 1911 replica. i'd play with it and cherish it. one day it disappeared and i spent many hours looking, moving, digging and asking if it had been seen. all to no avail. as time went on i realized my Mother had taken it for she was anti gun.
i think the trauma of the search had life long ramifications with resultant tendancy to gun ownership...particularly 1911's.
but your experience is like everyone else. the old saying that a conservative is a liberal who's been mugged is true. everybody has been caught flatfooted but we refuse the darwin award by doing something about it. cool.
i did have a recovered memory while reading this thread from about 10 years old when i had a beautiful 1911 replica. i'd play with it and cherish it. one day it disappeared and i spent many hours looking, moving, digging and asking if it had been seen. all to no avail. as time went on i realized my Mother had taken it for she was anti gun.
i think the trauma of the search had life long ramifications with resultant tendancy to gun ownership...particularly 1911's.
rperry03
Member
My dad owned them so I grew up around them.
I also lived in NJ and could not wait till I was 21 to get a Firearms ID card just so I can be a statistic of gun owners in NJ.
I also lived in NJ and could not wait till I was 21 to get a Firearms ID card just so I can be a statistic of gun owners in NJ.
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