ny32182
Member
Ever done something that just kinda imprints itself on your consciousness? I mean, something that, as soon as you do it for the first time, you know you were born to do?
That's me, with firearms.
By all rights, I should almost NEVER have come into contact with guns. My mother was a staunch Democrat, and my father didn't mention much. I grew up in the geographical center of the City of Chicago. As a teenager, my mother arranged for me to join the Operation PUSH choir
Yes, it was THAT far to the left.
But, I got ahead of myself. One night, off the porch of our old apartment building, my father let me wrap my hands around the stocks of a .32 Hand Ejector, and then let me pull the trigger. At the flash, and the crack of the revolver, I was hooked. For life.
Next, I procured from somewhere (don't quite remember how) an old Manual of Arms. This manual had the inner workings of the Garand, M1 Carbine, the BAR, cal. 30 machinegun, and the 1911A1. I found another manual too, with the M79 and some experimental rifle called the XM177E1.
Little did I know how that manual was going to shape my life. I excelled in ROTC because I studied D & C from that manual. I yearned, I hoped, and the pictures in that manual--and the love for firearms that I developed--led me to join the Army in 1977.
Why do I shoot? Because I like to. Because it is my right. Because I can!
This is basically my story as well, except for the joining the military and growing up right in the middle of a city parts, lol...
My mother is a 98% anti-gun liberal Democrat, and has always been over protective of myself and my brother... even today, now that I haven't lived with my parents since turning 18 years old, and back before that it was pretty bad. My brother is turning 18 in December, and I feel his pain, ha.. Anyhow, my father isn't like that, and comes from a much more conservative family than my mother, but he doesn't see a neccessity to voice his opinion, and pretty much just goes with the flow. He owns two rifles, a .22LR and a 30/30 lever action, but hasn't fired them in years. I wish I could say I was taught by long family tradition like most of you, but such is just not the case; I think I've probably only been shooting with my father a couple times in my life.
As to how my interest in guns developed, I have no idea. I can remember wanting (back then, very real looking) toy guns more than anything else from the time I was old enough to retain memories, so I guess it was just always there. Of course, my mother never allowed my desires for toy guns to be satisfied. Later, I acquired pellet guns and played tournament paintball in secret as a teenager. The only formal firearms class I've ever had was my CCW class. Everything I know was either completely self taught or learned from computerized resources such as this place, and I have to say that I think I'm doing pretty good considering I mentored myself.
For a while after moving out, I had the freedom but not the means to get into firearms. Now that I have both, my collection of gear has grown at an acceptable rate but is still sorely lacking compared to most of you, judging from the "how many calibers do you own" thread. But don't worry, my 4th caliber is on order as we speak.
I'm going home to visit my parents for Thanksgiving later on today, and I'm gonna take a couple AR-15's with me for my brother to look at.. might even take him shooting. I'll probably be just as excited about it as him, since .22LR is the only gun he's ever fired. Should be fun.