stdalire and Rich, I felt this was more appropriate here, and the other post was cluttered with *distractions* so I hope you do not mind.
My mother hates guns, and we were not allowed toy guns when growing up. I had to use an old vacuum tube to play "Army" with my other friends. To this day she hates them, all stemming from bad Emergency Room experiences as a nurse some 30 yrs ago. However, she does not actively seek more gun control, and has no issues with myself being a responsible gun owner. I first was introduced to shooting in High School when friends of mine that lived in more rural areas invited me out for "fun." We would grab some .22's or shotguns and go out shooting birds and other small game. Yeah, now I know that's illegal. I stopped doing that at 18, moving on to clay pigeons and other inanimate objects. I think guns being "banned" in my home had a lot to do with me buying my first gun as soon as I legally could. Partly a defiance to my mother, partly a desire to enjoy more shooting. And that is how it was until this past spring. I learned to shoot pistols in a class, and maintained the line of thought that guns were fine for defending the home and for "sporting" purposes only.
Then, about 10 months ago, in a more stable part of my life, a friend intorduced me to his browning Hi-power. That was fun, but more importantly, he introduced me to the concept of defending myself with a pistol. I started the process to get myself a CCW here in CT. I started to actively seek out sites on pistols, and home defense, and my friends would help me with learning about guns used for self defense. But I still only saw them for home defense. It was about that time I started poking around here at TFL, and bought my M1A. I was regularly meeting my friends for shooting and grew anxious for my pistol permit.
Then I came across http://dd-b.net/RKBA/ which is run by Oleg Volk, a man I would enjoy meeting and getting to know (I am unable to get to his site right now, anyone know why it's not up?-Oleg emailed me, the link is correct now) In reading his website I began to realize what the 2nd Amendment is really for. I started paying more attention to the "Legal and Political" section at TFL. I started reading about atrocities taken out on unarmed masses. And it became clear to me. Oddly enough, that is when I received my CCW permit, and that's when I began to carry. It was a weird week for me, going from happy ignorant citizen, to slightly fearful of the gov't citizen. And in the light of recent findings at Waco, I am increasingly worried about more gun control litigation. I have become an activist of sorts, and I have told all my friends of my views in the hopes they will realize the importance of the 2nd Amendment. And I carry nearly everywhere I can, now, and feel naked when I travel outside CT without my trusty Colt Defender. Horrible incidents such as Columbine has taught me that it can happen anywhere, and I best be prepared if it happens near me.
But I would also like add my personal views on gun ownership. I abhor violence. I have never even been in a fistfight in my life. I carry solely for the purpose of using violence in defense of violent attack upon myself or others. The name of my carry weapon says it best; "Defender" I also abhor the use of violence against government, such as actions taken by Timothy McVeigh. A small armed minority can not and should not use violence as a means to react to atrocities done by the government. The sad fact is that the majority of America does not feel they live in a tyranny. All acts of violence are ineffectual, as they create contempt for those attacking the government. Violence can only become effective when the majority feels it is necessary to overthrow the government. Besides, the last I checked, this is still a democracy, so the current gov't can be voted out, if the majority wishes it so. In theory, we could vote to erase all gun control laws in existence. That whole "majority" issue is the problem. The only acceptable action to me is to teach those around you. Tell them what you have found. Show them articles, guide them to the Jews For the Protection of the 2nd Amendment site. Of course, they must make up their own minds, and hopefully it will be the RKBA one. Experiences on the range as reported by orsogato and Patrick Seeber in "The Art of the Rifle" are exactly what each poster on this site should strive for. Take someone to shoot. Educate them. Fight for your right by teaching.
That's the end of my ranting today. G'Night all!
------------------
I hate laws that make me a criminal without me even knowing it.
Connecticut is the "Constitution" State
http://www.angelfire.com/ny2/beefclub
[This message has been edited by othermarc (edited September 08, 1999).]
[This message has been edited by othermarc (edited September 08, 1999).]
[This message has been edited by othermarc (edited September 08, 1999).]
My mother hates guns, and we were not allowed toy guns when growing up. I had to use an old vacuum tube to play "Army" with my other friends. To this day she hates them, all stemming from bad Emergency Room experiences as a nurse some 30 yrs ago. However, she does not actively seek more gun control, and has no issues with myself being a responsible gun owner. I first was introduced to shooting in High School when friends of mine that lived in more rural areas invited me out for "fun." We would grab some .22's or shotguns and go out shooting birds and other small game. Yeah, now I know that's illegal. I stopped doing that at 18, moving on to clay pigeons and other inanimate objects. I think guns being "banned" in my home had a lot to do with me buying my first gun as soon as I legally could. Partly a defiance to my mother, partly a desire to enjoy more shooting. And that is how it was until this past spring. I learned to shoot pistols in a class, and maintained the line of thought that guns were fine for defending the home and for "sporting" purposes only.
Then, about 10 months ago, in a more stable part of my life, a friend intorduced me to his browning Hi-power. That was fun, but more importantly, he introduced me to the concept of defending myself with a pistol. I started the process to get myself a CCW here in CT. I started to actively seek out sites on pistols, and home defense, and my friends would help me with learning about guns used for self defense. But I still only saw them for home defense. It was about that time I started poking around here at TFL, and bought my M1A. I was regularly meeting my friends for shooting and grew anxious for my pistol permit.
Then I came across http://dd-b.net/RKBA/ which is run by Oleg Volk, a man I would enjoy meeting and getting to know (I am unable to get to his site right now, anyone know why it's not up?-Oleg emailed me, the link is correct now) In reading his website I began to realize what the 2nd Amendment is really for. I started paying more attention to the "Legal and Political" section at TFL. I started reading about atrocities taken out on unarmed masses. And it became clear to me. Oddly enough, that is when I received my CCW permit, and that's when I began to carry. It was a weird week for me, going from happy ignorant citizen, to slightly fearful of the gov't citizen. And in the light of recent findings at Waco, I am increasingly worried about more gun control litigation. I have become an activist of sorts, and I have told all my friends of my views in the hopes they will realize the importance of the 2nd Amendment. And I carry nearly everywhere I can, now, and feel naked when I travel outside CT without my trusty Colt Defender. Horrible incidents such as Columbine has taught me that it can happen anywhere, and I best be prepared if it happens near me.
But I would also like add my personal views on gun ownership. I abhor violence. I have never even been in a fistfight in my life. I carry solely for the purpose of using violence in defense of violent attack upon myself or others. The name of my carry weapon says it best; "Defender" I also abhor the use of violence against government, such as actions taken by Timothy McVeigh. A small armed minority can not and should not use violence as a means to react to atrocities done by the government. The sad fact is that the majority of America does not feel they live in a tyranny. All acts of violence are ineffectual, as they create contempt for those attacking the government. Violence can only become effective when the majority feels it is necessary to overthrow the government. Besides, the last I checked, this is still a democracy, so the current gov't can be voted out, if the majority wishes it so. In theory, we could vote to erase all gun control laws in existence. That whole "majority" issue is the problem. The only acceptable action to me is to teach those around you. Tell them what you have found. Show them articles, guide them to the Jews For the Protection of the 2nd Amendment site. Of course, they must make up their own minds, and hopefully it will be the RKBA one. Experiences on the range as reported by orsogato and Patrick Seeber in "The Art of the Rifle" are exactly what each poster on this site should strive for. Take someone to shoot. Educate them. Fight for your right by teaching.
That's the end of my ranting today. G'Night all!
------------------
I hate laws that make me a criminal without me even knowing it.
Connecticut is the "Constitution" State
http://www.angelfire.com/ny2/beefclub
[This message has been edited by othermarc (edited September 08, 1999).]
[This message has been edited by othermarc (edited September 08, 1999).]
[This message has been edited by othermarc (edited September 08, 1999).]
In my study of LE I have found a whole new world of challenges. Firearms being my first "hump."
), and I took pride in it and in the trust my Dad had in me to do it unsupervised. Once, I was around 12, I had an errant shot and trashed an irrigation manifold. The repair cost was around $200 (parts only). Dad fixed it, then he mapped out a portion of crops that represented the price....then he mapped out more crops that represented the cost of an outside repair person. He didn't yell or punish me nor take it out of my allowance...but that portion of crops was mapped out all summer. Nor did he eliminate that chore duty. I've never forgotten.