To shoot or not to shoot, that is the question
As a life long shooter, recently returned to collecting and shooting matches at my pistol club in Maryland, I keep an open mind to what I need to know. It is tempting, upon hearing strong opinions that contains grains of wisdom, to consider making lifestyle changes to bring myself "up to date," whatever that is.
Life is rich in its diverse view points. I enjoy these passionate exchanges on hot topics. I understand but don't approve of the personal attacks that come from values threatened. I love a good argument, especially face to face over a good beer. We don't have the benefit of a good beer on the internet, there is nothing human in scale to take the edge off the rhetoric. You can't read a man's face or his body language on the internet, "smilies" aside.
I think it is good to listen to all arguments, even those that smack of the foolish, to try to extract as much as possible from them. The firearms of the last two hundred years, originating in Europe and continuing in the new world, generate a lot of passion among the fans of those firearms. I teach the social dances of the last two hundred years, also originating in Europe and continuing in the new world. There are strong passions in this field, too, among those who do and love the dances of their peoples. In the right circles (a dance term) you can more easily get into a fight about a dance than you can about a gun. A gun is just an object, a dance is an expression of a people. When I have taught my students all I can, in the time we have available, I give them the best advice of all: continue to learn all you can, keep an open mind, consider all the possibilities and then trust your instincts.
Thanks for the passionate opinions, they are all worthy of consideration, but when all is said and done I will trust my instincts. That is all we can hope for and expect. When that gun is needed I hope your instincts are good.
Auf Gehts, Buam!
Herb Fredricksen, Schuhplatter first and last even when it hurts.
