Two decades of firearms experience...
(I think, I can't really remember when Dad first let me shoot) and I'm only 22!
Whenever Dad would go target shooting, I'd usually tag along. If I did something even vaguely questionable, he'd stop and we wouldn't do anything else until I understood what I had done was not safe. Heck, I could give a lecture on firearms safety in my sleep
For some reason, he wouldn't let me have a BB gun, but if I wanted to go out to the back yard and shoot targets, all I had to do was ask.
Don't worry, we had some dirt left over from when they dug the basement so I've got a very nice backstop. Doesn't that just make y'all green with envy!!!!
- "What are you doing?"
- "Daddy is cleaning his guns. Do you know what this is?" (showing my 357 mag)
- "That's a GUN!"
- "Who's gun?"
- "Is it yours?"
- "Yes it is. Do we play with guns?"
- "NO!" (His emphasis)
That brings back quite a few memories.
In my case, it was different. My well meaning grandfather set up a pumpkin and blew it to kingdom come with a 12 guage and yellled, "you mess with guns boy, that could be your head. Or mine!"
Did something similar with a watermelon once... My little brother wanted to shoot my 9mm, used the melon for a target and explained that is what happens when a bullet hits somebody. Point was made, and brother thought it was cool to send chunks of melon all over the place.
That's my bit for this thread....
Kilroy, born with a gun in his hand, was here