My father is a retired FBI agent. He was with the Bureau before I was born and spent 30 years with the govt. They were always around. He wasn't that interested in guns, they were a tool as far as he was concerned, but I got into them. Started shooting at age 6 and was helping my dad teach LE firearms classes by age 14. I wanted to learn to hunt so my dad took me hunting. Didn't care much for hunting, I liked shooting and still do!! My son grew up a shooter and we took our CHL classes together last year for his 21st birthday.
What's your shooting background?
- Thread starter Lucky Devil
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Satanta, I'm certainly sorry to hear of your problems, and I hope that you can get some recourse from SS people.
I grew up around firearms and hunting. My father and uncle started my brother and me early, shooting and firearms safety. Firearms were always in our home, as they were in virtually all the rest of the homes in the small north central Arkansas town in which I grew up.
About eight, I got a Daisy pump BB gun. By the age of twelve, I had my first handgun, a Colt's S.A. Frontier .44-40. It kinda went on from there.
My father, in the lumber business, traveled at times, and when he was gone, my mother kept her Colt's Police Positive Special .32-20 handy.
At that age, so many years ago, I guess I just thought that EVERYONE in the country had firearms. J.B.
I grew up around firearms and hunting. My father and uncle started my brother and me early, shooting and firearms safety. Firearms were always in our home, as they were in virtually all the rest of the homes in the small north central Arkansas town in which I grew up.
About eight, I got a Daisy pump BB gun. By the age of twelve, I had my first handgun, a Colt's S.A. Frontier .44-40. It kinda went on from there.
My father, in the lumber business, traveled at times, and when he was gone, my mother kept her Colt's Police Positive Special .32-20 handy.
At that age, so many years ago, I guess I just thought that EVERYONE in the country had firearms. J.B.
Like many of you, I grew up hunting with a .22 and a .20 gauge shotgun with my dad. I only got interested in handguns when the Brady Bill passed. When you tell me I can't have something I get interested!
Thinking about how many of us were taught proper firearms attitudes and safety by our dads makes me sad when I think about how many boys grow up today with no men around. No wonder they have such weird ideas - they get them from movies and TV. Of course, guns are only part of that. Boys and girls lose a lot more from not having a responsible man around. Boys grow up not knowing some of the most important parts of being a man (how to control yourself, respect for women) and girls grow up hungry for affection from men, which often turns out the wrong way.
Thinking about how many of us were taught proper firearms attitudes and safety by our dads makes me sad when I think about how many boys grow up today with no men around. No wonder they have such weird ideas - they get them from movies and TV. Of course, guns are only part of that. Boys and girls lose a lot more from not having a responsible man around. Boys grow up not knowing some of the most important parts of being a man (how to control yourself, respect for women) and girls grow up hungry for affection from men, which often turns out the wrong way.
I grew up on a farm...Dad started teaching me from the gitgo and from age 10 one of my daily chores was to shoot rabbits and squirrels around the crops, etc. We also went hunting alot, and target shot for fun. Its a safe bet to say I've fired a gun more days of my life than those days I haven't.
About the only "anti-gun" attitude in our home was against toy guns and BB guns....Dad felt that they were not conducive to safe gun handling...so, he bought me real guns instead .....Sicilian/Marine Corps logic
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"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" RKBA!
About the only "anti-gun" attitude in our home was against toy guns and BB guns....Dad felt that they were not conducive to safe gun handling...so, he bought me real guns instead .....Sicilian/Marine Corps logic
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"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" RKBA!
Guns were never brought up in my household, but we did have BB guns. I guess I never associated them with guns . I grew up in a liberal place in Maryland, but my mom was very exposed to guns in West Virginia. I didn't get into guns until just about 1 year ago. My political viewpoints have turned decidedly libertarian over the past few years much to the disappointment of my parents, and getting into guns was just natural .
I was ignorant about them just like every other anti- out there. I don't know what pushed me to find out about them. Probably after I joined the local Arizona Land Cruiser association where some of the folks are gun owners. A member of the club answered questions about the gun he had on one of our 4x4 runs. He told me later that he though me and my wife were rabid, tree-hugging liberals, and he thought we were going to harrass him about carrying.
In one year my wife and I have gathered 6 guns, and it won't end there.
[This message has been edited by EricM (edited July 16, 2000).]
. I grew up in a liberal place in Maryland, but my mom was very exposed to guns in West Virginia. I didn't get into guns until just about 1 year ago. My political viewpoints have turned decidedly libertarian over the past few years much to the disappointment of my parents, and getting into guns was just natural . I was ignorant about them just like every other anti- out there. I don't know what pushed me to find out about them. Probably after I joined the local Arizona Land Cruiser association where some of the folks are gun owners. A member of the club answered questions about the gun he had on one of our 4x4 runs. He told me later that he though me and my wife were rabid, tree-hugging liberals, and he thought we were going to harrass him about carrying
.In one year my wife and I have gathered 6 guns, and it won't end there.
[This message has been edited by EricM (edited July 16, 2000).]
Anyone else notice the common thread here? Teach your kids to shoot!
Like most the folks on this board, I grew up around guns. Dad has a nice longarm collection: a 30-30, 30-06, couple shotguns, a .22. No heirlooms, just tools for bringing home deer and toys for knocking over dead beer cans and helpless skeet.
Until the first time they left me home by myself overnight (age 15?), I never knew mom & dad kept a loaded handgun in their nightstand drawer -- and wouldn't have dared touch it if I had known, because for sure dad would've kilt me!
Grew up, got married to a man who was reared by a single mom. He wasn't an anti, but had never been around guns. Since my experience with guns was "for fun" instead of "for self defense," and since it didn't sound fun to husband, we had no guns and didn't miss them much.
Fast forward a few years. We have five sons (no daughters, no wisecracks please). Do I want my sons growing up without guns? Heck no! That was point one. The oldest two, ages 8 and 10, share a BB gun and will probably receive a .22 for Christmas this year. They're smart, responsible, trustworthy kids.
One of the reasons I'm going to hunt elk this fall is because I want to be able to hunt them with my sons in a couple of years. Husband is supportive but still not interested for himself. Maybe that will change if the kids get excited. If not, at least we're not contributing to the wimping of America.
The self-defense issue is a whole 'nother ball of wax. Some close friends of ours have gotten into self defense shooting and convinced me that it was important. With no handgunnery background at all, I'm just now working out what to carry, how to carry, when to carry, etc etc.
Politically, both husband and I have always voted RKBA and don't understand -- I mean, fundamentally don't understand -- the mindset that would disarm honest citizens. What the heck are these people thinking? I don't think we're that unusual; I suspect gun owners have fewer enemies and more friends than we realize.
But we'll never hear it on the news, and most people don't care one way or the other, even if the inclination is well meaning toward us.
pax
"Treat the media as you would any other watchdog. Stay calm, be friendly, let them sniff your hand, and never turn your back." -- Amy Sprinkles
Like most the folks on this board, I grew up around guns. Dad has a nice longarm collection: a 30-30, 30-06, couple shotguns, a .22. No heirlooms, just tools for bringing home deer and toys for knocking over dead beer cans and helpless skeet.
Until the first time they left me home by myself overnight (age 15?), I never knew mom & dad kept a loaded handgun in their nightstand drawer -- and wouldn't have dared touch it if I had known, because for sure dad would've kilt me!
Grew up, got married to a man who was reared by a single mom. He wasn't an anti, but had never been around guns. Since my experience with guns was "for fun" instead of "for self defense," and since it didn't sound fun to husband, we had no guns and didn't miss them much.
Fast forward a few years. We have five sons (no daughters, no wisecracks please
). Do I want my sons growing up without guns? Heck no! That was point one. The oldest two, ages 8 and 10, share a BB gun and will probably receive a .22 for Christmas this year. They're smart, responsible, trustworthy kids.One of the reasons I'm going to hunt elk this fall is because I want to be able to hunt them with my sons in a couple of years. Husband is supportive but still not interested for himself. Maybe that will change if the kids get excited. If not, at least we're not contributing to the wimping of America.
The self-defense issue is a whole 'nother ball of wax. Some close friends of ours have gotten into self defense shooting and convinced me that it was important. With no handgunnery background at all, I'm just now working out what to carry, how to carry, when to carry, etc etc.
Politically, both husband and I have always voted RKBA and don't understand -- I mean, fundamentally don't understand -- the mindset that would disarm honest citizens. What the heck are these people thinking? I don't think we're that unusual; I suspect gun owners have fewer enemies and more friends than we realize.
But we'll never hear it on the news, and most people don't care one way or the other, even if the inclination is well meaning toward us.
pax
"Treat the media as you would any other watchdog. Stay calm, be friendly, let them sniff your hand, and never turn your back." -- Amy Sprinkles
Munro Williams
New member
I got my first rifle, a single shot .22 short, when I was six. Can't remember not being around lots of guns, mostly single-shots, but the old man made sure I could field strip and shoot a .45 1911 when I was 10.
I've had a Martini-Henry rechambered for a .357 magnum pistol round, a nail driver, (with which I can shoot the eye-lash off of a gnat at 25 yards) since I was 11. I bought my first firearm, a .58 rifled musket, when I was 14.
Talking about these things gets the strangest looks from folks over here.
[This message has been edited by Munro Williams (edited July 16, 2000).]
I've had a Martini-Henry rechambered for a .357 magnum pistol round, a nail driver, (with which I can shoot the eye-lash off of a gnat at 25 yards) since I was 11. I bought my first firearm, a .58 rifled musket, when I was 14.
Talking about these things gets the strangest looks from folks over here.
[This message has been edited by Munro Williams (edited July 16, 2000).]
Guns put food on the table for the first 10 years of my life - My dad owned a gun store.
My Dad pretty much had 3 hobbies as my brother and I were growing up - Guns, computers, and ham radios. I took the guns, my brother took the computers, and Dad kept his radios.
I've probably been shooting since I was 5 or 6, maybe earlier. I received my first gun of my own as a gift when I was 11 or 12, I guess - A Savage model 24 .22LR/20ga. Then came the Mossberg 500 when I was 15 or so.
Bought my first rifle at 18 - Can't remember if it was the 10/22 or the Winchester 94.
Bought my first handgun at 21 - A Sig 229.
Got on a 1911 kick for a while and eventually traded the Sig for a Kimber.
Eventually got rid of the nickel-plated sissy pistols (
) and was introduced to Glocks. All was good... Have 6 of 'em now. (Don't worry - I kept the Springfield 1911-A1)
Got my CHL in January so I could be 'legal' to carry.
Am now a certifiable gun-nut with a 3 gun per month habit (in the slower months). I'm starting to think I should've taken up computers or ham radio!
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¡Viva la RKBA!
Bulldawg: NRA, GOA, TSRA, Shiner Bock Connoisseur.
Bulldawg's Firearms Page
My Dad pretty much had 3 hobbies as my brother and I were growing up - Guns, computers, and ham radios. I took the guns, my brother took the computers, and Dad kept his radios.
I've probably been shooting since I was 5 or 6, maybe earlier. I received my first gun of my own as a gift when I was 11 or 12, I guess - A Savage model 24 .22LR/20ga. Then came the Mossberg 500 when I was 15 or so.
Bought my first rifle at 18 - Can't remember if it was the 10/22 or the Winchester 94.
Bought my first handgun at 21 - A Sig 229.
Got on a 1911 kick for a while and eventually traded the Sig for a Kimber.
Eventually got rid of the nickel-plated sissy pistols (
) and was introduced to Glocks. All was good... Have 6 of 'em now. (Don't worry - I kept the Springfield 1911-A1)Got my CHL in January so I could be 'legal' to carry.
Am now a certifiable gun-nut with a 3 gun per month habit (in the slower months). I'm starting to think I should've taken up computers or ham radio!
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¡Viva la RKBA!
Bulldawg: NRA, GOA, TSRA, Shiner Bock Connoisseur.
Bulldawg's Firearms Page
Apple a Day
New member
RHC, you said it, bub. I was taught by my dad and it's a friggin' shame there aren't more around to teach their kids.
I grew up in the woods in Georgia, little south of Atlanta. My brother and I always had BB guns as kids, so did most of the kids at Lake Talmadge, the little pond around which we lived. I was in a pack of about a dozen kids, in ragged cutoffs and covered with red clay. Everybody we knew had a gun of some sort somewhere in their house although it never occurred to us to 'play' with them.
When my father thought my brother and I were old enough he took us out on the firebreak with the old Mossberg bolt-action 20 guage, a .410 he used to hunt with using slugs, and a Mauser made in 1935 in Peru (still has the crest on it in spanish). He taught us the rules and how they worked. I can't remember whether my brother or I asked what was different between a rifle and a shotgun. Dad threw an empty coffee can in the air and nailed it with the .410. It looked like a giant with cleates stomped on it, which impressed us mightily. Then we went home and cleaned them. I loved the few times we went out and blasted bottled to powder.
I was introduced to handguns by my crazy uncles and father of a friend later, who has an impressive collection. I picked up a pistol when I moved into a bad neighborhood years ago. Only really been shot at once but that was a stupid college story. That was the one and only time I would have voted for restriction on hi-cap magazines! That guy was MAD!
We are expecting out first baby any day now. My wife and I were talking about this topic today as we were headed to KMart to get a new crib mattress. When the time comes, boy or girl, I will pass on what I know.
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Those who use arms well cultivate the Way and keep the rules.Thus they can govern in such a way as to prevail over the corrupt- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
I grew up in the woods in Georgia, little south of Atlanta. My brother and I always had BB guns as kids, so did most of the kids at Lake Talmadge, the little pond around which we lived. I was in a pack of about a dozen kids, in ragged cutoffs and covered with red clay. Everybody we knew had a gun of some sort somewhere in their house although it never occurred to us to 'play' with them.
When my father thought my brother and I were old enough he took us out on the firebreak with the old Mossberg bolt-action 20 guage, a .410 he used to hunt with using slugs, and a Mauser made in 1935 in Peru (still has the crest on it in spanish). He taught us the rules and how they worked. I can't remember whether my brother or I asked what was different between a rifle and a shotgun. Dad threw an empty coffee can in the air and nailed it with the .410. It looked like a giant with cleates stomped on it, which impressed us mightily. Then we went home and cleaned them. I loved the few times we went out and blasted bottled to powder.
I was introduced to handguns by my crazy uncles and father of a friend later, who has an impressive collection. I picked up a pistol when I moved into a bad neighborhood years ago. Only really been shot at once but that was a stupid college story. That was the one and only time I would have voted for restriction on hi-cap magazines! That guy was MAD!
We are expecting out first baby any day now. My wife and I were talking about this topic today as we were headed to KMart to get a new crib mattress. When the time comes, boy or girl, I will pass on what I know.
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Those who use arms well cultivate the Way and keep the rules.Thus they can govern in such a way as to prevail over the corrupt- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Grew up in the city. My dad liked to hunt & fish so naturaly we had firearms around the house. I learned from a very young age about firearms. To respect the fact that you cannot take that bullet back and the damage it can do. Was given BB gun at around 6 or 7. I was not much into fishing so I would bring my BB gun on the fishing trips. Many a tree stump or suspicious mud blob on the banks succumbed. My dad gave me my first shotgun at around 11 or 12. Bolt action 20 gauge which I have to this day and will never part with. He took me rabbit and squirrel hunting. Ahh the memories
*Satanta* Sorry to hear of your situation. The government is nothing but a damn money black hole.
*Satanta* Sorry to hear of your situation. The government is nothing but a damn money black hole.
My Dad taught me to shoot when I was 10.
I can't honestly state that my folks were 100% pro gun - my Mom has never liked firearms but she tolerates them. Not surprising, as my Mom's parents didn't own or use firearms.
OTOH, my paternal great grandmother was, in my Dad's words, "a crack shot." Ditto for his Mom. Both were raised on ranches here in California in the late 1800's - early 1900's.
Yes... parental background and teaching are critical if one is to have the opportunity to learn to shoot at a fairly young age.
The rifle I was taught with was a Mossberg model 44(US) bolt action .22LR - aperature rear sight with configurable hooded front sight. Iron sight heaven.
As an adolescent in the 60's I was lucky - many of my weekend and summer days were spent in the hills with one of my rifles or shotgun.
I can't think of a finer way to spend ones youth.
Cliff
I can't honestly state that my folks were 100% pro gun - my Mom has never liked firearms but she tolerates them. Not surprising, as my Mom's parents didn't own or use firearms.
OTOH, my paternal great grandmother was, in my Dad's words, "a crack shot." Ditto for his Mom. Both were raised on ranches here in California in the late 1800's - early 1900's.
Yes... parental background and teaching are critical if one is to have the opportunity to learn to shoot at a fairly young age.
The rifle I was taught with was a Mossberg model 44(US) bolt action .22LR - aperature rear sight with configurable hooded front sight. Iron sight heaven.
As an adolescent in the 60's I was lucky - many of my weekend and summer days were spent in the hills with one of my rifles or shotgun.
I can't think of a finer way to spend ones youth.
Cliff
Have a clipping somewhere, my dad busted an elk with a big rack in Colorado in 1912, the family lived in Kansas. When I started payin attention in the 30s, mom and dad were both heavy into trap shooting and some rifle and pistol. I traveled to matches with them some and there was shooting at the house too. Always a collection of assorted firearms around the house. I don't remember any particular safety lessons, just was instructed in proper handling and respect from the git go. I was probably around 12 when I started shootin big bore and scattergun. I remember being impressed by the intensity of a 6 1/2 pound .405 double around that age. No noticable recoil dropping a whitetail, but it kicked like a mule when plinkin with it. Didn't get into handguns much till College. Qualified expert in rifle and pistol every year in the navy until my retirement in 72. Large part of my service time was in COIN operations and got to play with a wonderful assortment of weapons. Did quite a bit of rifle and pistol match shooting and some trap and skeet. Shot my first rifle match seven decades ago. Got heavy into pistol and revolver shooting after the military, too crippled to do much with the long guns. Still shoot couple hundred rounds a week when feelin good. Just this afternoon did some shootin with J, k, and L frames, and a little with beemerb's 45/70 single shot. Both sons and daughter are avid shooters as are their spouses. Grandkids already safe and knowledgeable, good shots will come with time. I am holed up in the hills of Arizona and am lucky to be able to shoot damn near anything anytime without goin far. I have had the opportunity to practice self defence drills, several times, for real and came out allright. Much of that I owe to my parents instead of the military training. My first issue rifle was an 03 Springfield, I thought it was a pos, I was used to bigger and better. Later got a Garand and fell in love. Now am in love with a FAL. Of course my mod 19 and mod 36 are dear friends. The 686 and 696 are just tools that work well.
Fondly remember standing in Roy Weatherby's kitchen watchin him pressure test a new load, by shootin it in the kitchen. Now that place is so dense with houses and liberals it is probably illeagle to break wind.
Great uncle was commandant of ft Sumpter, he told my Granpa that the country was goin to hell in a socialist handbasket. Granpa told my dad that things had gone downhill in his lifetime. Dad told me that the country and the military had gone commie in his lifetime. And of course I have told my kids that things are far worse than when I was a pup.
Sam....must be bedtime again.
Fondly remember standing in Roy Weatherby's kitchen watchin him pressure test a new load, by shootin it in the kitchen. Now that place is so dense with houses and liberals it is probably illeagle to break wind.
Great uncle was commandant of ft Sumpter, he told my Granpa that the country was goin to hell in a socialist handbasket. Granpa told my dad that things had gone downhill in his lifetime. Dad told me that the country and the military had gone commie in his lifetime. And of course I have told my kids that things are far worse than when I was a pup.
Sam....must be bedtime again.
I did not grow up around guns. We had no guns in the household until I was in my late teens.
I started to get an interest in guns and passed that on to my dad. He bought himself a shotgun and got one for me.
My first handgun was a S&W 686 and boy was I a terrible shot. I was so discourged that I put it away and didn't shoot it for a couple of years. I became an LEO in my early twentys and decided that if I was going to be carrying a gun I better damn well know how to use it. I started to practice regularly and I am now a pretty darn good shot if I must say myself (I am one of the best shots in my department). I have been sent to several tactical pistol classes and it helps a lot (I am lucky that I work in an agency that values gun skills).
My love for guns and my pro RKBA has taken off since those early days. Almost everybody I know has guns and the ones that don't I work on converting.
I started to get an interest in guns and passed that on to my dad. He bought himself a shotgun and got one for me.
My first handgun was a S&W 686 and boy was I a terrible shot. I was so discourged that I put it away and didn't shoot it for a couple of years. I became an LEO in my early twentys and decided that if I was going to be carrying a gun I better damn well know how to use it. I started to practice regularly and I am now a pretty darn good shot if I must say myself (I am one of the best shots in my department). I have been sent to several tactical pistol classes and it helps a lot (I am lucky that I work in an agency that values gun skills).
My love for guns and my pro RKBA has taken off since those early days. Almost everybody I know has guns and the ones that don't I work on converting.
My Father grew up through the twenties and hunted to put food on the table for 12 siblings and his Mother.
Then WW2.
We learned to use guns and hunt early on.
The US government showed me how to use "festive weaponry". I work for the USDOE in security.
Still hunt with an '06 my Father got new for me in '63/64.
Hunting has been a way of life for me.
We ate game or fish for quite a while in poorer (but better)times.
Stay safe, MDS
Then WW2.
We learned to use guns and hunt early on.
The US government showed me how to use "festive weaponry". I work for the USDOE in security.
Still hunt with an '06 my Father got new for me in '63/64.
Hunting has been a way of life for me.
We ate game or fish for quite a while in poorer (but better)times.
Stay safe, MDS
Miss Demeanors
New member
I also grew up in a liberal democratic home. No guns, no talk about guns, guns were bad. My first 'encounter' with a gun was when I was 16, over at a boyfriends house, he took his dads gun and shot himself in the head with it. From then on I was terrified of them and became a gun control supporter. About a year ago, came on the net, met some nice pro-gun people, changed my views about guns, went shooting once, and now I'm obsessed (and that is making a real long story short)
Funny thing is I found out my Dad owned a gun when my parents were first married, but later he gave it to my Uncle because my Mom hated it.
I have a 5 (almost 6) year old and she will be the first in the family to start off on the right foot.
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Sandys' Homepage
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We are as one as we all are the same fighting for one cause -Metallica
(and that is making a real long story short)Funny thing is I found out my Dad owned a gun when my parents were first married, but later he gave it to my Uncle because my Mom hated it.
I have a 5 (almost 6) year old and she will be the first in the family to start off on the right foot
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Sandys' Homepage
RKBA forums
We are as one as we all are the same fighting for one cause -Metallica
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