I am a gun supporter. It’s not a popular thing to say these days, but there are more of us out there than the anti-gunners would have you believe.
I started shooting as a youngster. Around the age of 8 or so, my dad and I climbed the barbed wire fence on the U.S. Air Force base across the street beyond our house and trekked all over the open fields looking for pheasant. At the tender age of 10, I went hunting, again for pheasant, and got my first rabbit. As a Boy Scout, I earned the Rifle Merit Badge, and shot a lot of BB guns.
Growing older and finding girls resulted in a multi-year lapse in my shooting, at least until joining the U.S. Army in my early 20’s to avoid the Draft. The Army taught me to shoot the M-16 and, since I was in Signal Corps, also taught me how to shoot the Colt M-1911 so we could guard our communications vehicles while out in the field. Then came another multi-year break.
Just after retiring from a 37-year career as a teacher, I got a concealed carry permit. By this time I had inherited a few guns from my dad and my father-in-law. I looked around for a local gun club, and found one with an inside range I could shoot at year round and joined it in 2010.
In 2012, I joined the board of directors of the club to do the web site. By the following year, I was secretary, handling agendas, minutes, and the member database. In 2013, I began publishing the monthly newsletter. I am still secretary and publish the newsletter, but no longer do the web site. My wife joined the club, and we take our daughters and their friends to the club periodically to shoot.
I have been retired the past couple of years from a 5-year stint as a Cub Scout Rangemaster. I set up and/or helped run archery and bb gun ranges at Summer day camps while my grandson was a Cubbie. I also became a Range Safety Officer and Home Firearms Safety instructor to expand my usefulness to Scouts. My youngest daughter is now following in my footsteps in Scouts.
Today I shoot pistols, rifles, muzzleloaders, archery and, at times, the old standby BB and pellet guns. I load my own ammunition – .380 ACP, 9mm Luger, .38 Special, .45 ACP, and .223/5.56 – and shoot everything I load in my own guns. I have had enough training that I can teach people to shoot pistols, rifles, or bows, but am not certified, so I do it for free.
Considering everything I’ve done, one thing I HAVE NOT done is shoot myself or someone else. A gun is simply a tool, and is only dangerous if the shooter does not know how (or decides not to) to use it properly. All of my experience is reflected in this site; I hope you find some value in it and learn something from it. Until Joe Biden says otherwise – HAPPY SHOOTING!