One of my adult kids asked me what was my first gun and when did I buy it, and it made me think about how guns entered my life. I grew up in New York City where guns were not a part of my families life, even though my Dad would go on a hunting trip with friends a couple of times a year, some of which I went as well. But my early exposure to guns was firing a 22 caliber single shot rifle on the farm of friends of my parents, an enjoyable but rare event. About the time I got married, at age 23, I bought my first gun on a whim. It was an Enfield .303 carbine, WWII surplus, for $20. About 2 years later I fired it for the first time, thought nothing about it, and ended up selling to someone at work for $35 and thinking what a good deal I had made.
It wasn't until my young bride was about to make a long road trip to pick up a friend and bring her to stay with us for Thanksgiving while the friend's husband was on temporary duty in Thailand, that I had my first real thought about needing something for self protection. I bought a "Baby Brownie", a 25 acp pistol but she refused to take it with her on that trip. I never fired that pistol even once, ending up trading it for a 380 acp that I also never fired. When that pistol was stolen in a home burglary I decided I needed to own a handgun and actually get comfortable using it again in case a break in ever occurred when we were in the house. The morning after the burglary I bought a S&W Model 19 which I still own. At that point I was 43 years old and it was probably the first time in my life I even thought about the 2nd Amendment and my right to keep and bear arms.
That was 36 years ago and guns have become a much more important aspect of my life and remain so today. I've been accused by family of being a "one issue voter" and to some degree that is true. I could not support a candidate who is not supportive of my right to be armed regardless of his/her positions on other matters. I would prefer to not vote at all if faced with a choice of only between two gun haters. I own several guns and enjoy my membership and participation in a local pistol club. I carry everyday and everywhere. I am an NRA Life Member. But unlike some here that grew up with guns and always lived the gun culture, this passion and commitment came to me later in life. It may sound odd, but my other passion, motorcycling, also came to me later in life, i.e., around age 40. I guess I am just a late bloomer.
It wasn't until my young bride was about to make a long road trip to pick up a friend and bring her to stay with us for Thanksgiving while the friend's husband was on temporary duty in Thailand, that I had my first real thought about needing something for self protection. I bought a "Baby Brownie", a 25 acp pistol but she refused to take it with her on that trip. I never fired that pistol even once, ending up trading it for a 380 acp that I also never fired. When that pistol was stolen in a home burglary I decided I needed to own a handgun and actually get comfortable using it again in case a break in ever occurred when we were in the house. The morning after the burglary I bought a S&W Model 19 which I still own. At that point I was 43 years old and it was probably the first time in my life I even thought about the 2nd Amendment and my right to keep and bear arms.
That was 36 years ago and guns have become a much more important aspect of my life and remain so today. I've been accused by family of being a "one issue voter" and to some degree that is true. I could not support a candidate who is not supportive of my right to be armed regardless of his/her positions on other matters. I would prefer to not vote at all if faced with a choice of only between two gun haters. I own several guns and enjoy my membership and participation in a local pistol club. I carry everyday and everywhere. I am an NRA Life Member. But unlike some here that grew up with guns and always lived the gun culture, this passion and commitment came to me later in life. It may sound odd, but my other passion, motorcycling, also came to me later in life, i.e., around age 40. I guess I am just a late bloomer.
