Gun Epiphany?

[John Henry]

Went shooting at Steele Peak, near Corona two weekends ago and after we were had packed up and having lunch, I had this overwhelming feeling that I could only describe as being almost an epiphany. I know that sounds pretty dramatic but all kinds of thoughts were going through my head.
I thought of all the rounds fired from 22lr to 12 gauge oo, slugs and everything in between. My son in law had a hang fire but was ok because of muzzle control. One of my fired slugs actually knocked over a handmade, very heavy steel target. I was also thinking of all the anti gunners who have probably never fired a gun and yet want to dictate to us "crazies" that we can't. This was my third shooting session after buying my first gun two months ago.
Anyway, I'm sitting in the restaurant, thinking about how devastating even a 22lr could be, let alone a 12 gauge 00 or slug, against a human body and even though I hoped to God that I would never be put in that position, I knew that I could do it for the safety of my family or me. It gave me this overwhelming feeling of peace and tremendous responsibility of being a gun owner/enthusiast. I know this sounds pretty "over the top" but there you go. Comments?

[EspoMan]

I just wish more gun owners realized that. I can't tell you how many times if been to the range and I see people joking around and doing stupid stuff while shooting and not taking it seriously at all. They make all gun owners look bad.

[stevebla]

Personal weapons are what raised mankind out of the mud, and the rifle is the queen of personal weapons. The possession of a good rifle, as well as the skill to use it well, truly makes a man the monarch of all he surveys. It realizes the ancient dream of the Jovian thunderbolt, and as such it is the embodiment of personal power. For this reason it exercises a curious influence over the minds of most men, and in its best examples it constitutes an object of affection unmatched by any other inanimate object.
Jeff Cooper

That is why our masters in Washington are so anxious to disarm us. They are not afraid of criminals. They are afraid of a populace which cannot be subdued by tyrants.
Jeff Cooper

Owning a handgun doesn't make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician.
Jeff Cooper

Read more at: http://www.azquotes.com/quote/63853

[Danodog]

“It's a hell of a thing; killin' a man. You take away everything he ever had and ever would have.” - Clint Eastwood. (Unforgivin)

[MrOrange]

That understanding of having the ability and not wanting to use it is the main reason concealed carriers (and, I believe, gun owners in general) tend to avoid potentially violent situations, and tend to be much more restrained when they're caught up in one, than the average jackhole. Or, for that matter, even themselves before they were blessed by the King.

Massad Ayoob was addressing cops about carrying off-duty when he asked: "How many times have you said to yourself about a confrontation with an aggressor 'If I weren't carrying a gun, I would've laid that jerk out'?"

Another thing that Cooper noted was that good shots tend to be good men [and women!]. The mental discipline and knowing what's at stake tend to reflect a person who is training to defend something good and decent.




Not criticizing or trying to pull a "gotcha", I'm just curious about what happened that made you decide to become a gun owner?

And how would you have reacted to a gun nut who said the same things as you said in your post to you a couple years ago?

[splithoof]

Personal weapons are what raised mankind out of the mud, and the rifle is the queen of personal weapons. The possession of a good rifle, as well as the skill to use it well, truly makes a man the monarch of all he surveys. It realizes the ancient dream of the Jovian thunderbolt, and as such it is the embodiment of personal power. For this reason it exercises a curious influence over the minds of most men, and in its best examples it constitutes an object of affection unmatched by any other inanimate object.
Jeff Cooper

That is why our masters in Washington are so anxious to disarm us. They are not afraid of criminals. They are afraid of a populace which cannot be subdued by tyrants.
Jeff Cooper

Owning a handgun doesn't make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician.
Jeff Cooper

Read more at: http://www.azquotes.com/quote/63853

Once had an interesting discussion with Buzz Mills over some of the same quotes, while we were on a lunch break over at Gunsite.

[Calico1404]

True bliss and a great feeling.

Hope to see you at the cleanup April 2nd at the peak! !!!

Shake hands with some fellow CalGunners.

[John Henry]

Mr. Orange: Even though I didn't have any guns until a couple of months ago, I've been an NRA member for almost 4 years. I contribute as often as finances permit and am now an Endowmemt an Golden Eagles member. I joined because one day I just opened my eyes and mind and thought, "what the hell!" " These whack jobs are trying to tell me I can't defend myself and they want to strip me of my rights!" No f---- way! It was all downhill after that. Read more and more about guns, gun safety and etc., and then finally bought that first gun two months ago. My wife has had a hard time with it because, even though she believes in the 2nd amendment, she doesn't particularly want them around the house-bad memories with shooting incidents in the long ago past. So far I've got a Mossberg 590A1, Baretta FS 92 and I've got my sights on a Ruger Mark ll from a friend. I've got to bring her along slowly but I know that she knows where I'm going with this.
If I read my post as a stranger and total novice, I probably wouldn't understand the underlying feeling. It's kind of like a Kung fu master who doesn't have to prove himself to anyone but who has that "peace" knowing that he could and that he also has a burden of responsibility to use it wisely. I know this all sounds like "I'm waxing poetic," but that's truly the way I feel.
By the way, I've been on 2 shooting excursions with groups of 10 and 4 shooters. I've never been around more serious, responsible groups of guys. So much for the perceived notion that we're all devious freaks!

[TKM]

Ask your wife if she is happy with the crumbs.

http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/2013/11/08/cake-and-compromise-illustrated-guide-to-gun-control/

[MrOrange]

[EminenceGrise]

You don't need to actually buy guns. Just get a nice big safe and lock them up in the dark. They apparently replicate when nobody's looking.

Hopefully you're including your wife in your new found hobby. For sure, if there are guns in your house, the occupants need to know how to safely operate them and treat them with respect.

[200Apples]

.
Welcome aboard, John Henry. Great post.

It gave me this overwhelming feeling of peace and tremendous responsibility of being a gun owner/enthusiast.

Learning to shoot and shoot well; owning a few choice firearms... has given me a sense of self-sufficiency in the material plane (as opposed to perhaps a spiritual plane) that I greatly appreciate. I may defend myself, put meat on the table and have fun practicing! this art.

I love the Cooper quotes (and the William Munny character quote from Unforgiven) already posted. stevebla's first quote can been seen in Cooper's The Art of the Rifle. I've been reading Cooper's Commentaries for awhile now and am presently reading To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth.

Cooper also said... dagnabbit, it was on the tip of my tongue there as I was reading through the thread. Oh well; I'll be back later when I can remember wtf is was I wanted to quote! Hee.


:-)