I grew up in a region (southern Oregon) where there was a lot of hunting. My Dad did not hunt; the families down the street did. I took Hunter Safety classes with them; my Dad wanted me to know about guns that were in the houses I would visit. I never knew where either family kept the guns; they were in a cabinet in some location under lock and key. In high school, I went target shooting with a friend, once. Did OK. Didn't find it particularly enjoyable.
Professionally, I was a cop.. Spent 35 years in uniform; 28 full time and 7 part time. I owned a back-up gun (a small .22 pistol) which was more trouble than it was worth to carry; the last 20 years full time I never carried it. I always qualified, with pistol and shotgun, and later the AR15 (when I was issued one). For me, they were the tools I needed to safely do my job. I never shot anyone. I probably deployed my weapon(s) 10 times a year in that 26 years of patrol.
As a retiree, I own 3 handguns. Two for concealed carry (a 9mm and a .45; both small pistols), and my "retirement gun" a full size 9mm. I shoot probably 4 times a year to maintain my proficiency for the annual qualification required for nationwide concealed carry privileges. I can count the times I've carried concealed on both hands.
With respect to the AR-15: It is a weapon that is designed to kill people. Period. It is as fun as heck to shoot, it is easy to shoot, and with the right optics, very easy to deliver accurate fire at 50+ yards. It does not belong in the civilian world, except under very specific circumstances...
I think that firearms regulation would be a darn good idea. Codify the NRA safety rules, and pair them with the vehicle code with respect to licensing, insurance, and registration. Pair the "incidents" that happen with firearms with vehicles regulations with respect to property damage, personal injury, and intentional injury.
Thank you very much for this informative comment. You are very obviously a responsible gun owner and have every right to own weapons. My eldest grandson also owned guns including 2 or 3 AR-15s, all his weapons were stored in a gun safe that was so heavy it had to moved into the home he purchased in Nevada by a crane. Knowing I don't like guns and spiders he told me he used the AR-15s to kill black widow spiders in the desert. I got a good laugh, but even though Billy wouldn't harm anyone except under orders in combat. I'll take your word and his that they are "fun" to shoot. But like you I don't think they belong in the civilian world.
Billy was killed in a vehicle accident. His sister now has both the gun safe and the guns. Her brother drilled into here safety first and caution. Do not let anyone have access to your guns unless you are with them.
I grew up in Canada when there was no gun culture. I still dislike guns, but I have no problem with those who do like guns owning as many of what I call sports weapons, shotguns. hunting rifles and pistols; just no weapons invented for use by the military.
Or maybe the military could just play tug of war with the two teams on each side of a shallow pond. If you pull the other team, in the pond your side wins, and the winners can say, hey we had god on our side and everybody gets to go home---alive.
Wow, Fay, thank you for this very knowledgeable treatise on firearms. The less guns in civilian hands the better. Keep on ranting, my dear.
Thank you Katharine. I really do think military style weapons need to be kept with the military only
I grew up in a region (southern Oregon) where there was a lot of hunting. My Dad did not hunt; the families down the street did. I took Hunter Safety classes with them; my Dad wanted me to know about guns that were in the houses I would visit. I never knew where either family kept the guns; they were in a cabinet in some location under lock and key. In high school, I went target shooting with a friend, once. Did OK. Didn't find it particularly enjoyable.
Professionally, I was a cop.. Spent 35 years in uniform; 28 full time and 7 part time. I owned a back-up gun (a small .22 pistol) which was more trouble than it was worth to carry; the last 20 years full time I never carried it. I always qualified, with pistol and shotgun, and later the AR15 (when I was issued one). For me, they were the tools I needed to safely do my job. I never shot anyone. I probably deployed my weapon(s) 10 times a year in that 26 years of patrol.
As a retiree, I own 3 handguns. Two for concealed carry (a 9mm and a .45; both small pistols), and my "retirement gun" a full size 9mm. I shoot probably 4 times a year to maintain my proficiency for the annual qualification required for nationwide concealed carry privileges. I can count the times I've carried concealed on both hands.
With respect to the AR-15: It is a weapon that is designed to kill people. Period. It is as fun as heck to shoot, it is easy to shoot, and with the right optics, very easy to deliver accurate fire at 50+ yards. It does not belong in the civilian world, except under very specific circumstances...
I think that firearms regulation would be a darn good idea. Codify the NRA safety rules, and pair them with the vehicle code with respect to licensing, insurance, and registration. Pair the "incidents" that happen with firearms with vehicles regulations with respect to property damage, personal injury, and intentional injury.
Thank you very much for this informative comment. You are very obviously a responsible gun owner and have every right to own weapons. My eldest grandson also owned guns including 2 or 3 AR-15s, all his weapons were stored in a gun safe that was so heavy it had to moved into the home he purchased in Nevada by a crane. Knowing I don't like guns and spiders he told me he used the AR-15s to kill black widow spiders in the desert. I got a good laugh, but even though Billy wouldn't harm anyone except under orders in combat. I'll take your word and his that they are "fun" to shoot. But like you I don't think they belong in the civilian world.
Billy was killed in a vehicle accident. His sister now has both the gun safe and the guns. Her brother drilled into here safety first and caution. Do not let anyone have access to your guns unless you are with them.
I grew up in Canada when there was no gun culture. I still dislike guns, but I have no problem with those who do like guns owning as many of what I call sports weapons, shotguns. hunting rifles and pistols; just no weapons invented for use by the military.
Or maybe the military could just play tug of war with the two teams on each side of a shallow pond. If you pull the other team, in the pond your side wins, and the winners can say, hey we had god on our side and everybody gets to go home---alive.
Interesting idea, Ken.
well there should be a better way to settle political debates between countries
agreed