General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWell, I might as well do a post on guns.
When I was a child, (during World War II), around 8 Yrs. old, all the kids in town had toy guns but me.
I asked for one for Christmas and got it. It was like a full size rifle. Played 'war' games with the other kids in the neighborhood. Now, my Dad was a hunter (deer, rabbit, squirrel, turkey, bear), so he had a number of guns in a small closet, along with the ammo. From the time I can remember, I was taught to NEVER touch the guns until Dad thought I was old enough. So, there I was, 8, and before Dad would let me play with the tow gun, we had a discussion about how to handle guns (which I pretty much knew by then anyway.) Several rules you absolutely had to learn: 1. Never leave a gun loaded unless in a legal hunting area, 2. When crossing a fence, lean the rifle in a safe place where you could reach it after crossing, then cross the fence, etc., 3. The most import rule I remember to this day is DON'T POINT A GUN AT A PERSON UNLESS YOU PLAN ON KILLING THEM! You never even pointed an unloaded gun at anyone (just in case a shell had been left in it). Well, rules about cleaning, etc.. Most of these rules were repeated when I went in the Army. We have a single shot 22 rifle left by a relative, and it is so old I doubt it is even usable. Don't have an ammo for it. Have never felt the need for another gun.
So, I never joined the NRA, never bought a hunting license (except once right after getting out of the Army). But the past few years, I have never figured out any VALID reason for non-military/police to have guns intended for war should be allowed. Also other guns (target shooting, hunting) should be registered. I wouldn't want to see all guns being disallowed.
I'm 77, male, retired, live part time in Fl ( hate their gun carry law.)
onehandle
(51,122 posts)Cleita
(75,480 posts)me in a cowgirl outfit with six-shooters. They looked like the real thing. I also lived for six months with a family of hunters when I was seventeen. We ate venison and other wild game every day. They had the same rules you mention about the rifles. All I ever saw were rifles. No handguns. This was in the fifties. It occurs to me though is that they should have kept their hunting rifles in a gun safe. It would have been much better all around than have them so available. Dad kept all the ammo locked away in a tool box in the garage, so the guns in the house closet were unloaded at least.