perch
Member
I didn't grow up around guns, never hunted, went vegetarian at a young age and have (had) always considered myself a Democrat. I thought gun folks were backwards, clinging to an outdated mode of living incompatible with the modern world. Although I never gave it much thought, if asked, I'd have supported the total ban of all firearms in the United States.
Fortunately my views never had any impact and I've progressed beyond all of that.
For over 27 years, my only experience with firearms had been a BB gun when I was a kid, shooting 20 or so rounds out of a 22lr rifle at boy scout camp, and getting knocked over by a 12ga shotgun that someone had handed me at some point.
My mother then dated a guy who liked guns. He had some handguns and took me shooting out in the Arizona desert one day. Until this point, I'd never even seen a handgun in real life. I didn't even think it was legal to own one, honestly. He had a 22 Ruger, 22 rifle, 45 pistol, and my mother had just gotten a Walther P22. I had a total and complete blast that day. Afterwards I lamented the fact that guns had absolutely no purpose in society or to me and so I could not justify ever getting into the hobby or owning guns myself.
That was about a year and a half ago. After that day I pretty much forgot about guns (that is, until that guy committed suicide with the 45 pistol about 6 months after our shooting trip).
So, this May I was on an extended visit with my mother and sort of wondered about the P22. I was curious about it. A black semi-automatic pistol, I wonder how it works? What are all the buttons and switches?
I got some ammo (it was REALLY bizarre to me, buying a brick of 22lr) and read the manual and started shooting it. All of the time. Everyday. In a month I went through over 6000 rounds of ammo.
It didn't take long for me to discover the gun crowd online while looking up how to aim, fire, and clean this gun. I read all of the arguments for liberty, self defense, etc. I was really impressed with internet discussion on guns, especially on The High Road. Gun folks seemed polite and intelligent, not what I had expected. And it turned out that guns ARE important in society beyond hunting. I started the application process for my CCW in June and was looking at all sorts of guns to buy.
I realized that I could not vote democratic any longer as the party seemed opposed to guns in general. That left me confused because I had always viewed Republicans as backwards and contrary to everything I believed. Not to get into politics, but this was eventually resolved with my introduction to Ayn Rand and a full dive into Libertarianism.
Anyhow, here I am, less than 6 months from when I started getting interested in that P22. I now own a Mosin Nagant 91/30 and a S&W 642 for concealed carry. I got my CCW a week ago and carry all of the time.
Anyhow, I'm glad that I ended up stumbling upon this awesome hobby. It's really prompted a lot of changes in my life and caused me to seriously re-evaluate ideals that had never really been justified. Also, pulling the trigger and making things go BANG! is just good, clean fun and there is nothing at all wrong with that.
Fortunately my views never had any impact and I've progressed beyond all of that.
For over 27 years, my only experience with firearms had been a BB gun when I was a kid, shooting 20 or so rounds out of a 22lr rifle at boy scout camp, and getting knocked over by a 12ga shotgun that someone had handed me at some point.
My mother then dated a guy who liked guns. He had some handguns and took me shooting out in the Arizona desert one day. Until this point, I'd never even seen a handgun in real life. I didn't even think it was legal to own one, honestly. He had a 22 Ruger, 22 rifle, 45 pistol, and my mother had just gotten a Walther P22. I had a total and complete blast that day. Afterwards I lamented the fact that guns had absolutely no purpose in society or to me and so I could not justify ever getting into the hobby or owning guns myself.
That was about a year and a half ago. After that day I pretty much forgot about guns (that is, until that guy committed suicide with the 45 pistol about 6 months after our shooting trip).
So, this May I was on an extended visit with my mother and sort of wondered about the P22. I was curious about it. A black semi-automatic pistol, I wonder how it works? What are all the buttons and switches?
I got some ammo (it was REALLY bizarre to me, buying a brick of 22lr) and read the manual and started shooting it. All of the time. Everyday. In a month I went through over 6000 rounds of ammo.
It didn't take long for me to discover the gun crowd online while looking up how to aim, fire, and clean this gun. I read all of the arguments for liberty, self defense, etc. I was really impressed with internet discussion on guns, especially on The High Road. Gun folks seemed polite and intelligent, not what I had expected. And it turned out that guns ARE important in society beyond hunting. I started the application process for my CCW in June and was looking at all sorts of guns to buy.
I realized that I could not vote democratic any longer as the party seemed opposed to guns in general. That left me confused because I had always viewed Republicans as backwards and contrary to everything I believed. Not to get into politics, but this was eventually resolved with my introduction to Ayn Rand and a full dive into Libertarianism.
Anyhow, here I am, less than 6 months from when I started getting interested in that P22. I now own a Mosin Nagant 91/30 and a S&W 642 for concealed carry. I got my CCW a week ago and carry all of the time.
Anyhow, I'm glad that I ended up stumbling upon this awesome hobby. It's really prompted a lot of changes in my life and caused me to seriously re-evaluate ideals that had never really been justified. Also, pulling the trigger and making things go BANG! is just good, clean fun and there is nothing at all wrong with that.
Have safe fun!
