I grew up in a gun-neutral environment... they just weren't much part of life. I'm sure some were around, but I never saw them. I had BB guns when I was young and shot them all the time.
I flirted with being an 'intellectual anti-gun' person when I went through a liberal phase in college. I remember arguing against a pro-gun guy in the dorms, and being so frustrated because all of my usual anti-gun arguments from the playbook were easily dispatched by the more logical and freedom arguments of the pro-gun guy. And I liked guns, in a sense, so I don't even know why I took such absurd positions. I remember always wanting a gun, even from a youth, when the were sold in the hardware store. I always wanted someone to take me shooting, but to no avail.
Then a few big things happened. In my early-20s a libertarian pro-gun coworker took me shooting and it was awesome. I recall shooting a variety of guns, including his SKS. I loved it. I started asking about guns and learning about them. Then a girlfriend and some of her friends took me out shooting and again it was awesome.
I finally bought my first handgun around that time, in my early 20s, a Beretta 92FS. Shortly after that I got a .357 and a 12 gauge. I was hooked. I started learning, shooting, and spending a lot of time arguing pro-gun stances with all the liberals ... and was shocked that so many women were anti-gun.
Right around this time, I was dating this stunningly beautiful tall, slim redhead. But she worked for the Anti-Defamation League, which is notoriously anti-gun. I didn't know that. One day we were discussing guns and I showed her my unloaded .357 magnum. The color went flush from her face, and she nearly had a full-on panic attack and nearly went into hysterics. Well, that ended that. Then I dated a very anti-gun Democrat woman. We had super heated arguments over this issue, and ultimately I booted her. After these two women, and their antics, I determined that I would never date any woman that was anti gun again. Just not worth the efforts. And as I learned about Lautenberg and that garbage, I especially look for and avoid any drama queens out there. Gun rights are just too important.
It really was an important life change. The gun issue is a good barometer for judging people and their mentality on a variety of issues. And I'm so thankful and lucky to not have settled down with an anti back in the day.