Ironic story on how I started...
Ever since I was a kid I have been into guns, shooting, etc.. I'm 21 now.
My interest didn't really peak until right before I turned 21. Two of my friends wanted to go shooting (they also didn't shoot regularly), so me, another friend, and the two girls who originally wanted to shoot (ironic how the girls were the ones to get us to go shooting with them).
We went shooting, tried out the Glock 9mm, Sig Sauer P226 9mm, and a Kimber .45 ACP and a .44 magnum.
We all had a blast, I had the time of my life! After that day, I've been researching and my interest in shooting peaked farther than the 2 girls that took me shooting.
1.5 months later, I now own 2 handguns (Sig Sauer P226 and a Colt Government .45 ACP) and 1 shotgun (Remington 870 Wingmaster 12 ga.)
I take a lot of my friends out to go shooting, most who have never shot a gun before. All of them so far seem to have opened up to the sport, but still have that fear of firearms in general. I guess living in California partly is the reason to it.
They all love to shoot, but none of them will consider ever owning a firearm. But at least they dont have a problem with it.