Interesting Replies
The response to my post has been interesting. I think it speaks to the fact that , for the same reason that I posted the question, we have a want to explain how we got into shooting or collecting firearms. I think we would all like to tell someone our story. I see a lot of "got bit hard by the bug" and that is the way I feel. Since I believe most people's chance of an incident is between 0 and 1, I could probably sell all of my firearms tomorrow and be fine. The problem is that something in me has changed since I started owning and carrying firearms. I sometimes feel like, since I have the right, I feel like I have the duty and with that duty comes great responsibility, a responsibility I take very seriously. Both ownership and really looking into the 2nd amendment made the change for me (along with finding out my daughter had a natural ability with firearms), and this at a much later age than most of you replying.
I think ArmedLiberal's post reads much like my experience. I have found a surprising number of people that shoot that I did not know about. I have enjoyed finding the forums, and found a local one with a pistol for sale that I am going to pick up on Tuesday. I looked at a CMP and ended up with a DPMS LR-308AP4 because I wanted a 308 and decided I wanted an EBR in case evil looking rifles got negative legislation again.
I have had nothing but fun with this.