I've always been afraid of guns. The thought of having one inside the house scared me to death. I'd heard too many horror stories of children getting killed because they got hold of a loaded weapon that hadn't been properly secured. I'd heard of people cleaning guns and having them accidentally discharge.
I didn't want one. Until my husband finally talked me into getting one. But I only agreed on one condition. We'd have to take a class to learn to use them.
My first experience at the shooting range was nothing like what I expected. I didn't expect such a loud bang. I didn't expect the flash that occurred each time I pulled the trigger. I didn't expect such fear at holding a weapon that could essentially take someone's life.
I'll still be taking numerous classes. I'm sure this is a learning process. And for the moment, I'm still afraid to load it on my own. Hopefully confidence will come with practice.
Do you own a gun? Are you afraid of them? Do you think you could pull the trigger on a real person?
Hi Shirley:
ReplyDeleteYes, I own a few firearms, including a semi-automatic pistol and a revolver. I've been shooting for over twenty-five years now, and I enjoy the challenge of hitting targets at various distances and from different positions.
As for fear, I have to say that I have a healthy, respectful fear. Like a car, misuse can be deadly. I applaud the fact that you are taking safety classes to make sure you handle them properly.
I owned guns before I was married, and my wife had some experience with them, so I wasn't worried about having them around. When our first child came, however, they all got locked up, unloaded and with the ammunition located in a separate location. Now that my kids are older (19 and 17), I store them in a slightly more accessible manner, but ONLY because both son and daughter have been to the range and have the same healthy, respectful fear of the things.
There was only one instance where I have felt it necessary to fetch my revolver, loaded--3 a.m., a drunk supposedly looking for his on my property, brought to my attention thanks to my dog's barking--and I pray that I never will have that need again. I do believe that I could shoot a person if I believed he or she would otherwise harm a member of my family.
I take to heart something I learned on the range of my local Sheriff's department: Never point a gun at anything or anyone unless you are fully prepared to shoot, and never shoot at any animal or person unless you intend to kill. In law enforcement, I am told that there is no such thing as "shooting to wound."
Owning a gun is a huge responsibility. I am a firm believer in the Second Amendment, and i also believe that the kind of training you are engaging in should be mandatory for gun ownership.
I agree. I'll definitely be taking several training classes. We've checked into the Conceal and Carry, but also several other safety classes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your input.
Hi, Shirley,
ReplyDeleteI agree. Having a gun is a serious responsibility. Owners should take training classes as you are doing. Because I also write romantic mysteries with the emphasis on mystery, I've done a lot of research on weaponry.
Jacqueline Seewald
THE TRUTH SLEUTH
THE DROWNING POOL
THE INFERNO COLLECTION
I have fired numerous handguns as part of research, and when I was a kid my family had both rifles and shotguns, which I used from time to time for 'varmints'.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do not own a gun at this time (except for the Daisy Red Ryder BB gun I got for my son when he was ten), and I can't imagine the circumstances in which I would own one, short of complete governmental insurrection.
Statistics clearly indicate that the vast majority of handgun deaths in this country are inflicted by family members using household guns, or by self-inflicted wounds, either intentional or unintentional. Why bring such a source of violence into your home? Personally, I think the Second Amendment, as most people interpret it at this point, has indelibly damaged the safety of the people in this country, and worldwide statistics regarding handgun and long gun deaths bear this out. The rest of the world sees the US as a pretty savage place. Why contribute to that image?
I'm not afraid of guns. Actually kind of enjoy firing them when I have the opportunity, but that's just the residual little boy in me liking things that go bang. The true statistics regarding handgun ownership is that you are far more likely to be killed with the handgun you own than you are to use it to protect yourself from some criminal.
Richard Helms
ITW Thriller Award Winner
THUNDER MOON from Five Star
THE UNRESOLVED SEVENTH, coming in April 2012
www.richardhelms.net
I own a Reuger and Ruby is her name. Before my husband and I adopted her, I took the required course for certification.
ReplyDeleteSecurity feels good. Could I shoot a person? If the lives of my loved ones were in danger, I sure hope so.