The blog’s current header graphic has a few of the hobbies I’m interested in. Of note is the pistol, which may concern some readers.
Guns and shooting can be a touchy subject for many people, which is understandable. Guns are very often in the news, usually in the hands of a criminal or a police officer. They are a tool of violence, good or bad.
For me, personally, they serve two main roles. Self defense and the basic fun of shooting.
Self-defense is self explanatory. It having the best tool quickly available to stop somebody from hurting or killing myself or my family. This is something that I don’t approach lightly or without quite a lot of thought. Carrying a weapon is a serious decision and can have broad implications to your future. You can’t make a mistake here, because if you do, you may well be going to jail yourself.
The other side of things are a bit less serious. Target shooting is fun, and I put the feeling of it about like playing golf or shooting billiards. It is a game were you are mostly competing with yourself. The best shooters in the world put in hours and hours of practice, most of it without a bullet in the gun (dry-fire). For me to make an accurate shot, I often have to “zen” out a bit and stop thinking about the mechanical aspects of what I’m doing and just let it happen. Making a good grouping with a rifle provides a great sense of satisfaction.
Another aspect of the fun of shooting is just going to the range and converting money to smoke and noise. I find most gun people to be pretty friendly and there is a good sense of respect for each other. Most will happily talk about the gun they are currently shooting, especially if it is a older gun. The old-timers will share knowledge, both good and bad. Often there is a tall tale about some long shot somebody pulled off.
Often my shooting is a mix of the above. To be a good defensive shooter, you need to practice. That means going to range and putting holes in paper as accurately and as quickly as possible. When it is time to shoot somebody, it is time to shoot them NOW and only hits count. Misses may have bad consequences. Every bullet you shoot potentially comes with a lawyer attached.
Make no mistake; guns can be dangerous. Safety is of critical importance, even when having fun.
I’ll end this with the commonly quoted four rules of firearm safety.
1. All guns are always loaded. (Treat them so!)
2. Never point the gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target (and you have made the decision to shoot).
4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
Be safe out there, and have fun.
