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slaveluci -> RE: Gun control (8/9/2007 7:12:49 PM)
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~FR to no one in particular~
I grew up in a rural area and all the men in my family and surrounding area were hunters. My dad and granddad (and now my brother) all collected guns. My brother was in the woods hunting deer by age 8. He, my sister, and myself were all taught how to shoot and we were taught how dangerous guns can be. Therefore, we were also taught gun safety. There were several loaded guns throughout our home the whole time I was growing up. None of us (or any of our friends) ever touched them without permission and adult supervision. It's all in how you're taught.
Regardless of all that, I grew up being an anti-gun proponent. I didn't want to handle them, thought there should be strict gun control, etc. This all changed one night during college. I was staying at my grandmother's home alone when someone tried to break into the house in the wee hours of the morning. I was asleep and the only thing that saved me was that the person accidentally knocked over a huge, stone flower pot. The noise woke me and I could hear them trying to get in through the locked front door.
I knew my granny kept a loaded handgun in the dresser so, hands shaking so hard I couldn't hardly hold it, I got it and headed into the living room and toward that front door. I had a moment to think, though, as they couldn't get through the front door so they went around back and started walking down the length of the back porch toward that door. I knew it wasn't locked very securely and they could probably push their way in. At that moment, I had to make a decision. What was I going to do if they came in through that door? I decided there was nothing in that house worth dying or killing for and made (what I know think was) a rather fool-hardy decision. I grabbed my car keys and, gun pointing out in front of me, opened the front door and made a dash to my car. I got in, locked it, and drove off. My neighbor and brother then came and the intruder was gone.
The point of that rambling story was that, as much as I "hated" guns, the first thing I did when I felt my life was in danger was to grab one. It was easy for me to be all smug in my assurance that guns were "bad." But when I needed one to protect myself, I didn't hesitate to grab it, cock it, and get ready for battle...lol...even though I decided fleeing was the best answer. The gun gave me the sense of security I needed to run out that door and get out of there. I didn't use it to kill or maim and it didn't get used against me. The bottom line is that it afforded me enough security so that I felt safe to get outside and away from the scene of the "intended" crime.
Since then, my attitude has changed. I saw the hypocrisy of my stance toward guns and have since really changed my thoughts. Since then, I've even shot an SKS. Whoosh, the power I felt[;)]. Seriously......everyone is entitled to their take on the matter but that's mine. I sure hated guns until I needed one. Now my feelings are: "I'd rather have one and not need it than need one and not have it."..............luci
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