04-19-2007, 05:50 PM
Jim as you probably know, I have a large gun collection (35+). I feel that it’s too much of a cultural gap for you to understand, but I will try to explain to you my view. Please do not think I am talking down to you. I am not! I don’t want to damage our friendship over something such as this. You have your views, and I have mine. :lol:
I grew up with firearms all around me. I was taught to shoot a small caliber single shot rifle for sport, and for fun, before I went to school. Hunting has been a family tradition on my mothers’ side of the family since they came to this country in the 18th cent. So there is a cultural difference that I do not expect you to grasp.
Hunting was a way of life for many families here in the Appalachians for many generations. If they didn’t get the "kill" they did not eat in some of these areas that are very secluded. Since that time hunting has grown into a sport more than a need, and it’s a skill that’s passed from father to son. So there is another cultural difference. The idea of teaching your young one to hunt, and to respect the environment.
I also believe that the so-called "gun culture" is nothing more than values of independence that many Americans have. As you know our country was born out of rebellion, and in many ways Americans tend to be more rebellious than Europeans. This possibly comes from our history, and mythos. We tend to place a certain value on going our own way in all aspects. We will question authority much quicker than some of our brethren in the old country.
Now for the reason I collect firearms. I love history and especially military history. Along with that love I love to target shoot. I enjoy taking my 1917 dated no1 MkIII Lee-Enfield to the range and shooting clays. To me I always wonder what this rifle has seen. If it could only speak! (maybe if it could it could convince people of how futile WW1 was) So there's the meat of my collection. Historical pieces from WW1 mainly, some WW2 and replica firelocks.
Hunting never appealed to me. I don’t want to harm anything much less a beautiful creature in the forest. I have owned modern assault rifles such as Ar15s, AK-47s, FN-FALs, etc etc These style of weapons have never really done anything for me since the historical value of them are really not in my area of study. My wife and my friends and I regularly go to the range with several rifles and target shoot. With that there’s plenty of fun conversation about shooting zombies, dinosaurs or Santa Claus. That’s all it is nothing more. We have no ideas of committing crimes with them. We waste money on ammunition, and targets then go home.
I have been labeled as a "gun nut" by many from the "left" simply because I have firearms, and I enjoy target shooting. Personally I resent that because I am not a "nut" and neither are the vast majority of gun owners that I know. Everyone that I know is a upstanding member of society pays taxes, and contributes something to the community.
I attend gun shows in a 300 mile radius of my hometown on a regular basis, and I will take a shot at ( non pun intended) in saying that 90% of the people attending these shows are over the age of 60. Most of them are there to look for a new bird gun, or rabbit gun to trade, or to get away from the wife and tell lies about hunting. Not very dissimilar to guys in your town going to the pub for a couple of pints. I attend because I am looking for a new restoration project. Happen to have a pre-1915 No1 MkIII with volley sites, and cut-off?
Now for the argument that people want guns for defense. I will speak again from my personal experience, and knowledge. Many people feel that they need a firearm to protect themselves from whatever threat that they perceive. Folks around here live in some pretty rural places where it could take law enforcement up to an hour to arrive (not always, but sometimes) So they feel they need for protection incase there is a crazy hopped up on meth, or whiskey, or your basic run of the mill a$$hole.
Then there’s the possibility of bears, dogs etc etc (but these are not my reasons). I keep a loaded shotgun in my bedroom incase someone were to break into my home that could cause harm to my wife first, and secondly to myself. I pray that I never have to raise it in anger..... but better to have it if needed, than to not have it if needed.
Judge me, as you will these are my views. However I hope you get an insight to the reasons why.
I grew up with firearms all around me. I was taught to shoot a small caliber single shot rifle for sport, and for fun, before I went to school. Hunting has been a family tradition on my mothers’ side of the family since they came to this country in the 18th cent. So there is a cultural difference that I do not expect you to grasp.
Hunting was a way of life for many families here in the Appalachians for many generations. If they didn’t get the "kill" they did not eat in some of these areas that are very secluded. Since that time hunting has grown into a sport more than a need, and it’s a skill that’s passed from father to son. So there is another cultural difference. The idea of teaching your young one to hunt, and to respect the environment.
I also believe that the so-called "gun culture" is nothing more than values of independence that many Americans have. As you know our country was born out of rebellion, and in many ways Americans tend to be more rebellious than Europeans. This possibly comes from our history, and mythos. We tend to place a certain value on going our own way in all aspects. We will question authority much quicker than some of our brethren in the old country.
Now for the reason I collect firearms. I love history and especially military history. Along with that love I love to target shoot. I enjoy taking my 1917 dated no1 MkIII Lee-Enfield to the range and shooting clays. To me I always wonder what this rifle has seen. If it could only speak! (maybe if it could it could convince people of how futile WW1 was) So there's the meat of my collection. Historical pieces from WW1 mainly, some WW2 and replica firelocks.
Hunting never appealed to me. I don’t want to harm anything much less a beautiful creature in the forest. I have owned modern assault rifles such as Ar15s, AK-47s, FN-FALs, etc etc These style of weapons have never really done anything for me since the historical value of them are really not in my area of study. My wife and my friends and I regularly go to the range with several rifles and target shoot. With that there’s plenty of fun conversation about shooting zombies, dinosaurs or Santa Claus. That’s all it is nothing more. We have no ideas of committing crimes with them. We waste money on ammunition, and targets then go home.
I have been labeled as a "gun nut" by many from the "left" simply because I have firearms, and I enjoy target shooting. Personally I resent that because I am not a "nut" and neither are the vast majority of gun owners that I know. Everyone that I know is a upstanding member of society pays taxes, and contributes something to the community.
I attend gun shows in a 300 mile radius of my hometown on a regular basis, and I will take a shot at ( non pun intended) in saying that 90% of the people attending these shows are over the age of 60. Most of them are there to look for a new bird gun, or rabbit gun to trade, or to get away from the wife and tell lies about hunting. Not very dissimilar to guys in your town going to the pub for a couple of pints. I attend because I am looking for a new restoration project. Happen to have a pre-1915 No1 MkIII with volley sites, and cut-off?
Now for the argument that people want guns for defense. I will speak again from my personal experience, and knowledge. Many people feel that they need a firearm to protect themselves from whatever threat that they perceive. Folks around here live in some pretty rural places where it could take law enforcement up to an hour to arrive (not always, but sometimes) So they feel they need for protection incase there is a crazy hopped up on meth, or whiskey, or your basic run of the mill a$$hole.
Then there’s the possibility of bears, dogs etc etc (but these are not my reasons). I keep a loaded shotgun in my bedroom incase someone were to break into my home that could cause harm to my wife first, and secondly to myself. I pray that I never have to raise it in anger..... but better to have it if needed, than to not have it if needed.
Judge me, as you will these are my views. However I hope you get an insight to the reasons why.
"...quemadmodum gladius neminem occidit, occidentis telum est."
a.k.a. Paul M.
a.k.a. Paul M.
