Shooting

Sako 75 Synthetic Stainless in 7mm Remington Magnum, Leupold Vari-X III 8.5-25X40 AO Scope with sunshade, Butler Creak flip-up scope covers and Harris bipod.

How could anyone as nice as GAD like to shoot?

Um.. nice people shoot. Smart people too. In fact if you think that all shooters are buck-toothed rednecks, then I'm afraid you're guilty of thinking what other people tell you to think. I've met some amazing people shooting - doctors, lawyers, accountants, and a LOT of computer people. In fact I welcome anyone to come shooting with me and learn the truth about guns and gun people.

I'm a smart guy (modest too!), and would never do anything that would endanger myself or my family. Let me clarify that - Before I bought my first gun, I did a LOT of research - I mean months worth. I read everything I could get my hands on on the subject, both for and against, then talked to some friends that had guns. I talked to people in gun stores, people on the Internet, and anyone who would talk about the subject. After listening to both sides for months, I sat down to make up my own mind! Imagine not just thinking what the NRA or HCI told me to think!

It quickly became clear to me that there is a lot of rhetoric on BOTH sides of the argument, but with some critical thinking, I came to some conclusions:

Looking down the 100 yard range. I can shoot a quarter at this range. Can you?

• Guns (nor any inanimate objects) cannot be "evil"
• Most gun related tragedies (It went off when I was cleaning it - I didn't think it was loaded), are the direct result of human stupidity, not the result of the gun being or doing anything.
• Most gun related tragedies that affect children are again the direct result of human stupidity! Anyone who leaves a gun, loaded or otherwise within reach of a child deserves the maximum sentence allowed by law. In fact, I believe they should be brought up on charges of child abuse as well.
• People need to take responsibility for their actions, not blame things (or other people). Alcoholics don't blame alcohol - they take responsibility for their lives, and take control (and kudos to them!).
• IGNORANCE is the #1 problem on both sides of the argument!
• FEAR is the #2 issue on the side of the anti-gun people.
• Decisions should NEVER be made on emotions alone. Most anti-gun rhetoric is emotionally charged.
• The NRA is so "powerful" because it has so many members! No members - no power.
• The NRA is often accused of being too powerful by people who oppose them, and not powerful enough by its members.
• I do not agree with everything the NRA says or does, but their safety programs are TOP NOTCH. Who better to learn about gun safety from? And yes, they even teach children what to do when they find a gun (keep reading)
• Gun SAFETY should be everyone's #1 concern. Why do we promote "Don't drink and drive" instead of "ban all alcohol or cars"? We should be promoting Safety, not banning. Check out this program entitled "Gun Safety - It's no accident". They've got the right idea.
• Teaching children about guns (not to love or hate them) should be on every family's list - Stop, Don't Touch, Leave the Area, Tell an Adult!
• Teaching children not to touch anything just doesn't work, especially when one touch can kill! Would you leave Drain-O on the floor unsecured and tell a toddler not to touch it?
• The second amendment means something. Read the Federalist Papers and the Constitution itself to figure out what.
  
  

Smith & Wesson 686+ .357 Magnum Revolver. Contrary to popular mythology, it has no will of its own, and can neither influence or act upon its environment.

I'm not trying to tell you what to think or believe - that's your (and your parent's) job. What I do recommend is that you research this issue of guns in America. Research does not mean going to the Rosie O'Donnel home page and listening to whatever she shovels your way (or the NRA's for that matter!) - it means gathering information from as many sources as you can, then figuring out for yourself what is the right path. Hmmm... sounds just like life doesn't it?

Think America!

That being said, I love shooting. Handguns, rifles, shotguns - DCM matches, trap shooting, cowboy (OK, not yet but soon), you name it! Nothing feels better than grouping 5 shots in an area the size of a dime at 100 meters, except maybe the same group at 200 meters. :)

Everyone who shoots with me will (no option) get a lecture about safety including these basic rules:

• All guns are always loaded! Treat every gun this way.
• Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy!
• Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target.
• Be sure of your target. Know what it is, what is in line with it, and what is behind it. Never shoot anything you have not positively identified.

These rules were originally written by Jeff Cooper, one of the most important people in the history of modern firearms.

Windage, Elevation and Parallax knobs on my Leupold Mark IV 16X Mildot

What's cool about these rules is that a person with a gun must break MORE THAN ONE of them for someone to get hurt. Popular to common myth, guns don't just "go off" on their own; some outside force must act on them to cause a discharge. Anyone who says that the gun "just went off" is covering up some stupid thing they did.

Anyone who owns a firearm should join not only the National Rifle Association, but the Gun Owners of America as well. There are plenty of people and orginizations who are Hell-bent on taking away America's firearms. If you are not working to preserve these freedoms, then you are helping to eliminate them.

Lastly I welcome any conversations about the topics of guns no matter what your stand, provided you are willing to keep emotions out of the argument. That's not easy for anyone to do, but if you're willing - I'm here at gad@gad.net.

Check out a trip to the range here.
Check out the true story of "The Block"
Check out my SWS project
Check out my SureFire flashlights
Learn from my Stupid Mistake