SDR: Nice post. As an avid shooter, I’ve put up with all of the name-calling that goes with it. I take precautions, I’m careful with my kids and I’ve taught them gun safety and most of all, to respect what guns can do.
I agree with my dad’s assertion that a gun is nothing more than a tool and not to attach any emotions, good or bad, to it.
I use to shoot competitive shotgun when I was in high school (sporting clays, trap and skeet). I used my dad’s old 1950s Browning over and under (he bought it in a PX in Korea in 1951 for $75.00) and I would routinely beat guys older than me shooting $10k and $15k shotguns. I was all of 14 when I started competing and it did amazing things for my confidence and at a really key age (my teenage years) in my life.
