Guns and me (longish)

[Bennyboy]

Last edited Thu Dec 20, 2012, 11:39 AM - Edit history (1)

PART ONE:

From the earliest age I had guns in my life. I remember going to Chico Sporting Goods, on our way to our campground, and buying a bolt action 22, for my very own at around 10 or so. We would go camping and blow the shit out of everything. We shot cans, homemade targets etc. Box upon box.. Everyone we camped with took part and gun safety was very very important. Newcomers, of which there were many over the years, had to listen to the speech about gun safety and all that before they were allowed to fire.

For decades we would do this as a family. Got some better guns, but mostly stuck to 22 caliber rifles, pump action and the single shot (which my brother now has). Other people would bring other guns, handguns etc but they were too big of bang for me and I and my family preferred the smaller caliber rifles....

Went hunting over the years but never killed anything, nor did anyone in the party I was with. Did some skeet shooting and liked that though.

By the time I was in sixth grade I had a lot of experience handling guns. We used to go ride out a place we called "Lead Hill" and blow the shit out of stuff every weekend. A whole bunch of us would ride our dirt bikes, mini bikes etc along the railroad tracks to avoid street riding and we would target practice. It was this big bank and we would put the targets up there and blast away. I had my own gun then, a 22 caliber pump action with a shitty scope. Used to be pretty good too, Shot a bit to the upper right about 2 oclock..

One of the biggest streets round here is named "Lead Hill Blvd" after that spot. It was where EVERYONE used to go to shoot. The Hill is still there too but that area is pretty populated now. Probably one hell of a lot of guns round there though considering the neighborhood.

I really got into black powder guns for a while as an adult. Loved them, mostly just because they were a kick in the ass but there was a certain "If I wanna kill someone, I really gonna have to want them dead" scenario that felt safer than having rim fire weapons laying around. . I had some nice ones too, including an 1860's era blunderbuss and a 60 caliber Sharps Buffalo rifle (with tripod) (like Jeremiah Johnson) and a couple of pistols. even had a cannon for a while. But that is one expensive hobby and you gotta live in that world to really get the full thing going...and I wasn't ready to turn in my tie dyes for a coonskin Cap that I skinned myself.

never had another gun after I sold all my powder guns. Being an emotional sort, I figured that a gun would only lead to more problems than it solved.

PART TWO: READER'S Digest.