Posted on 06/13/2009 5:19:25 AM PDT by riverrunner
Around September of last year, when it became apparent that Obama was going to win the election, I decided if I was ever going to exercise my constitutional rights, now was the time. I went to a range where they rent pistols, knowing absolutely nothing about any of it. I felt like a total idiot, but the guys were great - very helpful and not condescending or obnoxious as I had sort of expected.
The rental guy handed me several different handguns, deciding on his own that I looked like I needed a semi-auto, and I was surprised at how heavy they were. He kept asking which one felt the best, and I responded, "I don't know... what's it supposed to feel like?" Like I said, I had NO clue what I was getting into, I just hoped I didn't shoot myself.
I finally settled on a Glock that seemed to fit right in my hand, and after a quick "tour" that pretty much went like this: "This is how you load it. This is how you unload it. This is how you hold it so the slide doesn't cut your thumb. Here's your box of ammo. Any questions?" he sent me out to the range.
I got my ear protection on, got the thing loaded somehow, took a deep breath and was suddenly startled to realize that somewhere in my head was this thought rattling around that I was about to do something WRONG. Kind of a feeling like the author of the article described. It truly made me stop for a second and think, "Where did that come from? I'm not doing anything wrong!" And I realized how it had been embedded deeply in my brain that only bad people used guns for bad things. And it kind of pissed me off.
So I fired off the first round and was like, "Heh. Cool!" I think I only hit the target once in my first five shots. Then one of the range assistants came over to give me some pointers.
I've been addicted ever since and just recently earned my CCW. Got the best range score in my group, too!
BTTT. What a great story!
Thanks! And thanks to all the FReepers who gave me advice and answered questions for me. It pays to lurk around the 2nd Amendment posts!
We have a similar story - wondering how many times it been repeated in the past couple of months.
Bump for later
Great essay! FYI, there is no NEED for the Supremes to consider 2nd Amendment “Incorporation”! FACT: The 2nd Amendment is SELF-incorporated to all government entities at every level. It is MORE ABSOLUTE than the 1st Amendment, or any of the others, because the wording forbids not only CONGRESS, but ANYONE from infringing on it. The 1st says “Congress shall make no law...”. The 2nd say “shall NOT be infringed!” Period! End of debate!
Back in the USSR hunters were permitted to have double-barelled shotguns, while those who lived on hunting in remote areas - rifles. 0.22 rifles were sold without a licence till the seventies.
There was a burden to prove one's innocence in self-defence, like the today's norms in some US states, D.C. and the UK.
>I just finished reading 1984 by George Orwell. We would never be allowed to read this book in the Soviet Union.
Not true
>But we never heard Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech;
Not true
I disagree with you on the both points. Such books were not allowed until late perestroika.
in USSR in 1976 in "Voprosy istorii" № 2, с. 210-213.
So it was published in an academic magazine on history. Ok, I stand corrected.
>Do you really think arguing costs its effort here?
No.
in 1988 , I was 11 yo, and my family was in the middle of inter-ethnic conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, my parents were trying to find a way to protect our lives. Do you think I had the time to look for George Orwell book while trying to stay alive?
I stand by every word in my article. When I tell you I did not know or read something until I was 30 yo, I tell you what I know or read or did not read. Even if the book was published before or after 1988 - if my parents or school teachers or friends did not talk about it, did not give it to me to read, and if the library person did not suggest that I read it - well, I obviously never knew the book existed and never read the book. Whoever you are and wherever you live and whatever your memories are, I guess it is just easy for you to discredit me and my memories, rather that accept that USSR was a big country and everyone has a different experience. your Ignorance speaks for you.
My grandpa and all his brothers went through WWII and served with honors; I’ve read the book of their personal accounts - about Soviets, collectivization, jokes about kolhoz, etc. True, they all gave away their guns away as they were asked, so no guns were ever in our house. True, I saw dead fox skin/fur on the floor in some houses in the villages in Caucus mountains and obviously the villagers had rifles - but like you say — you had to be living in remote area - because the animals might attack you. But I guess in the cities no one would think to attack you? The ammo was limited/rationed and they had to report every round shot. Do you not hear your Ignorance and Denial shouting louder and louder?
To the comment about sniper - the next sentence should have been “these shootings just re-affirmed the only knowledge about guns I had in 2002 - guns are bad and guns kill people”, that’s all I thought, not more, not less. No I did not think a gun or a knife would save me from the sniper.
Leyla Myers
U.S. Citizen as of December 16, 2009
Bless you, and welcome to the U.S. of A.!
How I love naturalized citizens! You are here because you CHOSE to be American.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Allow me to offer dittoes!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.