Weird. I used to work in law enforcement, and yet the only gun I owned was given to me when my grandpa died when I was 12. I used to work in Corrections, and during that time, I had a CCW, used strictly for work purposes. I was issued a .38 for transportation runs of inmates to and from the hospital, to and from different prisons, etc. The weapon wasn't issued to me; it was state property, and I had to turn it back into the arsenal after each transportation run.
To obtain the CCW certification, I had to run through the law enforcement training corps gun safety course, which included shooting about 28.5 million rounds (OK, a slight exaggeration), loading, reloading, low light firing, barricade firing, situational awareness, etc. I was also part of the regional Emergency Response Team, where I underwent other training for building clearing, search and rescue, hostage situations, and internal gun squad readiness, which required an ability to use a 12 gauge Remington 870. I left the department in 2005 to venture out into IT consulting (great decision, BTW).
I've never had a problem with guns. It wasn't like I was scared of them, but we never had one in our house growing up (even though my mom had a psycho ex husband), and it was never impressed upon me to work, live, and breathe firearms. I just never thought about it. I didn't look at people who owned guns as nuts, and I didn't view those who didn't as elitists. I just lived.
We bought our first gun about a month ago. We went to a local show, and we were able to walk away with a nice Ruger 380. I wanted it for my wife. A nearby business has been broken into twice since we've moved to our house, and the owner of the business walked in on the robbers when one of the robberies was in progress. They got away, and he's lucky they weren't armed when he encountered them. We have also had increased violence in the Grand Rapids area, and a town about 5 miles away recently had a double homicide of an elderly couple. Violence is increasing, and even though the violence may not be gun related, I feel my wife and I need to be protected.
We chose to buy a gun for the home, one that my wife can handle and feels comfortable holding and shooting. I will be purchasing a .40 within the next couple days, and we will introduce them to our 2 daughters once we start going to the range. I want them to be able to protect themselves too. I have started writing a protocol for situational awareness for our family to follow, and we will go to the range together, as a family.
I am also planning on buying an AR-15, a .308 and a 12 gauge. Mostly for protection, but the AR and .308 will be because I want one before I can no longer get one. It's sad that this country has dwindled down to the depths of the stupid lately. These plays on emotion, the elitist, ruling class dictating what is best for us, when they really don't know what they are talking about. Banning guns because they look scary, or have a suppressor, or can shoot <x> amount of rounds... Just idiotic.
So why the shift? Why have I gone from not thinking about owning a gun, to wanting to amass what amounts to a mini-arsenal to me? Well, because it's my right. As an American, we are given certain rights, and were given them at the start of this great nation. We Americans were given the right to speak freely, worship who or what we want, the right to assemble, and the right to bear arms. We are not given the right to hunt. We are not given the right to whisper. We are not given the right to gather with a couple of people around the water cooler. We are not given the right to pray in silence, behind a curtain, in the basement of our home.
The right to bear arms affords us the ability to speak freely, assemble in large groups, worship our God, and it is a foundation to keep tyranny in check. I have many liberal friends and relatives who think that I am nuts for my stance on the second amendment. They ask "how many guns do you own?" When I told them up until a month ago that I owned none, they were shocked that I would support the NRA, gun coalitions and the right for citizens to carry wherever they want. "WHY?!?!?!" I would just say simply, "it's their right." It amazes me that only Gays have the right to marry. That only the liberal press has the right to write what it wants. That only Occupy <whatever> has the right to assemble. That only the president and legislature have the right to decide what is a right or best for me and my family.
I joined the NRA at the gun show where I bought my wife her 380. I joined for a year. I will be a member for life, but I didn't have the cash for a lifetime membership. They aren't nuts. They are there for people like me. They are an organization who speaks up for my right, to ensure that my right to bear arms is not infringed, as it says in the constitution. I don't want my wife unable to protect herself. I can't bear the thought of some evil person attempting to harm my little girls. Having the ability to protect themselves and myself from an individual intent on harming me or us is very important. Protecting myself from a government intent on telling me what is best for me is my right. Thank God for the NRA, Coalitions and Dealers who are now standing up for us. Go spend $25 and join the NRA. Even if you don't own a gun. They need the money to defend our right. And it needs defending right now.
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