I never thought I'd be posting about guns
Living in Texas has kind of been forcing me to solidify my opinions and thinking about a lot of new things.
I feel like when I'm on my university campus in my liberal Canadian city, I can say "Sarah Palin is a joke" and people will be all, "I know, right, and not even a funny one." Now that I live in a city where more than 50% of the residents are ACTUALLY going to vote for her, I can't just say she's crazy... I actually have to have facts to back myself up (Ps. The next post is about a fight I got in with a man at a bookstore after I innocently picked up a Michael Moore book. Stay tuned)
I've also been confronted with scenarios that I've never really thought about. I mean, like, nobody in Canada has a gun. Are you even allowed? I don't know. Nobody has one, though. If somebody other than a farmer said they had a gun we'd all be like "...really? why?" but here in Texas EVERYBODY has a gun. People have multiple guns. People carry their guns with them every day. This is all new to me.
For my first few weeks living here I was all "HAHA GUNS. TEXAS. HAHA. COWBOY BOOTS. HAHA. HAMBURGERS THE SIZE OF MY FACE HAHA GUNS" and when I was told that I was going to be taught how to shoot a gun my immediate thought was "GOOD. The next time I play Have You Ever, I'm totally going to win."
In a few recent "hows Texas!!!" conversations with friends, I've brought up that I'm going to learn to shoot a gun. And they're like "...why?" and you know what freaders? I don't know why.
I've learned how to stand and hold the gun, and I practiced pulling the trigger with an unloaded gun but I was too nervous/unsure to actually use live ammo. Next time we shoot (we= me and my coworkers, out at the test site) I'm probably going to be offered to shoot a hot gun (listen to me. "hot gun." WHO AM I) and I'm not sure if I want to.
I've been thinking about it a lot over the past few days.
If I don't, I'm going to kick myself after the term is over, call myself a wimp, and regret not living the full "Texas experience"
If I do then I'm somebody who has shot a gun. And guns are scary. Guns are made and used to hurt and kill people. Guns are about power and using fear to control people. Guns are violent and they promote violence.
I don't know enough about the laws to start sharing educated opinions on how I think they should be more regulated... and I when I talked to a gun-toting friend about how he carries a gun with him, I know I came of sounding incredibly idealistic.
I don't REALLY see the harm in firing a gun a few times in a safe environment with a non-living target with people who know what they're doing. But... I don't know. I feel weird about it kind of. Why am I turning this into such a big decision? Am I being crazy? Would you shoot it?
27 comments:
I recently moved in with 2 people that I met off of Craigs list and then learned that one of them owns a gun. I immediately began to think about how quick I could move out.
However, I didn't move out. Instead, I learned more about it. I still absolutely hate guns and want to have nothing to do with it and don't want to see it or be around it. But, I did learn how to shoot guns and shot one myself.
I started the day thinking I'd just go and learn about it and watch and then throughout the day I worked myself up to be able to shoot one. It was terrifying and I am not any more comfortable with the guns but I'm glad that I did it just so that now when I discuss guns, I have more to add to my discussion. It helps you to have a more valid argument if you can say, "Yes, I tried this and I still disagree." And after having said that, I'll never ever do it again though.
Being that I grew up in South Georgia, I've shot a gun. (In the middle of very deep woods, at targets in a creek bed.) Honestly, it was oddly fun. I still would never, never, never have a gun in my home, especially not around my children. But shooting one is not so bad. I don't think there's anything wrong with giving it a whirl.
I don't think I would. They scare me. But I can see why you would. I think either way will be fine.
so interesting. i went on a date to a firing range, once. i went for almost all the same reasons you're considering shooting - i never had, i thought it would be interesting, and DEFINITELY a good story (which - still totally is. i win the "weirdest date" award every time).
i found the whole thing pretty uncomfortable, though. apparently a lot of women get all empowered when they shoot a gun for the first time, but i had exactly the opposite experience. i felt VERY ACCUTELY how i was holding an actual vehicle to kill humans in my hand, and the ease with which you can do so alarmed the shit out of me. one teeeeensy little trigger squeeze, and BAM, you can kill someone.
so ultimately, i'm really really glad i went. partly for the story, and partly because i really was curious to shoot a gun, and partly because it helped me solidify my stance on them. which is HOLY OMF JESUS PEOPLE DO NOT NEED TO BE CARRYING THESE ON THEIR PERSONS.
Great, great post and a very interesting question.
I think I'd rather remain a Canadian who has never shot a gun.
I have shot a gun, when I was a kid and I didn't have the comprehension to think about it.
And I guess now I would shoot it again. I am against hunting and never ever would hunt. I also just have no desire to go out and buy a gun so I really don't think that I would ever have one in my house. So I guess if I were to shoot one then it would just be for target practice. But since I have no expectations of shooting it AT something living then it would be ok.
heyya Lise! Really good post.
I've shot a gun once. Or one gun, multiple times. It was on a farm in Canada! Pete's farm to be precise. I'm sure you can imagine how happy the idea of teaching his girlfriend how to shoot a gun made him. Anyway - I did it. I had no real desire to, and if I hadn't it would have been mostly for fears sake. Those things are powerful though! Like, geez. I refused to try the biggest one. Anyway - as others have said, I think there is no harm in trying it out. If anything, if you realize you are against them then you will have a better idea of what exactly it is you're against. And though guns are violent, they are not always made and used to control and kill people.
I can't believe I just wrote a comment which appears that I support guns. Except you know, I don't think I'd ever decided to be against guns. I'm against things to do with guns. Like everyday people owning them for no reason. and war.
Not everyone in Texas is a gun-toting, Michael Moore-hating, freedom fry-eating right-wing nutjob. I'm just sayin... I've lived in Texas my whole life and have never shot anything other than a BB gun (once). And I voted for a female for VP way before it was the trendy thing to do (Nader ran with one). :)
With that said, I think I agree with Katie B. There is something kind of powerful about being able to say, "hey, I *have* experienced guns in a "responsible" setting, and I still disagree."
I've shot a shotgun before, just to say I did it. No handguns, though! I'm definitely not bothered by the fact that I shot a gun in the past. It helped me to understand just how powerful they are.
Someone at work said that in Texas it's legal to drive with a gun, but it has to be visible; so they make cars that have a gun holster built into the dash. Is that true? Or am I just another ignorant Canadian...
I think I'd like to have a gun holster on my dash. There'd never be a gun in it, but it would make people think that I MIGHT own one...
- jake
I haven't, and I won't. Not a fan. Wouldn't judge you if you did, though!
I have and would. So long as you're at a range, or test site, or some other safe place then it's really no different than shooting a paintball gun or a BB gun.
PROS and CONS
PRO
You can sit in a theater during an action movie, and scoff: 'yeah right, I seriously doubt that.'
CON
Shooting a gun is a stepping stone to the most dangerous game (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Most_Dangerous_Game).
PRO
You can shoot intruders!
CON
It's very loud and the recoil is unpleasant.
PRO
The core of science is experimentation. This would give you scientist lab cred.
CON
Your personality will totally change and life will no longer be sacred to you.
yeah, why not? You're not shooting the gun at LIVING THINGS, so who cares? You did archery in gym class, and didn't have a moral dilemma about that, probably. If you wanted to actually BUY a gun of your own I might be concerned though.
Post the pic of the magazines! It would be a good post accompaniment.
I shot guns for the first (and maybe last) time in January. I think you should do it just so you can say that you've done. I wasn't a big fan and the guns scared me but I'm glad I tried it.
I'm sorry to tell you, but it's not just Texas. I live in suburban Pennsylvania and my boyfriend/uncles/cousins/etc all own multiple guns. They're all for hunting (deer, turkey, whatever) no for people... But I still don't like them. Or the hunting idea in general (I love deer spotting, but dear god do not try to feed it to me).
I guess guns aren't a terrible thing in the right conditions, but I'm definitely all about regulating who gets their hands on them. With that being said, I think I'd want to take up the opportunity to learn to shoot one. As long as it was just at targets.
Good luck if you do!
I've grown up around guns. I've been shooting since I was 4. I shot competitively for 5 years, and have also gone hunting (though it's not my favorite thing to do).
On our high school team all students had to complete 3 days of NRA gun safety training before they could even be in the room with a firearm.
To me firearms will always be equipment for sport. As a competitive shooter I think of my rifle like a baseball bat. It's a piece of equipment that could possibly inflict harm if used incorrectly or irresponsibly.
I'd say go for it, you may enjoy it. And if you develop an interest in learning more (especially about the competitive side I think biathlons--running+shooting--might be up your alley!) let me know.
:-)
Ok, agreed, guns are insanely scary. They are used to kill other people. Dead. Like yes, people say its for self defense, but I feel like if you have the gun with you, you're more likely to use it, especially if its unnecessary. But hey, it could be that I'm a g-uneducated person. Ha! But in all seriousness Lisa, you really should do it. Just once! Maybe twice! Just make it a once in a lifetime experience. You already said you'd regret it if you left Texas without trying it. Then you'll know for sure how scary it is to use a real gun, and you can argue about it. I think its something you'll remember for the rest of your life.
I say go for it-- just consider it learning a new skill that may sometime come in handy and save your life.
I have been in Texas for four years and I have not picked up a gun. I am from liberal San Francisco, so you can only imagine how I feel. One more year though.
I have thought about it. Like just going to a shooting range and trying it. But why? I'm never going to shoot anything. I'm not going to own a gun. I used to be really anti-gun - but the other night we had someone crazy banging on our door in the middle of the night and I was glad that my boyfriend insists that we have a rifle - just in case. But I'm very anti-hunting, so it's not like I'm ever going to shoot anything but targets....so what's the point.
In other words - I'll be very interested in seeing the comments you get on this one.
And also - it tickles me that you go with your coworkers. I don't think it would be a very smart idea for my coworkers to get together with weapons. I'm just sayin'
"HAHA GUNS. TEXAS. HAHA. COWBOY BOOTS. HAHA. HAMBURGERS THE SIZE OF MY FACE HAHA GUNS"
This quote made my entire week.
Also, Sarah Palin is a joke. It's OK. You can say it. Online, anyway.
-J
As someone who grew up in rural ohio where everyone has a gun, let me say that if you don't shoot the gun, you will regret it. Even if you have no plans to ever own a gun or anything, you'll at least have experienced and tried something new.
Also as someone who owns a gun (although I store it at my parents), who's family is full of hunters, who eats almost exclusively venison (deer) meet, I think that Sarah Palin is a joke. And that's Ok. She's a horrible ploy by John McCain to fool women into voting for him. Whatever. We are smarter than that.
Anyway...no matter your opinions on gun control and such, if you ever want to debate or want more information, let me know! Have fun in Texas, it's one of my favorite places in the U.S.
As one who lives in Texas, I can say I don't have a gun (and don't want one) and not everyone has a gun. If you want to for the experience or just to say you have tried it once, have at it, but be VERY safe.
I actually just thought about this today... how I don't even know anyone who owns a gun, besides maybe a friend's dad who hunts. It's just not something that is a reality to me.
I say, generally, you only live once, so why not... but at the same time, I do understand your hesitation. I don't know if it would be something I would seek out!
hey lise,
Of course there's the ol' "try everything once" argument, and the ol' "its not hurting anybody" argument, but reading your post, it doesn't sound like you want to shoot a gun.
Guns ARE scary. And "Have you ever" or not, I think it's a much cooler story to say that you had the option to learn how to shoot a gun, and you chose not to.
There are many things in this world that we need to learn how to do. We need to learn how to love each other, we need to learn how to forgive each other, we need to learn how to be realistic, self-aware, present, open. It is actually an amazing and wonderful thing that you have never in your life NEEDED to learn how to shoot a gun. I'm sure there are many people who wish your reality was theirs.
I know it can be overwhelming to be in a new culture and surrounded by new people - it can sway anyone to do things they choose to do in another context. and I know you to be a person of integrity, and I trust that you will make a mindful decision. But please Lisa, don't do it just for a good story. Make your choice about it, and you'll learn what you need to.
I hate and am terrified by guns too! But if I had the chance I would probably force myself to try it just for the experience.
My best friend's husband is a cop and has taken her out to the range to shoot just so she would be comfortable around the gun.
When I am over there watching a movie or something and we hear a noise and get scared, she calls him and he tells her to go get the gun out just in case. It scares the crap out of me just looking at it. But she seems comfortable with it now. And it does make me feel just a teeny bit more safe.
Just because you shoot a gun one time doesn't mean you are going to turn into a mass murderer. I say why not!
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