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Guns arenât bad: an epiphany
An article like this in the LA Times? At least now I know my Surprise Meter isnât broken!Hat tip: InstaPundit. Edited for brevity. If youâre prompted to register, just use steveyr/asshat Guns are bad. All my life, itâs been that simple. At my sonâs preschool, if a child pointed a banana and said "bang," he was admonished to "use the banana in a happier way." As far as I was concerned, the 2nd Amendment gave us the right to protect ourselves against invading armies, not the right to buy a gun and keep it under our beds. So what would make someone like me change my mind? I met this gun enthusiast. As research for my new novel, I asked him many questions, all the while voicing my disgust. My character might use a gun, but I never would. "Come to the range," the gun guy said. "Iâll teach you to shoot." I expected a dungeon full of men missing teeth and wearing T-shirts decorated with Confederate flags. Instead, I found a sunny, wood-paneled lobby and guys who looked like lawyers on their lunch break. When my guide arrived, he gave me a choice of handguns. I went with the .357 magnum â I recognized the name â and a traditional target with a red bullâs-eye. I couldnât imagine shooting at one shaped like a man. First lesson, respect your firearm. I got a little talk about how powerful it was. I learned how to hold it. To load it. And finally to fire it. It was terrifying. The gun was so heavy, I couldnât keep it steady. It took both index fingers to pull the trigger, and then there was a flash of flame, a loud crack, a substantial kick. It was much harder than it looked in the movies. I occasionally hit the target, but I also managed to obliterate the metal hanger that held it. I have to admit: I loved it. I had a fantastic time. The power of that gun for me, a 5-foot, 3-inch woman, was immediately, shockingly seductive. The thrill when I hit the bullâs-eye (once) was as great as making a perfect tennis shot. I felt like I was playing a careful game of darts in a small, alcohol-free bar. Later, I was surprised to discover that some of my closest friends owned guns. People I never would have suspected confessed that their guns made them feel protected. Still, most of my friends thought handguns should be outlawed, completely, in every circumstance. I no longer was so sure. I did some research â there are countless testimonials about guns saving someoneâs life. I looked into shooting as a sport. I spoke to a woman who had found a wounded deer and shot it, ending its agony. I changed my mind: Guns arenât bad. Iâm glad to see a convert, but I wouldnât have started her out with a .357! That might have scared her and her 5â3" frame away from guns altogether. Iâd have thought she should start small so she could concentrate more on the mechanics without fear of the recoil, but thatâs just my two cents. Posted by: Dar 2004-01-17 |
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