Like my reaction to the pre-Bible study gun discussion, I am unsure how I feel about guns. I am not adverse to guns, but I have never considered owning one myself.
My Dad had two guns in our house growing up. And he had the appropriate licenses – something hard to come by in Malawi. When there was a rash of robberies in our neighbourhood, he would take out the rifle and shoot a couple shots in the air in the evening – “to discourage them from robbing us,” he said. I remember him running to get the gun when a hyena appeared in our garden. I was happy the hyena ran away before my Dad could shoot him. Another time, Dad used the rifle to shoot a rabid dog dead at his feet.
Dad showed me the guns and where to find the ammunition in case I ever needed one of them while he was away on a trip. I was a teenager by then and found the trust pleasingly chilling. I didn’t really consider what I would do if I ever heard someone in the house while I was alone. What would I have done then? Could I shoot someone?
One night my parents woke to hear movement in the office next to their room. Dad loaded the gun, threw open the office door and flicked on the light. He pointed the gun at my sister, who had decided to sleep on a cot in the office. Tanya just about peed in her pants. I’m glad he looked before he shot. I’m glad I didn’t have to ever load the gun and confront anyone.
When I was a child in Malawi, few people carried or even owned guns. That was how the president liked it. In the UK, the police don’t carry guns as a rule. They believe if they carry guns, it will just encourage criminals to do so. In the US, many people actively defend their right to bear arms. This feeling is not as predominant in Iowa or Minnesota or Wisconsin – owning guns was not an issue I discussed over the water cooler at work or over coffee in church. But in Oklahoma, and even more so in Texas I understand, guns are an issue of great importance. They are part and parcel of life here: one is more likely to live without a refrigerator than a gun. It is a big cultural difference that I have to wrap my mind around.
This just goes to show how differently individuals can view the same situation. I grew up feeling very comfortable around guns. Many in my family were hunters, so it wasn't unusual to find my uncles "shooting trap" or practicing their aim down at the range at family gatherings. Similarly, we were all trained in proper gun safety; so there was always respect for the guns themselves & the harm they could do, but never any anxiety about being around them.
ReplyDeleteLikewise I've always believed that individuals should be entitled to own guns -- but, like so many other things, they need to treat them with responsibility & respect.
Well I've tried to comment on one of your other subjects, and it didn't work, I am sometimes slightly technologically impaired - but here goes again...
ReplyDeleteI actually own 3 guns. Two handguns and a rifle and yes I am a woman and of course I know how to use them!
One is a family heirloom, but still very useable, but not as accurate as the newer ones.
The other is a glock and it is for target shooting and in absolutely necessity - protection.
The third and quite frankly most used is a hunting rifle. It is most used up to (for practice) and during deer hunting season. I have never actually shot a deer, but that's because I haven't had to. This year I will probably have to go. So far the most that I do is "drive" which is quite fun because I can go crashing through the forest and not have a care in the world in an effort to flush the deer out of it. When I have to hunt I will probably have to be a lot more still and MUCH quiter :) I have not had to hunt because my dad takes my son and my dad is a great shot and my son is a pretty good shot and between them we get what we need for venison for the freezer. This year will be different as my son will go off to school and I will need to fill my own freezer.
So I will pick up the gun and I will go target shooting so that I can hit that deer because I really do eat it. I don't advocate shooting anything unnecessarily. I would shoot for food and I certainly would protect my family.
I do not know if my dad had any of his guns with him in Malawi like your dad did, but it wouldn't surprise me, and when I became a teenager he taught me how to load, aim & shoot and to be comfortable with them. (That didn't hurt me when I got to the miltary, either) and for that I thank him!
Pauline
Shock! Horror! In England, if we shot an intruder we would be up for murder or manslaughter. I had not realized how different our cultures are.
ReplyDeleteI would argue that there are a lot more guns in Wisconsin, at least, Alex; I think you just weren't talking to the right people! :)
ReplyDeleteNow, how do I feel about guns...I don't currently and never have owned one or lived in a house with one. That despite my dad having been in the Air Force (noncombat) previously. I will never ever ever own one or have one in the house unless something has changed so drastically in the world that it becomes a necessity. It is very simple--I am fortunate enough that I do not have to hunt for my meat. When I get the chickens that I am planning on, a gun would be useless to kill them. I don't target shoot, so I don't have one for fun.
Most importantly, I have read many medical studies, and have actually had to care for prisoners from a supermax prison and firmly believe that the presence of a weapon escalates a situation that was previously only about stuff into something much more dangerous and the weapon gets used against the victim instead of protecting them, whereas if the weapon wasn't there nobody would have gotten hurt. I think the only situation I could anticipate even potentially being able to use a weapon is if someone where hurting my husband or son, and even that is thankfully much much less likely than an adventurous kid finding a gun and accidentally hurting themselves, or hurting themselves in the process of hunting for a well hidden, properly locked gun.
Just my completely biased opinion. I will say, I am not opposed to people hunting if they use what they kill, and have eaten and enjoyed venison, pheasant, bison hunted by others. It's just practical for me now.
Rachel