What anti gun folks don't understand...

[HardDrive]

In 1944, my uncle was fighting in Bastogne Germany. A group of Germans crossed the road in front of him, and my uncle fired, killing one of them. They advanced up the street, and when they reached the dead solider they paused. My uncle picked up the soliders Mauser rifle. Here he is in the middle of battle, and he thinks how nice it would be to send his brother a rifle.

He carried the rifle for several days before getting a break. There were restrictions on the size of packages you could send home, so my uncle cut off the stock and barrel, and somehow managed to send the rifle home to my grandfather. We don't know if this happend during the war, or after, but it was sent home via mail. My grandfather was working at a Continental factory in Muskegon Michigan, where they made tank engines. He took the Mauser to a local gunsmith and had a 30-06. barrel put on and a nice stock fitted.

For the next 50 years, every year, my grandfather hunted with the Mauser his brother had sent him. As a child, and later as a man, I always loved the solid 'crack' the action made as it closed.

My grandfather died in 1995, after a long happy life.

This November, my father and I will take to the woods, the same woods the men have hunted for 50 years. My father will be carrying the Mauser.

Neither my father nor I hunt as much as we used to, but the guns we have weave together our family history. I look at that rifle, and I can feel a sense of connection with my grandfather and father that I cannot put into words.

Anti gun and anti hunting folks are welcome to their opinions, but perhaps if they understood the deep family threads that these guns represent, they would understand our utter contempt for them.

I don't mind saying that I had a tear in my eye a couple times typing out that story above......

[craigster59]

Some people are left with family heirlooms like pocket watches, cars, furniture, etc. When my Grandfather passed away I was given 2 shotguns, a rifle and 3 pair of cowboy boots. Anytime I've hunted, shot skeet, or worn the boots I'm always bringing a part of him along with me. If some people don't get it, they should read Robert Ruark's "The Old Man and the Boy". It shows how age old traditions are Life's lessons.

[targa911S]

I know how you feel. My dad and I had a big falling out a few years back, so to spite me he sold all the family guns. I can't tell you how that made me feel. It was like he sold our relationship. I don't think I will ever forgive him for that.

[Flatbutt1]

IMHO those who fear guns and have a one-sided opinion of their purpose are not able to understand the connection you speak of. It is simply their opinion that guns are only meant to kill and hurt people that gets in the way. The act of being in the woods communing in that way is not something they value. I suspect though that t hey would understand if the heirloom were a pocket watch or a camera.

[livi]

OH NO, I won´t go there again. Last time we had a discussion on guns I almost got shot..

[Joeaksa]

When I grew up my Brother gave me his favourite .410 shotgun. I used that gun for years and restored it to new condition. When I went overseas to play military I left it with one of my sisters. She put it in an open garage and it was stolen.

We did not talk for over 10 years. I am now to the point where I will be friendly to her but what she did is inexcusable to me....

JoeA

[CamB]

I'm one of the people you'd propably consider "anti-gun". I like your story - pretty good example of responsible use of guns. Family hierloom, hunting tool, target shooting, vermin control - I like all those reasons.

I'm still anti-handgun though (for "protection"), but why bother arguing about it.