When is the first time you got your gun?

Johnnygofordream

Do you remember when you got your first gun? Is it a gift you received? You bought it for self-defence cause you're living in a high-rate crime neighborhood? Or Maybe you are a gun enthusiast. 
I don't own a gun myself 'cause I haven't found a reason to convince myself to have a gun.
I would like to hear from the pros here to help me with it.

Bigslug

Welcome!

I grew up with 'em, so can't really envision life without.

If you're on the fence, realize that it is a a lifestyle change that does represent taking a lot of personal responsibility for your safety and those around you - don't take it casually.

First thing to internalize can best be presented in a quote by one of the classic mentors of the field:

"Owning a gun does not make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician" - Jeff Cooper

Meaning that you need to learn how to competently use the thing, and familiarize yourself with its capabilities and the laws involved.

Once you get through that though, it is the ultimate expression of freedom as a prophylactic against coercion.

earlyagain

Im not a pro. Im an ordinary man of little importance and no notoriety.

My first gun was a rifle gifted to me by my father to hunt deer with.

I have no axe to grind.

Its very difficult for me to imagine an environment devoid of firearms. In my life they were a natural appliance that everyone had. 

If someone doesn't want to own a gun or wants to own a gun, Im indifferent about their choice.

Jayhawker

Got my first BB gun at 8...16 gauge shotgun at 9...about the same time I learned to drive a tractor

10canyon53

Got my first one for Christmas when I was 14 or 15.  It was a single shot .410 ga shotgun.

GunNut

Johnnygofordream said:

Do you remember when you got your first gun? Is it a gift you received? You bought it for self-defence cause you're living in a high-rate crime neighborhood? Or Maybe you are a gun enthusiast. 
I don't own a gun myself 'cause I haven't found a reason to convince myself to have a gun.
I would like to hear from the pros here to help me with it.

So why go through the trouble of signing up to a gun board?  Just curious.

NN

Christmas when I was 11; I still have it.

Diver43

When I was 18 I bought a 30-06 package rifle and scope by Remington.  Lived in the barracks so left it at a friends house.  Came back from a couple weeks in the field and went to his house. He moved and no idea where he went.

Some_Mook

GunNut said:

Johnnygofordream said:

Do you remember when you got your first gun? Is it a gift you received? You bought it for self-defence cause you're living in a high-rate crime neighborhood? Or Maybe you are a gun enthusiast. 
I don't own a gun myself 'cause I haven't found a reason to convince myself to have a gun.
I would like to hear from the pros here to help me with it.

So why go through the trouble of signing up to a gun board?  Just curious.

Apparently it is no trouble to sign up to multiple gun boards and make identical posts

Johnnygofordream

GunNut said:

Johnnygofordream said:

Do you remember when you got your first gun? Is it a gift you received? You bought it for self-defence cause you're living in a high-rate crime neighborhood? Or Maybe you are a gun enthusiast. 
I don't own a gun myself 'cause I haven't found a reason to convince myself to have a gun.
I would like to hear from the pros here to help me with it.

So why go through the trouble of signing up to a gun board?  Just curious.

Well, like I said, I'm trying to look for some advice from people who own guns. I need it for self-defence. You don't want to do nothing when someone breaks in your house. I'm assuming that you're an gun enthusiast 'cause "GunNut" explains it.
How many guns do you own if you don't mind me asking?

GunNut

Johnnygofordream said:

GunNut said:

Johnnygofordream said:

Do you remember when you got your first gun? Is it a gift you received? You bought it for self-defence cause you're living in a high-rate crime neighborhood? Or Maybe you are a gun enthusiast. 
I don't own a gun myself 'cause I haven't found a reason to convince myself to have a gun.
I would like to hear from the pros here to help me with it.

So why go through the trouble of signing up to a gun board?  Just curious.

Well, like I said, I'm trying to look for some advice from people who own guns. I need it for self-defence. You don't want to do nothing when someone breaks in your house. I'm assuming that you're an gun enthusiast 'cause "GunNut" explains it.
How many guns do you own if you don't mind me asking?

Not nearly enough of them.

earlyagain

I have a friend thats into guns. None of them are kept loaded in his house. He has three german shepherds and a black lab. No one's going to break in his house.

There are several things one can do to deter burglary that are not related to gun ownership. 

There are also countless people that are prepared to answer home invasion with lethal force. 

The good thing about my freinds dogs is. They're on the job when he's not home. The down side is. Well. They're dogs. They need constant care, and make noise.

jaywapti

Johnnygofordream said:.

.
How many guns do you own if you don't mind me asking?

Yes I mind you asking, its none of your business or anyone else's how many i or anyone else owns 

So Johnny Zhang I'm gonna ask you some questions, that you dont have to answer as its none of my business,
1) Where were you born
2) Are you an American citizen
3) What is your occupation 

JAY

tennmike

Welcome to the forum!

Got my  first one as a gift from my Granddad; a .22LR/.410 shotgun when I was 6 years old. I still have it. As to shooting, I was shooting a single shot .22LR rifle at 5 years old, and only after my Dad, a Marine, was satisfied with my ability to repeat the 10 rules of gun safety and show I knew what they meant. I've shot a lot of rounds since then and went on to shotguns and pistols. They're all tools, and only as dangerous as the person operating them.

As to your unasked question "How valuable is my life?", only you can answer that question. I value mine a good deal, and will use the most viable tool to protect myself from single or multiple threats. That happens to be a firearm of some type. And as long as bad people walk free, so shall it be.

And my locked doors are not for my protection; they give me time to inform the person attempting to break in that they are making a HUGE mistake.

DrawbarFlats

I was a late bloomer. Shot my dad's .22 a few times as a kid but didn't purchase m first gun (Mossberg 500) until I was 19 when in the military. After that, it was all over. Been buying guns ever since with a special fondness for old west firearms.

tinytank

I practically grew up seeing my dad's collection. He did the same with my grandpa. But he never let me use any of his rifles! Not until he gifted me one for my 18th. Took me out hunting the same day as well. Good times!

JerryBobCo

Johnnygofordream said:

GunNut said:

Johnnygofordream said:

Do you remember when you got your first gun? Is it a gift you received? You bought it for self-defence cause you're living in a high-rate crime neighborhood? Or Maybe you are a gun enthusiast. 
I don't own a gun myself 'cause I haven't found a reason to convince myself to have a gun.
I would like to hear from the pros here to help me with it.

So why go through the trouble of signing up to a gun board?  Just curious.

Well, like I said, I'm trying to look for some advice from people who own guns. I need it for self-defence. You don't want to do nothing when someone breaks in your house. I'm assuming that you're an gun enthusiast 'cause "GunNut" explains it.
How many guns do you own if you don't mind me asking?

You have me confused, Johnny.  Aren't you the same guy who posted in the hunting forum that you were from a small town in China, where it is illegal to own even a single bullet, much less a gun?  Seems like that would be a pretty good reason NOT to own a gun.

Gene L

Don't feed trolls who post double entendres.

Doves_Indefinitely

Bigslug said:

Welcome!

I grew up with 'em, so can't really envision life without.

If you're on the fence, realize that it is a a lifestyle change that does represent taking a lot of personal responsibility for your safety and those around you - don't take it casually.

First thing to internalize can best be presented in a quote by one of the classic mentors of the field:

"Owning a gun does not make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician" - Jeff Cooper

Meaning that you need to learn how to competently use the thing, and familiarize yourself with its capabilities and the laws involved.

Once you get through that though, it is the ultimate expression of freedom as a prophylactic against coercion.

I got my first gun at age 24 to target shoot for fun: a Remingtom semi-auto .22 LR.