As a recent newcomer here, after finding an email from a Mr. Max Rodriguez in the inbox one day, asking me to write for the site, I thought what the heck. So I wandered over checked it out and thought I would give it a whirl. I accepted Mr. Rodriguez offer and then read through a number of posts and thought: “What the heck? These dudes are way above me? What can I possibly post that would be worth reading here?”
I mean here I am. No longer a youngster who has worked in retail, printing, fiberglass pultrusion composites, then chucking the ‘manufacturing, middle management, back stabbing world. ‘ I became 1st responder and joined a Volunteer Ambulance Squad, then an EMT, found a job, went back to school and became a Paramedic. And after 20 years of working, metro, semi rural and really rural EMS today I teach others how to do what I do. Not exactly where I wanted to end up as I loved working the streets, but one bad lift to many, a couple of serious back injuries and 4 different MDs telling me I needed to find something less harmful to my ruined back.
So I educate now.
I teach mostly law enforcement 1st responder skills. But also higher levels of EMT skills and Advanced Trauma and Cardiac Care.
But what has that to do with guns? Other then I have treated my share of folks with bullet wounds. I have also seen the effects of guns when one turns them on oneself. And I teach Law Enforcement what to do if they or a partner are shot and wounded, self care, how to take care of oneself if they cannot get away or help cannot reach them. Surprisingly many did not, do not consider this.
But back to guns. I was raised in a world, Northern Minnesota where a gun was a tool. Used to put food on the table and take care of vermin. I was taught how to use, shoot, care for and respect guns by a Grandfather whom was demanding, but never saw a gun as anything but a tool. A Korean War vet Father whom grew up hunting to survive during the Depression and WW2, also saw them as a tool, but being a vet, a squad leader whom saw plenty of combat, also knew the destructive power of guns. But he taught me much and when it came to shooting, never saw to many out shoot him. He at 80 plus now goes to the range with his 79 dollar Sears pump action smoothbore 12 gauge, loads it up with slugs he bought who knows where and promptly puts 5 rounds in the 8 inch circle at 100 yards and calls it good. While friends and others with their bolt action Weatherby’s, Remington’s, etc stand there bug eyed. I can remember when I talked him into putting a scope on his Remington Model 760 Gamemaster in .35 Remington (I want this gun!!) Deer fell whenever he shot and he never shot more then once.
These were the people I learned from. A gun is a tool. Is to be used for hunting and to protect oneself against vermin. 1, 2, 3, or 4 legged kind. Today I have two sons whom both shoot, own their own handguns and shotguns, one hunts, one just loves to shoot. But they also understand a gun is a tool, to be used and respected.
As for the guns? I have no high tech guns. My newest gun is my CW9 Kahr. I own a ‘few’ guns. From mil-surp, Mosin, SKS, to my favorite deer rifle an older then me and that is getting up there, well worn, Marlin 336c in .32 Win. Special. Of course I have a few shotguns and my favorite handgun is a Ruger GP100 .38 spec/.357.
Again these are all tools and they are something I use and shoot as often as I can. I also repair them, most of the time. Would I not like to have an AR platform? Yes! A nice slick shooting bolt action? Of course!
I have my ‘bucket’ list of guns, tools, objects, inanimate in nature. Deadly I will grant you, but only when someone has control and is using this tool. And I like my toolbox, filled with tools that are useful and usable, well except for the damn SKS that won’t currently go BANG when it is supposed to, but guns, like chainsaws, power tools etc need to be taken care of and respected.
