Parrothead Jeff

OK, so I’m guilty again I’ve switched interests.

While I’ll still attend all the airshows I can, will continue to go out and take pics and videos (which will be coming soon!), and will continue to go fishing, I have another new interest. Actually it’s a return to an old interest.

Guns!

Without getting too deep into the subject, I’ve always believed that the Second Amendment was pretty clear in its intent to prevent the banning of any sort of arms. I can understand the reasons for not wanting just anyone to have a nuke in his basement, but most things short of that should be fair game in my book. For example, I’m of the opinion that if you’re not a criminal and can legally own a rifle, you should be allowed to own a fully automatic rifle. On top of that, you should be able to own one that was not registered before 1986. To go further, I don’t see why I or any other law-abiding individual should not be able to purchase a surplus U.S. fighter jet such as an older model F-16, F-14, or F-106 from the U.S. government. The gun should be operational. The missiles, bombs, and rockets would fall under explosives and should be regulated as such, but as long as the owner is properly licensed, has a proper magazine to store them, a place to employ them, did not carry them over populated areas, and (especially with missiles) their ownership by other than the government would not compromise National Security, should be allowed as well.

That said, I’ve always liked guns. I remember my first time going shooting being with Dad out in the Arizona desert with a .22 derringer. I grazed the empty pop can Later on, I got to go shooting with Dad and his handguns, rifles, shotguns, and muzzle loaders in Boy Scouts, and some other shooting with Dad. I also had an air rifle before Scouts which was a Christmas present from my brother who got it without asking Mom and Dad first. That air rifle proved deadly to empty pop cans on many an afternoon in the back yard ! It was always a good time.

I got a Marlin Model 60 for Christmas the year I turned 18. That was Grandpa’s gun and it’s served me well with cheap ammo and lots of fun. Until recently, it was my only gun.

Some of the guys from work had started shooting and I was invited to tag along. By the time I was able to get together with them, I was the proud owner of a Yugoslavian AK-47 (see my last post). I brought my AK and .22, James brought his brand new Ruger 10/22, and Frank brought a .45, a 9mm, a pump shotgun and a semi-auto shotgun and his .22. We had a blast :thumb: !

I had shot shotguns in Scouts, but that was many, many years ago. I had never tried to hit a clay target in flight, but I managed to do so several times with Frank’s shotgun. Way fun and something I wanted to do more of!

So now I’ve got a Marlin Model 60, an AK-47, and I’ll soon be adding a Remington 870 Express to the lineup

Things just keep getting better !