I've been away for a long time. I broke my leg early in December and I have had quit a time getting back on my feet, literally. Pain, agony, crushed spirits, helplessness, all of this has crowded my life for 4 months. Only now am I up and around like I usually am, but still I favor my leg and always wonder if it will hold up.

Well, it will. Everyone says it will. But I hesitate to jump, walk fast, turn quickly, shoot from a standing position, you know what I mean, I'm sure. Its like so many things in life. Once it happens you are never the same even if you are assured that every things OK.

So it is in gun ownership. The turmoil some people endure to own a handgun is something like the agony I endured with my leg. I know, I know, you disagree. Well, you probably don't have these feelings about your gun ownership. You're comfortable with your gun. You shoot regularly and look forward to a day at the range. I'm with you. But some people feel that they should own a gun to protect themselves and their family but they just have a nervous hesitation when they think about their gun and using it. One woman told me that she has a hard time sleeping with her gun on her nightstand because shes afraid something will cause it to fire or if someone breaks into her house will she be able to get it in time to ward off an intruder. She says she feels that she needs to have a gun but she hasn't had a good nights sleep since she got it.

Now you might say she shouldn't have a gun then. Not so fast. We have to appreciate her concern for safety and we have to side with her on her tactical thoughts on "how will I get the job done." I want to say that her agony is a lot like my broken leg, when do you stop worrying if it will work or not and just start using it like a normal part of your life. Once you get a broken leg how long before you just use it as its intended to be used.

I can't say this enough...practice with your gun by actively shooting it and by dry firing it. Use it now so you can use it in a threatening situation. You can buy a little plastic shell and bullet that you can use to practice using the slide, loading the magazine or cylinder if a revolver, and dry firing your gun at an imaginary target. This is good practice and it gets you used to handling your gun. But also go to the range and shoot. This is the only to get comfortable with your firearm. Feel the power and taste some burnt powder. This is the training platform for a confident handgun owner.

Gun ownership is a huge responsibility. I will never diminish this fact. But is is a faithful friend and tool whenever a critical life or death threat encroaches on you or your family. Practice, practice, practice. Hey I just jumped on my bad leg.......

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Official NRA Membership Application

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Safety. Safety. And Safety.

I'm sure you've heard "guns don't kill people, people kill people". Well, that's true. But even so, safety keeps a lot of people alive. A loaded gun in the home is an asset if controlled properly. A loaded gun should never be left laying out on the night stand or concealed under a pillow or unsecured in a drawer. Let me explain.

Many adults say it doesn't matter, I live alone and don"t have any kids so I leave it in the drawer with the magazine in it, in other words loaded, so I'm prepared for an intruder. This is OK until on that rare occasion when a new neighbor comes over to visit and brings the kids. They get in the drawer and an avoidable accident occurs. Avoidable because all it would take to keep this from happening is a lockable gun box, or a trigger lock, which comes with ever new gun sold these days due to federal law.(Shown at right)The box in the photo comes with a new gun and if you buy a used gun, most dealers will have the box. The lock, a small padlock, goes through that little hole just right of center in the photo, and through the same little hole it the top of the box when it is closed. Walla!...safe. At night when you get ready for bed, unlock the box and put your gun on the nightstand. The next morning or when you know company is coming replace it in its box, or reinsert the trigger lock. Believe me it isn't that hard and its good for you to see and handle your gun every day anyhow. Maybe even wipe it down, give it a quick inspection. Get the picture?

There are more elobrate locking systems that your local gun shop will be glad to help you with. But at the simplest level everything you need comes with each gun you purchase, if it doesn't..ask. I will get around to concealment next time. But I cannot emphasis this enough; Safety.Safety. And safety.

My Gun

Many people watch TV and therefore think that everyone who owns a gun is a shoot 'em up nut like the people they see there. Not true.

I know people from six years old to ninety-six years old who love shooting. Some are doctors, some are lawyers, some teachers, construction workers, housewives; you get the picture. And some of them hunt, some target shoot, some just collect firearms and others like competitive shooting, some enjoy perfecting self defense, with the firearm being a part of their study. All of this leads me to an introduction on how to pick your gun.

First of all forget the word magnum. One of the biggest mistakes that a new owner of a gun can make is to get a gun that is scary and which has recoil that makes it uncomfortable to shoot. A big gun is heavy, makes a lot of noise and jumps on shooting. So ladies forget what your boyfriends and husbands say. Gentlemen forget what you've seen in the movies, go to a shop and look the guns over. Handle them. Ask the salesperson to advise you and if possible shoot a few guns you like. Go to a local gun club and tell the range officer you are looking for you first gun. I don't know of any of these people who wouldn't be more than happy to help you. Now what about one of your first questions to answer. Revolver or semi-automatic.

For most people a revolver is a good choice. Every time you pull the trigger it shoots and the cylinder moves to the next round and its ready to shoot again. It has few moving parts and is very simple to shoot, clean and carry. A 38 special is pleasant to shoot and will stop any intruder or bad person you will encounter.

Automatics on the other hand require the shooter to load a magazine with shells, put the magazine full of shells into the gun, pull back the slide to put a round in the position to shoot, in the chamber, and then it will fire every time you pull the trigger. The advantage is more shots. In some calibers up to 17. But the disadvantages are the slide can be hard for some people to operate, sometimes autos jam and they may cost more. Again which gun fits you best is the question and only you can make that decision.

So now you have some things to think about and to explore. Next we will talk about safety and concealment

Buy a Gun, Take An NRA Safety Course, Protect You Family

I obviously believe in gun ownership. I also believe in gun safety. The combination of these two statements is what makes owning a gun practical and necessary. Let me explain.

Guns have always been a part of the fabric of our nation. In fact our founders were very direct in giving the gun a central role in our freedom. I think that anyone can understand that unarmed citizens are prone to aggressive` dictators and slavery. Armed citizens give every dictator a time for pause and the decision to go elsewhere is often the result.

With this being said lets move to today. People will say we don't need guns in our homes because we pay taxes to outfit police and the military to protect us. True. But when a madman kicks in your door at 2 AM, a madman who will not cut corners when it comes to killing you, your kids and maybe your pets, what settles your mind more as you think about it; a well maintained military and police or a well trained homeowner with a 38 in the bed stand drawer. Hmm?

It is of the utmost importance for you to get training from a certified NRA instructor on how to use a gun, how to care for it, how to purchase the right gun for you and how to have it in the house safely along with all members of the family respecting this tool not fearing it. It can be done. In fact millions of Americans have this security in there homes right now and the numbers are growing.

In future blogs I will talk more about these points, but for now just think about gun ownership and gun safety and how the two together can make your home a safer more secure place for your family. After all isn't that what a home is?

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