A perspective on gun issues

To the editor:
I was never much into guns. My family always had guns, from BB guns to rifles. In fact, I really do not know much about them. I know that growing up there were “unloaded” guns in the house. My father was very strong about leaving guns empty, and cocked open. I could hear him tell the boys, “get the bullets out and put them up.” We had guns that belonged to generations before me. We lived in the country with lots of cornfields and woods that gave us a lot of freedom to fire them.
There were seasons that would bring another type of excitement in the household. The night before, the men would all be busy cleaning guns for the next morning. You would see hunting clothes coming to life from the closets. It was father and son time! I could see the excitement growing in my brothers. They were going hunting! Thanksgiving morning was seconds away.
Everyone wants a pheasant, but they would be satisfied with just a squirrel. But, they were out to hunt them a rabbit, pheasant, or squirrel. My mother would have the turkey already cooking in the oven, and in hopes of having something else to add to that Thanksgiving meal. Me, well, I liked rubbing the fur from whatever they brought in.
Another exciting time was New Year’s Eve. Again you would see guns coming to life for that moment ... that moment to stand in the back yard and shoot the guns straight up in the air!
Later on in life, I attended a military funeral. My grandfather’s. How awesome it was to hear the salutes. An experience and a memory I’ll never forget.
One day I was watching my brother shoot the shotgun and I decided I wanted to try it too. So he gave me all these instructions, and when I pulled the trigger the kick back scared me. I never had an interest to ever shoot again.
Forty-five years later, my grandson graduates from high school. My granddaughter begins to do competition shooting in high school. I head off to Tennessee to his graduation and plan on staying a week with my kids. My brother packs the 12 gauges and whatever else we need for the week, because our plan is to go to a shooting range. I’m thinking of being a by-stander and taking pictures.
On Saturday before graduation we go to the shooting range. My grandson has a new AR15, My granddaughter has a new 12 gauge from her birthday. My brother brings family shotguns. My son has a handed down shotgun. We are going to shoot trap. Guess what! I am excited and want to try to shoot again. HUH? 45 years later? And I’m going to use my granddaughter’s new shotgun with pink shells. (I did not do so well with moving targets.) Well, now off to the skeet range. I will pass on this one. I’m proud of my granddaughter. She is in her second year of competition at school and has gone to state finals. Enough bragging. Off to where my grandson gets to shoot his AR15. I get to try, and I love it. No kick back and the target stays in one spot!
I’ve never been a big gun supporter. But since this trip to Tennessee, I like target practicing and my granddaughter likes the “Sport Shooting” in school competition.
My heart was ripped, when I heard of the Connecticut shooting. I’m a Regional Children’s Minister Director and love children! I have met so many children from Rio Clara, Trinidad, to the USA. The innocent. That’s all I can say. People kill people. The innocent. I watch TV and see the sin that filters through commercials and see innocent children exposed. I sit at convenience stores and hear music with foul words and the explicit lyrics. The innocent are exposed. I walk through stores and hear parents cuss young children out. The innocent. 2 Corinthians 2:11: Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Nan Weesner
Portland[[In-content Ad]]