Belated introduction

[Goldenlakepete]

Hello from Golden Lake. I'm almost 69, have been around guns and hunting most of my life. I was given a used BB gun as soon as I could lift it and when I had shown I could handle it safely was given a new Daisy pump BB gun. When I was 12 I was given my 1st .22 (Mossberg 146B bolt action). When I was about 14 my Dad let me use his Stevens 311 double 16 ga. (still have it). Dad was a thrifty sort and he said I should start re-loading if I wanted to do a lot of shooting so I saved up and bought a set of 16 ga. reloading dies I saw in the back of Outdoor Life. Pioneer Shotgun Shell Reloader ($4.95) - made out of some kind of hardwood. It worked perfectly for old roll crimp paper shells. I still have it.
I bought my 1st muzzle loader in 1960 - an original Belgian .625 cal. smoothbore Trade musket. My friends thought I was nuts until they fired it then they all wanted black powder shooters too.
Bought my 1st centre-fire rifle in 1960 too - a Stevens 44 1/2 .38-55. It came with a complete re-loading set.
In my later life I continued with black powder (never got into flintlocks), reloading and hunting. Got married, had 2 kids, retired and now am waiting for something to happen with my knees so I can get back to hunting.

Since I have been mostly house-bound this past winter I have really enjoyed
having this Forum to keep me busy!

I forgot to mention that I've been peripherally involved with the the pro-gun movement since the 60's too. I was an early member of "FARO" (Firearms and Responsible Ownership) and am a long time NFA and Conservative Party of Canada member.

 

[tiina]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[talkative]

Howdy, ex-FARO member from Golden Lake. Bill Jones here and at this point in time am slightly ahead of you in years (11, to be exact). Yes, I can relate to your firearms history as I, too, learned at a very early age -- eight, or nine, I believe -- and until the past few years was never out of reach of a firearm. We learned a lot -- and no test to pass. It used to be called 'responsibility,' a term that is seldom used these days. However, after forming the NFA I simply ran out of money and the few of us that was trying to keep it going simply could no longer afford the strain. And, today, where are we??? Firearms owners face exactly the same problems as then and perhaps more seriously, this issue of 'gun control' has been on the agenda of every government since 1970, with the exception of the present government. There is, in my view, absolutely no choice in this election if firearms owners wish to keep their firearms. i said it in 1969 and repeat it now: "THEY WANT YOUR GUNS!" Will hear from you again, I hope and, in the meantime, good election.