New Shooter Report

November 16, 2007
4:08 AM CST

From Reader Ted D., behind enemy lines:

I have enjoyed your web site for 18 months or so now, and it has inspired me to get off my lazy butt and start shooting again (after 30 years).  I’ve also taken my boys shooting - doing my fatherly duty (gratuitous pic by proud dad attached).

That’s not why I’m emailing, however.  I have a business colleague in Germany.  He’s quite a good engineer, and we’ve worked closely for several years.

Last Friday, he stopped here in the People’s Republic of Massachussets* while on his way to a meeting in California.  After our meetings were done, I offered to take him shooting.  He had never shot a gun, and immediately agreed.

To make a long story short, he had a great time.  Herr Mayer insisted on retaining his shot-up target silouette, which he says he will proudly hang on his wall back in Munich (no doubt to the consternation of his friends and family).  I warned him that he was little by little turning into an American Cowboy.

Thanks for the inspiration, and just wanted you to know that the Nation of Riflemen has a new member, behind enemy lines!

* We live in the People’s Republic, but go shooting in New Hampshire.  Live Free and all that.

Let’s just hope Herr Mayer goes through all the bureaucratic hoops and thickets to get his own gun, back in the Fatherland.

And well done for getting your kids into shooting.

Happy Dances all round.

Comments

Bottom of Comments | Original Post

MA gun laws do suck. And MA is dominated by the liberal crazies in Boston and the surrounding areas. But aside from the stupidity of some of the laws here it is still possible to own decent firearms. My gun safe has an M1A, an M1 Carbine, three M1 Garands, 2 K31’s, 3 S&W;M&P;pistols, and a Glock. When I got into shooting a few years ago I was actually surprised to find that there is on the average probably at least one rod and gun club in every town in my area. It is possible to get a concealed carry permit (although it varies by town as to your likelihood of getting one - the local police chief has final say). 

Last year we had a shooting in town about 20 miles from here - guy went into the local strip club and shot a few people - then opened up on the police with the AR he was carrying. This of course brought out all the anti gun crazies - a lot of talk about more laws etc. And a lot of response back from the pro gun side about how all the firearms that this person had were perfectly legal to own already - no laws had been violated - the guy was just off his rocker.

And nothing happened.

In some of the less savory towns around Boston there are constant shootings - and Menino bitches endlessly about illegal guns coming down from NH, ME and VT - and nothing happens.

Right down the street from me a few months back a SC interstate trucker went on a little spree in the middle of the night after stopping at the local rest area - he went thru the woods - and at 3 AM he broke into a house - and attempted to rape a 14 year old girl. The father and mother woke up - and wrestled with the guy until the police showed up. And the response I gave to everybody who asked me about it? “I have a gun - and this is why - why wrestle with a knife wielding maniac when you can just shoot the fucker?” I did not hear one person disagree with this - and had a few actually ask about going shooting.

MA is not quite as bad as it is made out to be - from what I have heard NJ is a lot worse - but I don’t live there so I couldn’t tell you for sure. A few months back a Vietnam vet here in MA actually got off after he heard somebody break into his basement - the vet went outside - back into his house thru the basement door - and shot the guy. And the jury let him off. Things are looking up.

Author ID: 9485 | 11/16/2007 04:39 AM CST | #106140


Congrats on the two new shooters, Ted.  Is that a Winchester or one of the Rossi (Puma) copies in a pistol caliber?

Author ID: 1906 | 11/16/2007 05:03 AM CST | #106141


Indeed this is very good. Indeed.

Author ID: 6430 | 11/16/2007 06:00 AM CST | #106146


And a levergun no less.  cooooooolllll

Author ID: 9710 | 11/16/2007 07:17 AM CST | #106178


Congrats Ted.  Keep them shooting.  Please move to NH and then realize that MA, which I thought was the worst state in the union to live in, is actually only the 2nd (second to your thoughts of NJ, I’m trusting you here).  I just moved BACK to NH after 5 years in the bustling metropolis of Lawrence, yep, Lawrence - illegal immigrant capital of New England.  Maybe things are better where you live. 

Keep the kiddies shooting, they may need it if you stay there.

Author ID: 10034 | 11/16/2007 07:44 AM CST | #106188


Just want to also confirm that there is a sizeable contingent of RKBA supporters here. We have to work harder here since the environment is caustic and the opposition so numerous. But… I’m not dumping my home state for anything. “Liberty was born here, but it moved away"… I’m staying and hoping it will find it’s way back, perhaps not in my lifetime, but hopefully for my 12 year old’s generation.  That is how I combat socialism, here in the moonbat capitol. The NEXT generation. From what I’ve seen, many seem to be getting it right.

Author ID: 9709 | 11/16/2007 08:29 AM CST | #106201


I guess your friend escaped his compulsory military service through his medical profession ? Man, I’ve met very few Germans over 30 who’ve never fired a weapon before. Good job on taking him to the range. That is truly the key to defeating the anti-gunners; more folks, rather, volk in his case, just need to shoot.

Defeat the idiots via education and demonstration. Even my Left O’ Center wife has radically changed her mind, once I took her to a range.
Now she knows for certain that a gun doesn’t climb itself out of it’s holster, and start shooting at college students; she knows that it’s the person behind it that does the killing.

Author ID: 10742 | 11/16/2007 08:50 AM CST | #106203


“I guess your friend escaped his compulsory military service through his medical profession ?”

I believe that there is compulsory service in Germany, but not necessarily military service.  One can serve his time working in a state-approved alternative, like nursing homes, hospitals, schools, etc. for little or no money.  According to one economist I’ve read many German businesses are pretty much addicted to cheap deferment labor, and will fight any attempt to reform the system.  This is one of the many reasons the once-proud Bundeswehr is now a hollow shell of its former self.

Author ID: 8071 | 11/16/2007 01:20 PM CST | #106238


Congrats Ted.  Keep them shooting.  Please move to NH and then realize that MA, which I thought was the worst state in the union to live in, is actually only the 2nd (second to your thoughts of NJ, I’m trusting you here).  I just moved BACK to NH after 5 years in the bustling metropolis of Lawrence, yep, Lawrence - illegal immigrant capital of New England.  Maybe things are better where you live. 
Keep the kiddies shooting, they may need it if you stay there

Living in MA you are first restricted by the state rules - which mimic somewhat the Clinton era “assault weapons ban” with mag restrictions, no bayonet lugs, etc. Then you are further restricted by whether or not the police chief in your city or town thinks you should have a firearms permit or not. Class A unrestricted allows concealed carry - and allows you to own pretty much any firearm that is legal under MA law (outside of full auto). When I applied for my Class A - the inspector that did the interview actually gave me advice on where to go to get good deals on stuff. Which I thought was pretty cool - I have met a guy who lives in my same town who applied for and was approved for his full auto license. Lawrence is quite frankly known to suck as far as getting a permit - if you choose to stay in MA - move to a different town. There are online sites that rate each town as to the likelihood to get approved for a full Class A.  most towns outside of 128 are pretty good - outside of rte 495 and going west you do even better.

I think MA should decede Boston and it’s environs from the rest of the state - kick them out and MA would be much better off.

Author ID: 9485 | 11/16/2007 06:29 PM CST | #106261


Calsdad, I couldn’t agree more regarding Boston.  However, I have been known to tell people that the state would benefit from cutting away everything inside 128, and include Cape Cod and Gloucester, and set the fuckers adrift.  Yeah, so a few pretty little towns and a few places like Max II (ignore my comments from a few weeks ago regarding strip clubs, Mrs. Me probably pissed me off and I took it out on you guys, someone should have called me on it, sorry, I really, really like boobies and adult girl parts) get missed, at least the rest of the state could get back to being part of what makes New England so special.  Ayuh, ‘guess maybe okay on that.

As for the Class A in Lawrence.  I applied 3 times and the third time I gave up.  First time they stated that they couldn’t read the application as their own printed application was illegible. Second try was a bust as they changed forms and they raised the price.  Third time, had to be done using online forms, blah, blah blah… All this and my brother in law is on the force.  Kiss my ass, I moved back to freedom and a neighborhood sans salsa and claves.  If the Minutemen of Lexington and Concord had even an inkling of what MA was going to turn into they would have rushed the NH border and left the Redcoats with the problem.  Seat of Independence my ass.

My new neighborhood has everyone asking me if I’ve seen/shot a deer yet.  They all say things like, “I used to hunt/shoot as a kid” etc… They raise eyebrows when I ask them to go shooting with me, Spring may see me hanging out with a lot of new friends at my next gun club.  Which brings me back to Ted D.  Good job, you’re an inspiration to us all.

Author ID: 10034 | 11/16/2007 08:03 PM CST | #106267