I just think guns are neat.

Ch. 1 I like guns.

This may be an odd topic to bring up considering I normally write about video games, Christian punk rock, and my broad life experiences, but oddly enough, firearms are probably in the top 5 interests of mine. My grandpa, after having served for 30 years in the Army, opened a gun store before I was born, and taught me how to shoot before I was 7 years old. So to me, guns have never come with the connotation of something evil, as they were presented to me in the same way as any other dangerous tool (knives, cars, saws, fuel, ect).

When I bring up shooting, many people assume I'm a hunter. Maybe it was how my parents raised me, or Disney movies, or some kind of inherent empathy, but I never got into hunting. For years I only went shooting because it was fun! As I got older I began to appreciate the freedom and responsibility that comes with the ability to bear arms. Being able to own weapons is a prime representation of self-government, as it allows individuals to rely less on others to defend themselves, their property, or (in some cases) the law. Also, firearms are famously "the great equalizer" as they empower the weak in the face of much larger threats. After realizing that, my "fun" range time also became more intentional as I thought about how to practice self-defense.

Ch. 2 A bit of a rant on self-defense.

Obviously nothing can multiply the force of the weak like a firearm. Some have estimated that in America guns are used for self-defense over a million times every year. But situations can be complicated, and as a Christian I personally wouldn't feel comfortable using deadly force in every situation it may be justified. That's why I also carry pepper spray. I think there are many practical uses for less-deadly tools like pepper spray; and there must be right? Otherwise police wouldn't carry it alongside their other equipment. So even if you aren't a gun person, or can't carry a gun, I always encourage learning about pepper spray.

It makes me really sad that some governments still make it difficult for individuals to legally carry pepper spray; as in my opinion, it is the safest and most effective self-defense tool that isn't inherently deadly. I understand that a culture that may not be use to the concept of self-defense may have a lot of people miss-use it, but I still feel the pros of a society having it outway the cons. In places like Sweden and Japan, where sexual assaults have become a growing concern, pepper spray could save more lives than it would hurt. 

Ch. 3 Guns.

Anyways, on a less serious or depressing note, firearms are also just cool! They don't require electricity and are more straight forward than many people think. Some of my favorite guns I learned about from video games, such as the M1 Carbine (Medal of Honor: European Assault), a rifle I later found out my grandpa was stationed with. There's barely any recoil, it functions very intuitively, and I love the wooden stock. Some companies produce modern versions of the M1 Carbine, but chambered in 9mm. These seem cool, but I haven't gotten the chance to fire one yet. 

My favorite gun in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (2009) was the TAR21, which is now called irl the IWI Tavor. Sadly civilian versions of these can cost thousands of dollars, but Kel-Tec makes a cool rifle that looks vaguely similar called the RDB. These rifles are bullpups, which basically means the trigger is in front of the action of the firearm so that it's overall length can be shorter. 

Anyways, I just wanted to share one of my other interests. I may write more about different guns I find cool in the future. Thanks for reading all this way and it'll cya later :)