In Defense of Firearms

To the Editor: 
I am in my late 70s, so older folks will understand the timeframe. 
When I was 12 years old, I brought my dad a comic book. The ad on the back page noted that for selling so many boxes of Christmas cards, I could get a Red Ryder BB gun.
My dad said no. He explained to me how useless they were.
In that same ad, they had a Marlin .22 bolt-action rifle. He told me to sell enough boxes to get the .22 instead, which I did, with a lot of hard work and the help of my parents’ friends and relatives. When the rifle came, dad locked it in the closet with his shotgun.
We joined a shooting range. Before we went to the range, dad taught me firearms safety.
When at the range, he taught more safety and shooting skill, always under close supervision. We both shot the .22 and I got comfortable with firearms. I also learned responsibility.
At 14, I saved enough money to buy a shotgun. We went to the range once a week to shoot clay pigeons. A year later, I got my hunting license and we hunted together.
After high school, I went in the military. I fired many different firearms, both automatic and semi-automatic, and many rounds of ammunition through them.
After coming home, I met friends who also had an interest in hunting and shooting.
We spent many hours in the field during hunting season and at the range in the off season. We even reloaded our own ammo to save money.
At this time, I also started my firearm collection. At one time, I owned 32 firearms. All were purchased legally through a federal firearms dealer. They ranged from a pellet gun to a .338-caliber rifle, even some black powder firearms and a bow.  
I’ve hunted in 12 different states, many different types of game, and spent too many hours to count at the range. I estimate I’ve fired well over 10,000 rounds of ammunition in my lifetime. Not one of those rounds was ever fired in anger, or at anyone.
About eight years ago, my shooting eye started to go bad, so I gave up hunting and shooting. I sold most of my firearms, keeping only the sentimental ones (I still have my .22 Marlin). All the firearms I kept are locked in a bolted-down, steel gun safe for protection from little hands.
For all those firearm skeptics out there, before you call me a gun nut, find a friend or someone you trust who owns a .22 caliber handgun, is proficient in firearms, and can teach you firearm safety.
Buy a box of .22 ammunition and a few bullseye targets. Rent some time at one of three local ranges. Set your target at 15 yards.
At first, you may be all over the target, but then your grouping will get better, and with some practice, you will be shooting in the seven and eight rings. Once you start punching holes in the center, you’ll be hooked. I know I was.
If you don’t like it, you had an inexpensive learning experience. Firearms are just another tool in your toolbox. If you abuse your chainsaw, you will get injured or worse.
If you are not proficient with a firearm, and someone breaks into your home at 2 or 3 a.m., you have about an eight to 10-minute wait for the police to get there after you dial 911. If someone breaks into my home, I will go to my gun safe, and I am armed with a .40-caliber pistol in about 10 seconds, then I will call 911.