User:Jdriver303

Since this is an application for admission, I've got to "toot-my-own-horn" for a bit in the next paragraphs. Before doing that, I'd like to express my appreciation to all those who have (1) defended our 2nd Ad rights and (2) supported our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen through whatever acts, means, or gestures they could. As a 40+-year firearms enthusiast, I've been a casual, sport, hunting, and competition shooter since I was 5. The sport, hunting, and competition didn't really kick in until I was 12 or so. I shot .22LR matches with the 4-H and Boy Scouts, some skeet club matches in college and early active duty, and at a C.M.P. match (back when you had to shoot for your M-1 Garand). Most of the males in my family have similar experiences (i.e. a rite-of-passage period in your life). And all are staunch 2nd Ad defenders. Grandfathers, Father, Father-in-Law, Uncle, son, and self are all NRA Life members. Many also participate in various shooting sports. My favorite are IDPA style outings. Finally, many are CCP qualified or will be when circumstances permit. I'm uncertain when or where our family's enthusiasm for firearms began; but, I'm fairly certain the why is intertwined with our history of military service. I'm a retired 20-year USAF T-38 and C-130E/H/H1/J IP & FE and sixth consecutive generation of vets [our family's oldest U.S. vet severed in Gen. Washington's Life Guard from 1780-83 when the unit's size increased from 180 to 250]. I'm a proud (and humbled) Son of the American Revolution; Son of Union Veterans, of Son of Confederate Veterans (I missed out on being a Son of the Republic of Texas by having an uncle versus father-type - they only take direct descendants). I guess (just as Tom Cruise reprising Jack Reacher lists "family business" as one of four reasons men/women enlist or earn a commission) military service could be termed our "family's business", as well, and probably fuels a fair amount of our firearms enthusiasm.