Because out here in the West, you still have a LOT of people who hunt for game for food purposes. We used to watch a guy's chickens and get deer meat in exchange. (I have noticed that progressives in the Western US seem to have differing opinions on guns than progressives east of the Rockies.)

My mother, who is one of the most pacifist, live-and-let-live people I know, owns a shotgun and brings it whenever she takes a solo flight or any flight that will take her more than 2 miles outside the airport flight path. (Yes, my mother is a bush pilot.) She's never shot it, it's never even been taken out of the case except to check on its maintenance, but it's there. Hopefully, she'll never need it.

Hil, I hope the doctor can help. You must be so frustrated.

Huh. The internet tells me that progesterone can increase joint laxity. Looking at the calendar, I'm pretty sure that this round of flare-ups started pretty soon after I started taking Yaz. Definitely something I need to ask the doctor about, once I actually get to see the doctor.

Huh. I'm on Yaz too. I should look into that, but Yaz really does keep me from wanting to kill people once a month.

Happy Birthday, Fay!!!

I say ban guns, legalize drugs.

That is my bench. I have shot a rifle. I shot like I bowl -- First shot /bowl is perfect. After that I come no where near where I think I am aiming. I think I would do better useing a bowling ball as a defensive weapon.

I get hunting for food, and why juliana's mom needs to carry a gun. And most of the hunters I know are fairly strong environmentalist. However, going to Argentina to hunt birds -- seems unnecessary.

My dad helped keep food on his family's table as a teenager through hunting. He usually didn't shoot the deer. He was a guide to a bunch of men from Below the Straits (now known as "Below the Bridge," i.e., the lower peninsula of Michigan) in his family's woods during deer season. They'd shoot the deer for trophies, take the antlers and sometimes the skin, and both pay dad and give him the rest of the deer. It was a good gig for a 14 year old in the middle of the Great Depression.

Dad knew how to handle a rifle, and owned one that he rarely used. But when I was old enough to know it was in the house he took me to visit a family friend who was also a sheriff, and they showed me how to handle the rifle and a couple of handguns. Curiosity cured and I can probably avoid shooting my foot off by accident. I still wouldn't want one unless I was planning on killing my own dinner, though. I just don't have a need, so I don't see the point of having something that dangerous in my home.

{{Hil}} and {{sj}}. I hope the good doctor can help, Hil.

Interesting conversation. My parents have and have always had guns, usually kept unloaded in the back of the closet, mostly rifles and shotguns, shells on the top shelf, handguns kept somewhere else. I don't know where. I was more interested in finding my mom's book stash. My dad hunted and at least my oldest brother still does, though he fishes a lot more. I'd like a gun, but not enough to have one since Greg's opposed, and with my kids not likely a good idea anyway, gun safe or not.

IE, people who go into gyms and classrooms and museums and public meets with little dicks and big guns.

Problem with this is: I don't know too many of those women who would pack a weapon to aerobics class. Not one of those people had a chance to do ANYTHING, much less reach for a weapon to defend themselves. This is the argument I use on my pro gun family. That their guns are more likely to end up in the hands of a kid, or a thief or be used to kill a family member than an attacker.

My dad's handgun collection ended up in the hands of a crack dealer when my brother stole them and used them to buy drugs. How safe does THAT make their neighborhood? Not very.

I think we have a well-armed militia--it's called the ARMY. I think that any guns (rifles included) should be well regulated--licenced and tracked. I respect hunting and shooting for recreation but we need to do a better job of keeping them out of the hands of crazies.

I learnt to shoot handguns because I knew how to take them off people, and at that point didn't want to be a danger to myself. And then I found out I enjoyed it. If I were flush I might consider buying one, but I don't know if I could pick just one. So renting is probably the way to go until I'm more experienced. Not that I've been to the range in forever.

Never shot rifle--just handgun and shotgun.