And I Might Add–Older

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E-mails Gone Awry

You must be very careful when e-mailing not to be misunderstood. And it is such an easy thing to do. Follow this morning’s e-mails if you have doubts. As soon as I opened my computer this morning I read this from my son.

From: Son

Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 4:07 AM

To: Mom

Subject: Re: This gun toter did a GREAT job (from a recent e-mail I sent him)

Sent from my iPhone.

Just wanted to tell you I am in the ER in *town* pain to much in knee I will call when I get out. I just got here love you

From: Son

To: Mom

Sent: Friday August 14, 2009 6:24 AM

Subject: Re: This gun toter did a GREAT job

Sent from my iPhone

I am at home now. They gave me two big shots in my ass and some weird prescription and told me I need a orthopedic doc. Now my ass hurts too. I am ok if I do not answer your call that is because I am sleeping

(Of course, I write my sister to tell her what is going on by forwarding son’s e-mails. ) Message to sister:

From: Me

To: Sister

Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 7:35 AM

Subject: Fw: This gun toter did a GREAT job

My first email from *son* was at 4 a.m. He was in the ER at hospital near here. This is follow-up. I hurt. I know that shot probably put him out. I’ll keep emailing and see if he needs me to bring anything.

From: Sister

To: Me

Sent: Friday August 14, 11:20 a.m.

Subject: Fw: This gun toter did a GREAT job

What…….never mind. I will call.

And then the phone rings. It’s my sister from Texas all frantic, wanting to know how *son* is. I started explaining it was just his injured knees again and the pain had been too much.

“He didn’t get shot?”

And then I re-read what she had received: Gun toter did a GREAT job…..shot probably put him out…..

Oh sure, NOW we can laugh. Hope you did, too.

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My Warm, Live Hands—

Excuse my exuberance, but I feel like firing my handgun into the sky. The Supreme Court minutes ago handed down a decision on the D.C. gun ownership case, declaring the framers of the constitution meant to give rights to individual citizens to own guns independent of their connection to a militia.

 

 

This decision is also a nod to the spirit of independence, the belief that we are all responsible for taking care of ourselves whenever possible. Some of us, particularly older citizens, are at a disadvantage against anyone breaking in our homes to do harm. They don’t call it “the equalizer” for nothing. I would think AARP would celebrate this decision with fireworks. Oops! I’d better think again about that liberal organization.

 

 

You know the old advice to writers: If you place a rifle over the fireplace early in your story, you darn well better use it later on. Here’s advice to gun owners: If you have a rifle hanging over the fireplace (or by your bedside) you cut the chances you will have to use it. That is what a small Southern town discovered after passing a law requiring every citizen to own a gun. Crime went down dramatically. Guns in the right hands decrease crime and protect the innocent.  And that is what I expect today’s Supreme Court victory to reflect down the road.  

 

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Playing With Lead Toys

I desperately needed a new second amendment warning sign for the inside garage door. The old target was beginning to look more like someone who had met up with a slasher instead of a gun-toting granny. So now the new guy above greets anyone who might decide to enter the house uninvited.

We met one of Jerry’s golfing buddies at Hot Shots in Daytona Beach a couple of weeks ago. Dave brought along his wife, her brother and his wife, the four of them comprising the most cheerful group of people you would ever want to meet. And believe me, when someone is holding a loaded 357 Magnum two feet from you, you prefer them cheerful.

For those who doubt God smiles on pistol-packing nuts, explain this. We ate at Aunt Catfish’s in Port Orange first and got the only waitress in Volusia County (I’m sure) who was a sage on local gun ranges. All I had to do was mention outdoor range and she not only told us of a local one, but also called her husband on her cell phone to find the directions! You tell me that wasn’t providence. We are saving that for another trip, though because we needed to buy extra ammunition and that range was very basic. We’ve scoped it out on the web and Strickland’s is our next stop.

Hot Shots was a well-run indoor range and we had a ball. Best of all we are all more comfortable with our weapons should we ever have to use them for protection.

Just curious about all the black smoke and lead flying around and nearly impossible to scrub off my hands, I Googled the subject later. My suspicions were realized. Lead dust and gasses from firing ranges can be very dangerous. All the clothes we were wearing went into the washing machine and we showered and washed our hair before bedtime. Apparently outdoor ranges have less lead contamination, but are still a hazard. The same precautions should be taken after shooting there. I know. I know. Growing up we never thought of “getting the lead out” after shooting cans at the caliche pit or riverbank, but we are wiser now—surprisingly. So we’ll take precautions, but look for us before long at the outdoor gun range.

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