Liberal CCW Story: Part 1

Linus Torvalds says that if you ask any American Abortion and Guns, you are bound to get an emotional response. As abortion falls under the religious/feminist umbrella, so the emotional response is expected. What makes guns such a divisive topic in American society? Strangely many right wing Christians are against abortion and pro guns, including many of my close relatives. Jesus said in Matthew 5:39 to turn the other cheek, yet many of his followers in America would rather resort to deadly force. I have always wondered why our American culture is so polarized by the second amendment issues. This book is the story of my journey into American Gun Culture, sometimes reluctant, sometimes pell mell, the journey started out of curiosity, and happenstance. My wife had a concealed handgun carry permit when she was in college, and had let it expire. She decided to re-take the handgun carry class, and re-apply for a permit, and asked me to take the class with her.

When I met my wife, I didn't know that she had a concealed carry permit, allowing her to carry as many concealed handguns as she wished. She routinely carried a Kahr K40 semiautomatic pistol in a shoulder holster. When she told me that she carried a handgun, I was immediately on edge. Guns make me nervous, and the idea of someone walking around with me armed was unnerving. There are caveats to the concealed carry permit, banning firearms from Federal, State and Local Government buildings, Establishments that serve alcohol, schools and anywhere else posted with a weapons prohibited sign. When I told her that I had reservations about her carrying, she invited me to the local indoor shooting range. She showed me how to load, and shoot her Kahr K40, and I was impressed with her marksmanship, which put me to shame. I had trouble hitting the target at 7 yards. The holes in the ceiling tiles above the firing line from wild shots made a sharp impression. Where did these rounds go? The attic? I was struck with her professionalism with the handgun, the strict set of rules she followed when at the range. She put all of her round in the target and was also aghast at the holes in the ceiling above the firing line.