I am the face of gun ownership in Canada.
I figured I would talk a little bit about Gun Ownership in Canada. I realized today that I truly am the face of gun ownership in Canada – as is the hunter, as is the trap shooter, as is the guy that likes to shoot guns in a gravel pit once a year, as is the competition shooter. We all come from different walks of life, have different occupations, and different interests – but the one thing that ties us all together is Shooting guns.
I started shooting fairly later on in life, in my 30’s, going out with friends to the bush and shooting 22’s, SKS’s, some shotguns at clays, and generally having a good time. For me though, I didn’t find it very challenging, or very rewarding. I needed something more to make it something that had a purpose, for me. I ended up finding my way to shooting long range precision rifles, and then Service Rifle. I truly loved the challenge of shooting farther than I had, shooting more precisely than I had, shooting more accurately than I had; I truly loved challenging myself. I found all of that in those disciplines and still find it incredibly challenging today; there is always something to learn from a book, from the guy shooting next to you, from the guy you watch.
I am an amputee by birth, although that is a bit of misnomer – I am missing my right hand, but not from amputation but from a birth defect. Over the years, I have tried all sorts of sports and hobbies. I played hockey, baseball, tennis, and golf. I have ridden BMX, am a photographer and most recently, I have taken up writing as you can see from this blog. All of these things I enjoyed immensely – but I wasn’t *good* at them. I was never going to be in the NHL, or on the PGA tour, or on the cover of National Geographic.
But I *am* good at shooting.
I have learned quickly, and that thirst for knowledge has brought me places I never thought possible. I have competed in a number of competitions, including the Nationals in Ottawa. It has allowed me to be competitive in a sport, while being an amputee; I am not at a disadvantage because I am missing my hand. My disadvantages come from things like lack of practice and lack of experience and human error. The SAME things my competitors are experiencing. They experience the same mirage I see and the same wind I feel – me missing a limb, does not affect these things. I have been able to experience the same matches the Canadian military competes in. I have been able to shoot against the top military and civilian shooters in Canada.
I have met so many warm, welcoming people since I have been shooting – both at the range, and at competitions. Everyone is there for the same thing – to shoot the smallest groups, to sight in their rifle for hunting, to try out some new reloads, to beat the other guys on the line, to take home the accolades of coming in first, to compete or just to have fun. Everyone’s reason for being there is different but at the same time it’s not. Our love of shooting brings us all together. In speaking to these people, I have formed friendships, met people that are so willing to help new people out, to teach, to learn and even to talk just talk. I have not met anyone that has been rude. I am very fortunate.
And I never would have experienced any of that, without shooting.
Unfortunately, there are people out there in the firearms community that think that shooting an AR in a Service Rifle match shouldn’t be allowed, or that shooting pistols in an IPSC match shouldn’t be allowed; there are people that don’t care about firearms outside of the ones they use. This sort of segmentation does a disservice to the community as a whole – there can be no unified front to the cause if everyone is bickering amongst themselves.
The reason I advocate ownership in Canada – is because I don’t want to lose the opportunity to do something I am good at. I don’t want to lose that camaraderie. I don’t want to lose the ability to meet people. I don’t want to lose the ability to prove myself against better shooters than me. I don’t want to lose the ability to teach my son the things that I have learned. I don’t want to miss seeing him beat me in competition.
I am the face of gun ownership in Canada.
I promise, next post will be a range report about my new precision rifle. Until then – please come give a follow on Facebook or Instagram.
https://www.facebook.com/amputeeshooter
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