There are many shapes for a swimming pool. Ones that resemble a heart, diamond, kidney, or star, or are circular, rectangular, oblong, or L-shaped. You can have a lap pool or an infinity pool. Just name a design and you can have it custom-built. I don’t know about you, but I have seen all of these shaped pools… no big deal. But recently a friend of mine told me about an unusual-shaped pool. It is a revolver-shaped swimming pool. It is a really close replica of my revolver, a 1950s vintage Ruger Blackhawk Revolver. This six-shot single-action revolver is very accurate with a long barrel and comes in various finishes, calibers, and barrel lengths. So immediately some things came to mind about this pool, like who owns it and who designed it, what are its size and characteristics, and where, and why was it built. And keep in mind that there are other complex considerations and subtle influences at work behind the words of this simple article about a swimming pool.

Inherent and Inalienable Universal Rights

As you read this, remember that there are a lot of ideas, values, beliefs, rights, hobbies, environments, opinions, and customs that exist in our culture. We have religious, political, civil, sports, car/vehicle, work, and job, medical, social, economic, and educational symbols, and ideologies, for example, that regularly influence us. Each has its own signs, logos, patches, objects, figures, animals, mascots, uniforms, apparel, missions, etc. Our personal idiosyncrasies and preferences are the basis for an increasing number of people’s prime existence and may even be a major personality trait or main reason for existing. Think about the possibilities and complexities. Should we judge someone or put someone down who has different ideas about something we all have an inherent right to? Are they entitled to their inalienable rights as we are, as long as they do not infringe on anyone else?

Each individual has human rights simply because he/she exists as a human being. They are not granted by any state, government, or entity. They range from the most fundamental right to life to those like food, health, education, work, and liberty. These universal rights to exist are inherent to us all, regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status. We are generally entitled to our own existence and human rights if we follow legal and moral guidelines. We know our inalienable rights are proclaimed in our Declaration of Independence and secured by our U.S. Constitution. They are inalienable and should not be taken away, except in rare, specific situations and according to legal due process. The right to liberty, for example, may be restricted if a person is found guilty of a crime by a court of law.

Limited Government

A limited government approach in trade, commercial, business, personal, or other activities seeks minimal interventions by any government body in these activities. This is first associated with Economist Adam Smith’s Laissez-Faire economic theory and his 1776 classic book. In this approach, the most extreme limited government would be one that lets natural supply and demand drive the economy and activities. The government would not intervene to set prices or influence specific business or personal activities. It would be up to the individual and his/her particular circumstances to make related personal decisions since they are the best to know their own situational influences. Proponents of this approach believe that limited government can facilitate economic growth and prosperity by minimizing external restrictions. They believe that excessive government interventions can reduce competition and distort markets, resulting in shortages, and/or higher prices, more taxes, more risk-taking, and inappropriate asset allocations.

So objectively keeping the above generally in mind before you form any opinion, I hope you read my commentary here about what I learned about this unusual swimming pool.

Who Owns the Revolver-Shaped Swimming Pool?

The unusual swimming pool is owned by Louis and Raye Minardi. The genesis for the pool began in the 1980s with Louis’ high school friend, a contractor Albert Jones III. Jones owned A.H. Jones Pools, Inc. and designed it. Minardi’s background as a gunsmith and interest in guns and gun safety, blended well with Jones’ unique ideas and designs. Minardi grew up hunting and remembers his first firearm, a double-barreled 12-gauge shotgun, and that his parents trusted him. Minardi runs a family-owned taxi service now.

The Minardi family wanted a 40-feet long pool for laps and had safety concerns. Now they have a 55-feet long revolver-shaped pool. They lived on a lake with alligators and snakes, so they had to carefully watch their children swimming from their dock. They liked to swim laps and Minardi said Jones told him “You swim your lap down the barrel. It gets deeper on that end. You can flip over from it and then you can swim back.” Minardi agreed to let Jones build the unique pool if he stayed within his project’s budget. When you look at the pool, you can see that Jones color-coordinated the pool’s tiles to accurately reflect the Ruger revolver’s brown grip handle and silver frame. The tiles show the gun’s hammer, trigger, barrel, and chamber. The hammer even has a jacuzzi installed in it.

Where is the Revolver-Shaped Swimming Pool Located?

Coincidentally, the gun-shaped pool is located in the Minardi’s backyard on Gunn Highway in Odessa, Florida, near Tampa. I’ll bet he has a lot of curious gawkers, but I wonder if he has his 12-gauge shotgun handy just in case there might be trouble or a safety net to possibly rescue and save someone. Minardi said “Neighbors that have bought houses around here have all come by” and said “Is this guy a whack job?” But Louis Minardi has an apparent positive respect for others, the Second Amendment, gun rights, and gun safety. He said the pool is popular among family and friends, who have used it to teach their children to swim.

Why a Revolver-Shaped Swimming Pool?

My University of Florida collaborator and colleague Zach Carnell, with the Fresh Take Florida News Service there, has provided me with information and lead photograph approval for my article here. Thank you! I was interested and glad to learn that Louis Minardi said that he “believes in gun education and safety.” Because of his gunsmithing background and interests in guns, gun education is important to him. Minardi has taken his children and grandchildren hunting since they were very young and safety is emphasized.

Safety Tip: Louis Minardi said that he did not allow his children and grandchildren to use a gun unless they were closely supervised and had proper training.

Minardi said people should be allowed to own guns and carry guns in public. So gun education and training are the central focus of his views on gun regulation, i.e. learning about guns and how safely to handle and use them. “If you’re qualified, mentally able to have one and protect yourself, I think you ought to be able to have one if you want one, whether you keep it at home or you carry it with you,” he said.

Note: Florida legislators are considering now in February a bill for Constitutional or Permitless Carry. For details, see my recent article Will Florida be the 26th State for Constitutional or Permitless Carry.

Actual Comments About the Revolver-Shaped Pool

As you would expect in today’s political circumstances, anything about guns is controversial. So there are some pro and con (and informed and not-informed) comments already about this revolver-shaped swimming pool. Keeping in mind our inherent and inalienable rights, here are just a few actual comments:

• Best pool idea EVER. Better than the popular guitar-shaped pool of George and Tammy in Lakeland.
• Florida is a gun-shaped state.
• Love it. I would make mine an M60.
• Ahhh! The ol’ Stand Your Ground swimming pool.
• The left and media are scared and offended.
• I would expect this in Texas but in Florida?
• I love it. If I had the money, I would have one just like it.
• Verrry COOL. My choice would have been a 1911/.45 Cal. SHAPE!!!
• I just love it. Beautiful and sends a deadly message. Intruders better get it.
• Not only a great conversation subject, but you can swim in it too.
• Why is this news? Why can’t folks get privacy in their own home nowadays?
• Can I move in… beautiful!
• Ewww! Tacky. Looks dumb and is not practical.
• Like they said. It’s Florida. It can only raise the value due to the redneck inbreds.
• Very cool! It’s cute but does not add to the home’s value.
• I’m not anti-gun but I don’t understand the sect of people who make guns their entire personality.
• Ifff youuuuuuuu have a gun-shaped pool you might be a redneck.
• It’s the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun pool.
• It looks like a pain to clean.
• I always love to see a great Second Amendment family.

What are your ideas? Would you have a pool like this?

Remember, Safety First!

Photo: Permission of Mary Whitworth and Zachary Carnell at Fresh Take Florida News Service

* This personal opinion article is meant for general information & educational purposes only and the author strongly recommends that you seek counsel from an attorney for legal advice and your own personal certified weapons trainer for proper guidance about shooting & using YOUR firearms, self-defense and concealed carry. It should not be relied upon as accurate for all shooters & the author assumes no responsibility for anyone’s use of the information and shall not be liable for any improper or incorrect use of the information or any damages or injuries incurred whatsoever.

© 2023 Col Benjamin Findley. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be reprinted or reproduced in whole or in part by mechanical means, photocopying, electronic reproduction, scanning, or any other means without prior written permission. For copyright information, contact Col. Ben Findley at [email protected].

Read the original story: Revolver-Shaped Swimming Pool: Unusual Support for Gun Rights, Safety, and Education