Faith, Family & Firearms

If you were raised in the South, or really any rural part of America, then you can probably relate to those ideals and values. If your holiday ritual was like ours, it probably revolved around a family feast followed by a trip to the woods. Now in my 5th decade, I realize how precious those memories are.

Recently I was able to make some more memories with family that came in from Texas to do a little firearms training. In April of last year, my cousin Dennis, his son Duane and son-in-law Ray attended a 2-day pistol class here at Boondocks FTA. Dennis is actually my Dad’s first cousin and even though he and his family lived a couple of hours away from us, my Dad and Dennis were very close! I can recount the summer vacations when all 7 of us would pile into our 1978 green on green Ford Econoline van and spend 2-weeks traveling to national parks all over the country. As the oldest kid, I had the privilege of sitting up front on the cooler between my Dad and Dennis. My job was to occasionally hand them a beer while trying not to fly through the windshield when the radar detector went off. When hunting season came around, my Dad and I would jump into his 1976 Chevy Truck, nicked named “Old Red” and head to the woods with family members from near and far including Dennis and his family. In 2006 when my Dad passed away, followed shortly by my Uncle Tinker who literally taught my Dad and I everything about hunting, it was Dennis that made a conscious effort to stay in touch and help fill those gaps left in my life.

True to the family traditions, Dennis has kept “Old Red” running and working in the woods for the past 17 years. Today, when we talk we often recount those old memories of my Dad and Tinker and all the good times we had afield.

Old Red still out working in the woods

My Dad on our last hunt together in the fall of 2005

November 29th would have been my Dad’s 80th birthday. He and my Uncle Tinker taught me a lot about shooting, firearms and the outdoors. Even though they had no formal firearms training, they were great marksmen, and I am thankful that I was able to absorb some of their wisdom and experience. Both of them passed before I got into firearms training and I often wonder what they would think about that part of my life and the changes that have come to pass. What they taught me was invaluable, but what I have learned since is that the ability to shoot a gun accurately does not necessarily prepare you for self-defense.

My Dad and Uncle Tinker circa 1975

I was appendix carrying before appendix carry was cool & A field of dreams for me and a 10/22

Those sentiments were echoed by Dennis, Duane and Ray at the conclusion of their course. All of them were accomplished shooters before they walked into the classroom, and when they walked away, they had a better understanding of the skills necessary for self-defense, and the realization that it requires continued training and practice.

So, if you grew up like I did with fond memories of hunting trips and shooting, but haven’t had any formal defensive firearms training, now is the time. You owe it to yourself and your family to be better prepared! Maybe even bring one of your mentors along with you. It may be a great way for you and them to share a few more trips to the range and create some new memories before that opportunity is no longer there.

Me, Duane, Ray and Dennis at the conclusion of their class at Boondock FTA