The big topic in recent days is, of course, gun control. As we sit here listening to one side of the isle demonize an entire group of people who are guilty simply because they own a certain type of weapon, and we watch these same people think they are going to take down the NRA by boycotting businesses, I want to take a moment to humanize gun owners. Because we are just American citizens, 99.9% of us with no ill intent. 

Please free to take part in this. If you want to add your own story, you can either leave it in the comments or contact me and I'll add it to this list of people. Please do not give out personal information (last names, addresses, serial numbers, phone numbers, etc.). 

The majority of these came from our Facebook page. These stories are unedited copy and paste.
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• Terry: 3 sr 7.62, sr 5.56,s/w 22, too many other guns to list. Retired pol off, ex army ranger, I usually carry one where ever I go as a back up to my pistol because sometimes a pistol just won't do the job.
• Melissa: AR15 by Diamondback (before the buyout) and Beretta Cx4 Storm. We got them for the eventual "Zombie Apocalypse" and/or personal protection from bad guys who travel in packs.
• Matt: Threats against my life/well being during divorce, which escalated into ex stealing key to my AR at one point during the process and giving it to a third party (firearm was still in safe, key was only to trigger lock) . PD did nothing, civil matter, and honestly I don't expect to be able to get a restraining order against like 8 people. I can hold my own in a fight, but against a small crowd I don't have 20-90 minutes to wait for help. A pump or break action shotgun would not be practical if I was being aggressed from both entry points to my room. Too much recoil, plus spread can be a bad thing if you have a roommate or a pet like me. Slugs defeat the 'point & click' advantage that make shotguns work so well in tight areas.
  
  A handgun is more unwieldy during adrenal dump, plus my rifle makes a better blunt weapon than a pistol if it came down to it. 10 round maximum capacity here.
  
  If a pistol or shotgun works for others in their layout/strategy to defend themselves, fine. For me the rifle is ideal.
• Shannan: Ruger 1022. Not an AR. But looks like one. I bought it because well- target shooting is fun. Enough said.
• John: AK-47 that doesn't get used much. I have a Remington 870 that's for home defense but the AK is more for if the proverbial poo poo hits the fan.
• Brad: Coyotes, hogs, varmits in general. And that pesky steel downrange. Shotgun for home defense. I don’t want to penetrate multiple 
• Jason: My Sig Sauer 556 no not an ar but still awesome coyote and breaks the fun meter at the range
• Ronnie: Well don’t have a gun of any sort right now but in this mob mentality that’s suddenly arrived I’ve been thinking of getting one there a lot of idiots that think it’s ok to come take and destroy everything u have plus I think we’re on the verge of civil war!....I’m not right or left but I see theses groups putting the white male in there sites constantly this whole shabang is a farce!...our government has totally lost its way some of em make u sick to your stomach the sh*t that pours out there mouths is unbelievable!
• Adam: "PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS"
• Race: CORE 30 AR10. I just always wanted one. I love to shoot, I coach youth trap shooting, and I wanted something enjoyable that I can also use for home protection if I can't get to the 12 gauge first.
• Tim: I have a couple. I enjoy the challenge of 3 gun, accuracy training and speed drills. It isn't my go to defense gun, i think of it like a sports car vs a daily driver
• Matthew:  I used to own an "AK47." I got a good deal on it and I thought it would be cool to own one (I was young when I bought it). My friends and I used to go to the range a lot and it was one they always wanted me to bring so that they could fire it. I’ve thought about getting another such weapon but I’m not so big into shooting anymore. I’d probably keep it tucked away somewhere deep in the basement with a few thousand rounds of ammunition just in case the world ever falls apart.​

Of course, it would be wrong to not include myself. I collect mostly old military surplus rifles, some of which do not operate or were retired due to age, but others are fun range guns. I don't use those for home defense since I am in a densely populated area and don't want to penetrate walls, and I don't hunt. But I go with a group of friends to the range regularly to enjoy their company, enjoy shooting, release stress, and meet new friends at the range. I do have a couple semi-auto rifles and pistols, and again, I enjoy shooting them at the range as well. In a previous day I also used several for shooting matches including IDPA and Cowboy Action Shooting. And one handgun was a work gun when I worked for an armored car company and then in the gun store where, as a manager, I was required to be armed. 

We're not the boogie monsters the media and the far left make us out to be. Some of my shooting buddies are Democrats, too, so this is not a Republican thing alone. 99.9% of us wish no one any harm. We just enjoy our hobby - and I enjoy the history of some of my pieces - and want to be left alone. 

Get to know some gun owners. Do your own research on the NRA. I like to take each person I meet on an individual basis, and I would hope others gave me the same respect. We are not the criminal element. We're your neighbors. 

In response to the article "Florida Teacher of the Year's gun violence post goes viral after school shooting"

Author: Greg Caldwell

Having worked in the education field for a number of years, I'm here to tell you she nailed it. In addition to her words, let me add some of mine!

Since the latest school tragedy in Florida, they are coming out of the woodwork with solutions. Let me debunk some of the worst ones.

Arm Teachers - OH HELL NO - As the Technology Director for a small school district for a number of years, I worked daily with teachers. They are a bunch of great people that are working hard to help their students! However, giving them a gun, even with training, is enough to scare the hell out of this ole combat veteran. As a matter of fact, anything that can be used as a weapon does not belong in the classroom. Period.

Ban Assault Weapons - Yes, yes, I know. The AR-15 is not an assault weapon but I'm tired of trying to explain that to people that don't know anything about it. OK, we ban them. Magic wand waved, they disappear off the face of the earth. Now what? Let's not forget that the VA Tech shooter killed 30 people with a handgun. 

Ban All Guns - OK sweet pea. Let's go over that. In order to ban guns, first you'll need to rescind the 2nd amendment. There are only two ways you can do that, neither of which I'm going to list. Google it. It suffices to say the chances of rescinding the 2nd amendment are about ........... zero! Ain't gonna happen. Move on. 

Our kids are being slaughtered, so how about all you folks start dealing with reality and forget the utopia that you wish to have. What can be done IMMEDIATELY to stop most of this carnage? The simple answer is, controlled entry points into each school, metal detectors at those controlled entry points, and armed, professionally trained personnel manning those entry points at all times kids are in the building.

Yes, we need to improve a lot of things but the suggestion above will have an immediate effect. Some people are complaining that we will be making our schools militarized zones. Ok. Maybe! But, I'd rather my school be a militarized zone than a bloody crime scene. Yes, the sight of armed people at the entrance to school may initially upset some of the younger ones but once it's explained that those people are there to keep bad people out, they'll quickly forget it and it will soon be normal.

Now that we have the immediate safety of our kids covered, let's turn our attention to the social and mental issues that are causing these people to want to create carnage at our schools.

I do not have all the answers but there are things we can do. We all need to start dealing with reality and not some utopian desire that's never going to happen. Notice I didn't say that the President or Congress needs to do something! That's because we parents and concerned citizens are going to have to take the initiative and FORCE local and state leaders to do this! We can find the money to get started and then pressure Congress for more. We HAVE to start somewhere sometime. Why not now? Why not at your school?