| and, hunting was an aristocratic pursuit, carefully | | | | a man." Our fascination with the firearm is a rite of |
| regulated by law. For instance, a firearm could not be | | | | passage in America. |
| used on one's own lawn to kill a pesky squirrel or | | | | Adults looking to exercise their Second Amendment |
| rabbit. When the colonists came over to the new | | | | right may be interested in handguns for self-defense |
| frontier, they aimed to be much different than their | | | | or long guns for sport. According to the National |
| homeland. | | | | Crime Victimization Survey, there are more than |
| Every colonist was required to carry new guns to | | | | 100,000 defensive gun uses each year. |
| defend themselves against invading Red Coats or to | | | | Every day citizens are able to protect themselves |
| use in case of an emergency, when all able-bodied | | | | from robberies, home invasions and other crimes |
| men were needed. The end result was our freedom | | | | simply by possessing a firearm. To get their money's |
| from England, which prompted our founding | | | | worth, shooting ranges abound, where citizens can |
| forefathers to adopt the right to bear arms as one | | | | go to hone their shooting skills with some friends. |
| of our most essential creeds. | | | | Sporting rifles are involved in hunting hobbies for 12.5 |
| Just as our love for firearms dates back in history, so | | | | million Americans. Hunting is a way of demonstrating |
| does it date back within our own personal history. | | | | skill, but also to provide for one's family, just like our |
| Young children play with toy guns and are taught | | | | ancestors used to do. |
| how to shoot at targets for sport. | | | | Today, the National Rifle Association has roughly 4 |
| After the laser tag years and the toy gun stage, | | | | million members, which confirms the American |
| some teenagers look to guns as a way of bonding | | | | fascination with the firearm. At the center of the gun |
| with dad. They get to "play with the big boys" at the | | | | control debate, there are people who feel it is their |
| shooting range, learning to hone their marksmanship | | | | right, as a free citizen, to bear arms. |
| skills. They may shoot at paper targets, plastic animal | | | | Yet there are others who fear becoming a victim of |
| targets, clay ducks or cans. | | | | crime from citizens who aren't as upstanding. Over |
| As they grow older, they'll get their hunting permits | | | | the years, gun regulations have come and gone, but |
| and take courses to learn how to shoot deer, turkey | | | | the basic American tradition of gun ownership for |
| and other wild game. Spending time with dad up in a | | | | most people has proliferated over various stages of |
| tree stand can be a wonderful bonding experience | | | | life. |
| for a young boy who is still learning what it is to "be | | | | |