GRANDMA’S SHOTGUN

LAST FALL WHEN WE VISITED AMY AND FAMILY IN ABQ, I RETRIVED GRANDMA’S SHOTGUN FROM DANIEL’S GUN SAFE.  THE OLD FAMILY STORY IS THAT MY DAD BOUGHT THE GUN IN ABOUT 1950 FOR MY MOM TO USE DEER HUNTING IN WISCONSIN, FROM THE MONTOGOMERY WARD CATALOGE.

I WANTED MY FRIEND, AND GUN ENTHUSIEST, LEE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE GUN, DETERMINE HOW OLD IT WAS, WHO MADE IT, INSPECT IT FOR SAFTY, AND HELP ME SHOOT IT.

LEE LOOKED THE GUN OVER AND FOUND ONE LITTLE SERIAL NUMBER ON THE BARREL.  OTHERWISE THERE ISN’T A MARK OR NAME ON THE GUN ANYWHERE.  LEE THOUGHT THE GUN WAS FROM THE 1930’S OR EARLY 40’S.

LEE DETERMINED THE GUN HAD BEEN PROPERLY STORED AND OILED AND LOADED IT UP TO SHOOT.

LEE AND I BOTH SHOT THE GUN AND LEE SAID IT WAS A PERFECT LADIES GUN, WITH VERY LITTLE KICK FOR A 12 GAUGE SHOTGUN.

GUNS ARE AN INTERESTING TOPIC IN ARIZONA AND THE WEST.  IN FACT I WAS SURPRISED IN THE RECENT TUCSON SHOOTING, INVOLVING A US CONGRESS WOMAN, THAT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE IN THE CROWD HADN’T PULLED HANDGUNS AND SHOT THE BAD GUY. 

SEEMS EVERYONE HAS AND CARRIES A HANDGUN.  IT MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK, BE MORE RESPECTFUL OF PEOPLE, AND BEHAVE YOURSELF AROUND STRANGERS.

BACK TO THE TUCSON SITUATION, THERE WAS A MAN IN A STORE AROUND THE CORNER, AND WHEN HE HEARD THE GUN SHOTS CAME RUNNING OUT OF THE STORE, GUN IN HAND, AROUND THE CORNER, READY TO FIRE.  THE MAN HOLDING THE GUN AT THAT POINT WAS ONE OF THE HEROS THAT HAD TACKLED THE BAD GUY.  LUCKILY HE WASN’T SHOT.

DO RV’ERS CARRY GUNS? YOU NEVER KNOW. I READ A LOT OF RV BLOGS AND THERE IS ONE GROUP OF RETIRED FOLKS THAT GET TOGETHER EVERY WINTER AND BOONDOCK OUT IN DESERT.  I’VE BEEN READING THEIR BLOGS A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW TO LEARN ABOUT BOONDOCKING.  THEY DISCUSS POWER, WATER, SEWER DUMPING, AND OFTEN TELL STORIES OF THEIR DAYS AND NIGHTS ON THE DESERT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. 

THEIR BLOGS INCLUDE STORIES OF COCKTAIL HOURS, BBQ COOKOUTS, DESERT HIKES, LETTING THEIR YAPPY RV DOGS RUN FREE OFF LEASH, FOOD RECIPES, CAMPFIRES, STAR GAZING, BIRTHDAY PARITES, THE BEST DUMP STATION IN BOSE, THE BEST LAUNDROMAT IN PAKER WITH FREE WI-FI, BOONDOCKING IN QUARTSITE DURING JANUARY, ETC.

JUST THE FRIENDLIEST BUNCH OF CAMPERS FROM ALL OVER.  IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I READ OF ONE OF THEIR DESERT HIKES LAST WEEK WHEN THEY ALL PULLED OUT THEIR HANDGUNS TO DO A LITTLE TARGET PRACTICE.

HERE IS LEE GIVING A SHOOTING LESSON TO MARY. MARY PUT A NICE GROUPING TOGETHER WITH LEE’S 38 ON A TARGET FROM ABOUT 10 YARDS.

THE OLE WILD WILD WEST IS STILL THE SAME IN SOME RESPECTS.  BE CAREFUL OUT THERE.