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• Sunday, April 15, 2007 07:57 PM

  Buy the gun cabinet first

  Dude.

  You know you're going to buy them. You've already picked out your make and model. You will buy a firearm or two in relatively short order. So be smart about it.

  First, buy a secure, locking, gun cabinet (the steel kind that bolts onto part of the house or apartment, and can't be broken into with a crowbar).

  Second, join a gun club. Think about whether that M1 is going to fit in with the other club folks. Target competitions are a lot of fun, but you may need a specific type of rifle to really participate. Check it out before you spring for your first piece.

  Third, wait a while for the pistol. I don't ever intend to own a pistol myself (I'm a bit too volatile in the temper department to want to own such an effective one-handed killer). Armies don't routinely give pistols to enlisted men, either. Trust me on this. You shouldn't buy a pistol unless you are either a criminal, a bodyguard, or very, very, calm.

  Once you've scoped out a good place to shoot it, and some sane people to shoot it with, get that rifle you want. Have a good time using it for target practice, and maybe some hunting. Take rifle safety and hunter safety classes. Learn to clean it, maintain it, maybe reload some ammo, all kinds of good stuff.

  There is absolutely nothing wrong with responsible gun ownership. And if you present a progressive face to what is often a reactionary crowd (gun owners), you might get a chance to puncture some stereotypes and speak a little truth. Though I think you'd be surprised by the diversity among gun owners.

  But buy your darn gun. Just make sure you give it a safe, sane home.

  —Ken Erfourth Read Ken Erfourth's other letters
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