I went up to Gromley, Ontario today with a bunch of friends to a shooting range for Marco's (@tootall25) birthday. We tried out a bunch of different guns, including Glock 9mm's, an AR-15 (M4), a 12-Gauge pump-action shotgun and a .44 caliber magnum revolver.

I honestly was not sure what to expect. I've see guns being shot before in videos and movies and what-not, but never in person. To be perfectly honest, I was actually a little nervous.

My opinion on guns has always been moderate and fluid, varying over the course of the last few years. I've always tried to rationalize and define my opinions on subjects such as politics, society, laws, etc. Firearms are a difficult thing to decide on since the variables are so broad and the subject travels in a lot of grey territory.

On the negative side of things is the most obvious point that firearms are the most lethal weapons in that they are common, simple to use and very available. Equipping someone with a firearm does only one thing for that person and that is improve their ability to kill or maim anyone withing firing distance. Plain and simple. People don't use guns for any other purpose but to kill things. I've heard the tried and true "guns are used for protection" but I don't buy that. Sure you'll be "protecting" yourself, but you'll be doing so by killing the other person.

Be that as it may, the sheer saturation of firearms that exists in the world right now is immense and the industry that exists behind the product is worth too much money to too many people. Those who wish-upon-a-star that guns will go poof overnight are a bunch of dreamers.

I personally haven't done any kind of research into the history of firearms myself, but do believe that the whole "gun problem" started with the simple act of invention and we are well beyond the point of no-return now. I guess I am a bit of a pessimist on the subject

Regardless, the trip up turned out to be very fun and I found that my grandfather's WWII sniper genes are still alive and kicking two generations later. For your viewing pleasure I've attached two vids below :)