Guns

Guns

Perhaps growing up in the Midwest had something to do with it, but everyone had a gun. Even grandma had a favorite one. BB gun fights were prevalent by 4th grade. Wrist rockets, tennis ball cannons, bottle rockets and other mischievous devices were the order of the day. Despite our penchant for these dangerous weapons, remarkably no one was every killed or even injured. And don't get me started on these school shootings....

My appreciation of guns (and the 2nd Amendment) didn't really resurface until the Year 2000 scare, when I purchased my first weapon, a Mossberg 12 gauge pump shotgun. After watching September 11th, 2001 unfold before my eyes on the 21st floor of the KPMG Tower in downtown Los Angeles, I decided I needed more firepower in the house. This are turbulent times, and I can't recall any period since the America Revolutionary War when so many Americans were being killed by someone other than US citizens.

My newest addition in the gun-nazi state of California is a Russian designed M-44 Carbine. The last great Soviet bolt action rifle, it was made for almost 60 years by dozens of countries, including the United States of America! It fires a 7.62 x 54r round, via a five round internal magazine. It's a nice piece, and since mine is military surplus, I picked it up for around $50. Not shabby.

The venerable Russian M-44 Carbine.

Some of my KPMG friends at Burro Canyon range in the Angeles National Forest, circa 2002. James Parr, Toby (former British Royal Paratrooper) and yours truly. Those pumpkins never stood a chance - and as a added bonus, the local critters got a tasty meal once we left the range. How environmentally friendly is that?

Brother Bill Grizzle with a....um...M-60 at Colt's Neck Naval Weapon Station, NJ 1982

Robbie & I on a cannon in Lincoln Park, Rock Island, Illinois, 1997

A huge railroad howitzer on the Rock Island Arsenal museum.

Here are some USMC pictures - all from Camp Pendleton. Man - don't give us Air-wingers a rifle or Colt .45!

Tim & Andy messing around at the Armory on Tim's 1966 Mustang (circa 1988)

Tim at the Camp Pendleton firing range, shooting 500 meter targets in the prone position (with some head shots and center mass groupings). DON'T tell me or any Marine that you can't hit a target 500 meters away with an M-16...