Firearms Friday: Going Silent

Those of you hoping to read all about silencers are going to be highly disappointed. While they are legal in my state and I do plan on purchasing in the future, this post has nothing to do with those over regulated and wonderfully useful devices. I am actually talking about something completely different and a little beyond the norm for this series of rambling posts. This is an opportunity for me to talk about my first experiences with target shooting and the hope to return to that much simpler time.

While I was first introduced to firearms while in college thanks to my former ex-Navy Seal roommate, the majority of our time spend shooting targets wasn’t at the range… and it wasn’t with firearms. We did climb up the old ski slope every now and again with our 7mm Savage rifle and Beretta M9 but the majority of our time peering down the sights was on that of a few air pellet rifles and BB guns that we picked up at Wal-Mart. We decided to save a few pennies so that we could use those pennies for target practice… literally.

Most of those early moments pulling a trigger were along the rural highways of Vermont with pennies perched atop and embedded in a snow bank. It was hours of relaxing, and sometimes frustrating fun, taking aim, splitting copper, swapping out CO2 cartridges and generally having a good time with some interesting conversations in-between shots. There have been several moments over the years when I would pass a Wal-Mart and hesitate for just a second before continuing down the road.

Now that my wife and I have some space to enjoy the outdoors and we live in an area were people respect the right to so whatever you want on your property so long that its legal, I have been tempted to partake in some of the quieter alternatives to firearms. While there are a few neighbors that, from time to time, will take their rifles into the back yard, I want to at least be considerate should I find this to be a regular routine. It is with this in mind that I have been thinking about picking up an inexpensive air rifle or crossbow.

It would be nice to head out the back door, set up a target, and send a few quiet rounds across the property. After all, I can’t always get to the range despite several options located within 10 minutes of our house so that might be a means to keep my limited skills from becoming completely dull. Not to mention that it would simply be nice to return to a simpler time and enjoy not just being in front of a target again but, at the same time, remembering those first few shots that got me hooked into this hobby.

Oh, The Places I’ve Been!

I was flipping through the channels on the television during my shift this morning and came across a couple of travel shows. I can’t remember the names of them but that is really unimportant at this point. Seeing the images roll across the screen began to jog my memory and I started thinking about all the places I’ve lived over the years and all the places I have seen throughout my travels.

The list remained as simply a thought and it may have stayed that way if I didn’t come across a similar discussion question in a networking group invite asking about where I have lived. I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to make it to the meeting so I decided to respond with some of the places I have called home over the years. That list quickly evolved into a joint venture with the thoughts already floating around in my head.

While I wouldn’t consider myself an extensive traveler, I have been to a number of places throughout the United States and a few places abroad. I have lived in a few places always trying to find somewhere to call home. And while I am not going to go into any details at this point I still wanted to share my list with you. So, here it is. Here are all the places that I can think of in my bleary eyed state.

UNITED STATES (19/50):

·         PENNSYLVANIA – Philadelphia, Longwood Gardens, Harrisburg, Gettysburg, Knoebels, Milford, Delaware Water Gap, Lancaster County, Kutztown (Crystal Cave), Jim Thorpe, Williamsport, New Hope, Gardners (Appalachian Trail Mid Point)

o   Lived In: Bryn Mawr, Chesterbrook, Bala Cynwyd

·         MASSACHUSETTS – Boston, Newburyport, Haverhill, Worcester, North Adams

o   Lived In: Beverly, Salem

·         VERMONT – Brattleboro, Montpelier, Burlington, Stowe

o   Lived In: Northfield

·         NEW JERSEY – Highland Park, New Brunswick, Teaneck

o   Lived In: Ocean City, Metuchen

·         NEW YORK – New York / Manhattan, Niagara Falls (supposedly, I don’t remember)

o   Lived In: Brooklyn

·         NEW HAMPSHIRE – Portsmouth, Nashua, Londonderry

·         ROAD ISLAND – Warwick

·         CONNECTICUT – Hartford, West Hartford

·         DELAWARE – Wilmington, Dover

·         VIRGINIA – Natural Bridge, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Winchester,

·         MARYLAND – Baltimore

·         GEORGIA – Milledgeville, Americus

·         FLORIDA – Orlando, Kissimmee / Disney World, Key West, Daytona Beach, Miami, Winter Park

·         TEXAS – San Antonio

·         ILLINOIS – Chicago

·         MICHIGAN – Grand Rapids

·         CALIFORNIA – San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ojai

·         WASHINGTON – Seattle, Bainbridge Island

·         MISSOURI – St. Louis, Fort Leonard Wood (Fort Lost in the Woods)

·         DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

·         NORTH CAROLINA

o   Drive through

·         SOUTH CAROLINA

o   Drive through

·         WEST VIRGINIA

o   Drive through

·         MAINE

o   Drive through

ISLANDS:

·         PUERTO RICO – San Juan

·         US VIRGIN ISLANDS

·         BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

·         NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

·         SAINT MARTIN

·         BERMUDA – Hamilton

·         ARUBA

EUROPE:

·         UNITED KINGDOM – London

·         GERMANY – Munich, Olympic Park

MIDDLE EAST:

·         ISRAEL – Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Tel Aviv

o   Lived In: Jerusalem

That is the simple list of the places I’ve lived in, visited, and driven through. As I said before, not huge but I also wouldn’t consider myself sheltered. Please let me know if you would like to hear about any of the places I’ve visited or lived in. If you let me know you’re interested I will be sure to write about it in a future post.

So where have you lived? What places have you visited? Do you have any favorites?