It is imperative that we pass this culture down from one generation to the next.
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Many of my friends here in the United States have stories about learning to use firearms that feature the entire cast of their extended family. For them, those generational lessons were imparted by parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles, aunts, in-laws and so many people in addition that, by the time that it came time for them to teach their own children, they instinctively understood that they were part of a grand national tradition that went back into the mists of time.
Myexperiencehasbeenalittledifferent.When,duringthelastyear,Ibegantoinstructmytwoyoungsonsinhowtouseagun,IwassharinglessonsthatIhadlearnedalmostentirelyasanadult.Thisisbecause,asanimmigrantfromBritainwhomovedtotheUnitedStatesin2011,allmyknowledgeisrelativelynew.IdidnotfireahandgununtilIwas27yearsold.IdidnotownagunofanysortuntilIwas29.IdidnotcarryagununtilIwas30.BackinEngland,Ihadfiredairrifles,and—onceortwice—IhadusedaSA80rifleonaRoyalAirForcebase.Formostofmylife,though,firearmswereremote,forbidden,alienitemsth
