Page 37 - American Rifleman (February 2020)

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FAVORITE FIREARMS
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ORITE FIREARMS
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NRA member photo
12-Gauge Therapy

was a teenager when my dad and recreational shooting again because that he didn’t know just how much I
I bought my rst rearm. He it seemed to be therapeutic for me. I loved the shotgun that we purchased
Iworked at Sears & Roebuck, so we enjoyed trap and skeet so much that I together all those years ago. Isn’t
purchased the Winchester Model 200 would even go to the local gun range it strange how rearms are one of
Ted Williams edition 12-ga. pump- over lunch breaks just to shoot a the few things that last for decades,
action that they sold there. I was couple of shells. I have subsequently creating remembrances that bind
thrilled with the gun, and my dad purchased several other shotguns, and generations together?
promptly enrolled me in a hunter I alternate shooting all of them—but, My advice is this: Spend time
safety course. He took me pheasant even today, nothing shoots as well with your loved ones, enjoying the

hunting in Iowa one winter with my for me on the trap range as that rst outdoors, hunting and shooting, and
uncle and cousins, a great memory. I 12-ga. Model 200. celebrating the Second Amendment
didn’t shoot my shotgun much in col- Every time I pick up my Winchester that allows us to create so many
lege, and after graduating from West shotgun, I think of my dad and wish unique and special memories. And,
Point I got busy with the Army and he was still with us. I feel bad that to quote the old song, “D o it in the
my own family, so I didn’t shoot for we didn’t spend more time together living years.”
years—except, of course, for manda- at the shooting range, and I worry ROBERT MOORE, TEXAS
tory military weapons quali cations.
I went downrange to Iraq for a year

in 2010 and then to Afghanistan in Nearly every shooter has a favorite rearm. If you would like to share the experience of owning yours

with other American Ri eman readers, or on americanri eman.org, send a sharp color photograph of the
2014, and my dad passed away during gun, accompanied by its story in fewer than 400 words, with your name, address and daytime telephone

my deployment to Afghanistan. After number to: Favorite Firearms, American Ri eman, National Ri e Association, 11250 Waples Mill Road,
Fairfax, VA 22030-9400, or email it to americanri eman@nrahq.org. Photos and submissions cannot be

two combat tours, I started into returned and may be edited for clarity and brevity.

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