Confessions of a Liberal Owner Essay Example

the use of a complex tool like a gun. (pathos-freedom) Nonetheless, I cannot disregard the appeal and psychological influence that firearms hold. During my childhood, I engaged in playing shooting games, pretending to be characters from TV shows like Starsky and Hutch or the patrolmen from "Adam-12," which were recognized as the most uneventful television police officers ever.

According to a widely accepted theory, boys cope with the anxiety caused by their limited physical strength and societal pressure to protect others by pretending to shoot villains. However, this anxiety is never fully eliminated. Personally, I can relate to this explanation and see it as a form of catharsis. In fact, as a novelist, I have even made money from it.

Owning a gun feels right to me for multiple reasons, one of which is protecting my family (pathosAssociation-safety). While I hope to never have to use it for this purpose, I am aware that I am their last line of defense. The choice to be armed wasn't easy for me. Despite knowing that statistics show having a gun at home can pose more danger to residents than intruders (negative logos reasons not fully clarified), not all decisions are solely based on data. It's also a personal declaration that comes from within (negative Logosthat's a personal statement that is shiny generality).

Besides the handguns carried by police officers, I believe I didn't encounter a functional firearm until the year following graduation. It happened when a friend's girlfriend, who had consumed four cosmopolitans, chose to display the .38 revolver she carried in her handbag. This caused half of the party attendees, including myself, to

immediately seek shelter.

In my mid-40s, I developed an interest in firearms as I worked on a novel featuring various guns like pistols, shotguns, rifles, and powerful weapons such as the AR-15 and M-16. It became clear that the gun action portrayed in movies and TV shows was often inaccurate. To address this issue, I decided to hire an instructor for a full day of private lessons to try out all the available firearms at the store. The person who welcomed me at the shooting range perfectly fit the stereotype of a "gun nut." Originally from New York but now living in Texas due to its lenient gun laws, he even claimed to keep a handgun within reach while showering. He was exactly what I needed for my project.

In terms of my connection to guns, it could have ended if the weather had been different. While Hurricane Katrina is a famous storm, many forget about Hurricane Rita, which was even more powerful and targeted Houston just weeks later. To be ready for the hurricane, my spouse and I opted to stay at a friend's residence in Austin and depart from town. However, we were not the only ones who made this choice; 3.7 million others had the same idea. Consequently, one of history's largest evacuations took place with expected outcomes.

After driving for six hours at 2 in the morning, we had only covered 50 miles. The scene we encountered resembled something out of the Apocalypse - bustling crowds, deserted gas stations and stores filled with garbage, and families sleeping alongside the road. It felt like there was barely any control

over the chaos. Knowing how things were after Hurricane Katrina, we understood that there was no hope of receiving assistance. Being in Texas, I realized that there were likely many firearms present. With my two young children, some money, a partially full tank of gas in our recently purchased SUV, and not even a substantial book to shield us from harm, my concern for our safety grew. When my wife refused to let me step out of the car to tend to our dog's needs, it became evident that enough was enough. Within an hour of turning back around, we arrived home once again.

Rita chose to change her plans and not go to Houston, but what if she hadn't? I believe that most people are good, even though there are exceptions. Like many others in our technology-dependent society, I heavily depend on a fragile network of services for my basic needs. If this network were to fail, chaos would result. (logos negative)

Over time, my liberal views on gun ownership in the Northeast shifted. While I remained liberal on other topics, my perspective on owning guns changed. At first, I chose a small Walther .380 as my first handgun. However, after realizing its limitations while shooting it, I decided to upgrade to a larger Springfield 9-millimeter. Although I was happy with it, I wanted a firearm with a thumb safety feature. Eventually, I found an appropriate Smith ; Wesson subcompact that met my requirements. Throughout this journey, my fascination with the Beretta M-9 grew.

Irrespective of political and cultural associations, many individuals possess or lack firearms for reasons unrelated to these

associations. Although I personally possess firearms, I believe that there is a significant absence of gun regulation. The ease of purchasing a gun concerns me, as I once acquired one in a parking lot, and I strongly dislike the National Rifle Association. While the suggestions made by the Obama administration may appear more symbolic than effective considering the abundance of 300 million firearms, they serve as a positive starting point and do not impede my ability to safeguard my family during a crisis. Owning an AR-15 is fascinating and enjoyable, similar to owning a tank would be, but I perceive no necessity in owning one.

It appears that personalized politics, tailored to individual preferences like mine, are no longer present or may have never truly existed. This change can be attributed primarily to the influence of the far right and their outrageous statements made by figures such as Rush Limbaugh. Following the tragic events in Newtown, I have noticed a significant number of anti-gun messages on my Facebook feed from friends residing mostly in coastal areas. These messages seem to be disconnected from reality. While I understand the idealistic vision of a society without firearms, I do not believe it is achievable. Additionally, labeling gun owners as "ignorant countryfolk" does not contribute positively to constructive conversations.

My undisclosed life is now public knowledge. Although my wife has concerns about my firearms, she also recognizes their significance. However, my teenage daughter holds a contrasting viewpoint. In our family, it's customary for her to miss school for one day before her autumn semester exams. On this particular occasion, she expressed an interest in receiving instruction

on handling a pistol. Despite sharing my preference for NPR as a radio station, she cannot disregard the alarming reality that one out of every five American women becomes a victim of sexual assault (pathosassociationsafety). Within the classroom without windows next to the shooting range, the instructor educated her on the basics using a Glock 9-millimeter gun - including proper manipulation techniques, ammunition insertion, and slide operation.

"You may struggle with that part," he warned. "Many women do." My daughter responded, "Is that so?" She then confidently and skillfully racked her weapon, making such a loud noise that it could be heard in the parking lot.