The only laws there should be related to guns are those that say you can't commit a crime using one. Speaking of guns (cue the shameless vanity post), this morning I went out to the local indoor range and shot my P38 for the first time in probably 20 years.
My Dad served in WWII (Utah Beach and Battle of Bulge) as an infantry combat medic. After his 4-year hitch he had a several years break in service, but then re-enliisted and completed a 20 year career.
Sometime back in the 60's he was stationed in peace-time Germany and met a former German soldier who had fought on the German side in the Battle of the Bulge. My Dad actually formed a friendship with this man, who presented Dad with his personal 1943 Walther (Actually this is made by Mauser) P38 which has been in the family ever since. When Dad died in '84 I inherited this gun, which has a leather holster that the German soldier signed and personalized to my Dad on the inside flap.
I last shot it at a range about 20 years ago and at that time it shot very nicely. I had not shot it since then until today. I took it to a local (reputable) gunsmith just to have it properly cleaned and checked out before I took it to the indoor range. All the numbers match on this gun and it has a "byf" stamp, which indicates it was a version made by Mauser. It has 1943 stamped on it with a serial number 1984 b. (An interesting coincidence is that the seal number (1984) is the year my Dad died and I inherited the gun). I have heard some purists/collectors say I should never shoot this gun, but I know my Dad and Uncle had shot it consistently during the 60s while I was growing up. I'm not going to over do it, but I do plan to take it to the range from time to time and put some range ammo though it; otherwise it will just sit locked in a safe.
![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/835/41304319000_160fcf1339_b.jpg")
