" For me, I'm going through the necessary requirements to obtain my license to own full autos - not so that I can engage a gang of criminals on an equal basis, but simply because I love guns. I shoot because I love to shoot, and a full auto will give me one more gun to enjoy. I'm not a mercenary or a snake eater. My shooting is strictly for pleasure, and that's something the anti-gun crowd doesn't understand."I'm of like mind. IF I could afford it I'd get me an UZI or H&K MP5 with suppressor. But I can't afford the weapon (public school teacher y'know) or the cost of ammo to keep her fed and happy. Besides, most of my friends do have the class III permit, so I just use theirs. They understand my plight and are merciful in their teasing. I shoot with quite a few old FORMER marines including one sniper and one RECON guy and geeze...the dogface/doggie jokes just never stop. ~sigh~ But I give as good as I get and dang it if we're not durn close to brothers. I'd give my life for some of those guys....and I'd trust the life of my kid to them anyday. For me there is no higher praise.
Ya know, you hit on something that I've thought about before.
There is a comraderie developed among a group of people shooting guns that doesn't exist in any other sport, and it's a big part of the military mindset.
From that comraderie comes a trust in each other that extends to other parts of the lives of the shooters.
I think it's because when you're shooting with a group of people you know that they hold in their hands the ability to snuff out your life in an instant, but you trust them to be careful. If they weren't, you wouldn't be out there with them.
That trust on the firing range grows into a trust of those persons off the range.
Thinking back on the military experience, I think the whole "band of brothers" concept starts the day you begin to live fire on the range.
You have just become deadly, and all of your brothers have achieved that same result.
You have become a "band of deadly brothers", and you carry that sense of belonging the rest of your life.