“A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of the exercise, I advise the gun. While this gives a moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprize [sic] and independance [sic] to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion on your walk. Never think of taking a book with you.” – Thomas Jefferson in a 1785 letter to his fifteen-year-old nephew, as quote by Adam Winkler in Gunfight
This quote, while true, has two sides. As a gunslinger yes, you do more free thinking. The first thing that vanishes with a CHL is a sheeple mentality (with any luck) but then there are two routes. There’s prudent, tactical and safe. Then there is Billy Badass.
The first is advocated here on this blog, the second is in the back of a lot of minds and are a common point to pick at for the Brady campaign.
The gun does not make a man out of a boy or woman out of a girl but it makes more enlightened men and women out of mature people. It opens a venue of thought that a lot of people disregard as crass, primitive and useless. Deciding your own destiny in the face of bodily harm and realizing you are allowed to play a part in your own survival.
I bought a gun knowing I wasn’t invincible and it wouldn’t make me such. I got robbed with my G23 on my side and had a heartbeat that didn’t jump once because I was all the way together. I knew that there was a high chance of a pizza man being stuck up and that if he wanted to hurt me I had a more than viable chance to exchange gunfire if I truly feared for my life. I understood what was happening and for me some of the tactics being armed required teaches you stretch outside of the gun.
STFU? Silence can keep you out of plenty of trouble. Realize what is threatening you before reacting? Cools off a lot of daily strife argument without hot words on your side. Thomas Jefferson wanted the gun to make you think and exercise coordination enough to keep you decently in shape. That’s what I got from this.
I used to say to my mountaineering buddies “You get in shape to go mountaineering, you don’t go mountaineering to get in shape”. Where safety is concerned, it’s best not to be the one with “piano legs”.
While a day out shooting in the woods is great for the mind and body, you’re going to have a more rewarding and better shooting day if you are in shape. It’s amazing how much more of a stable and still platform you are with a strengthened and stretched set of hips, groin, core, and lower back muscles.
Very interesting and valid point. I personally prefer looking at mountains so I’ll stick with my smokes, beer and lots of range time.
plus 1. when your carrying a gun the consequences of a poor choice are expanded ten-fold, makes you think before you act.