How I came to know and understand firearms 5/99
My name is Sandy and I am from Chicago, IL (currently living in the suburbs). I have been learning about firearms since May of 1999, before that time I was an anti-gun supporter. I didn't like guns and had a fear of them. The fear started back on Feb. 7, 1986, I was 15 years old and at a boyfriends house. My boyfriend, Ed, was sixteen years old. Ed, two other friends and I , were sitting in his front room one evening while his parents were at a wedding. Ed's father was a Chicago police officer and kept his .357 service revolver in a hall closet. Ed decided to take it out and show it off to us. At first the gun was not loaded, but he grabbed a few bullets when he grabbed the gun. We really weren't interested in seeing the gun, we had asked him to put it away. But he continued to play with it. He would aim it at the TV (not loaded) and pull the trigger. Then he aimed it at us a few times. At that point we were very nervous, none of us had ever been around guns, yet we knew he shouldn't be touching it. He didn't want to listen to us, he thought it was funny, as so did his friend. He put one bullet in the chamber, put the gun to his head and clicked it. It did not go off. He pointed it at us doing the same thing. Luckily it did not go off. We more firmly asked him to put it away, I was getting real scared at this point. He once again didn't listen to us. He put another bullet in the chamber and finally a third. He spun the chamber around telling us he would *know* if the gun would go off or not. From what I can remember, I lit a cigarette with a match, the match fell unto his floor. As I leaned down to grab the match I heard a faint *POP*. I looked over to my right, Ed was sitting right next to me, and the first thing I saw was Eds face. His forehead had opened up a perfect circle and blood was pouring out like a faucet. I was suddenly covered in blood. My friends and I jumped up in shock, ran out of the house and called the police. He was pronounced dead when the ambulance got there. After hours of interrogation, photos, and fingerprints, we were finally let out of the police station. As I was walking out, a police officer gave me back my purse that I had left in the house, it was now covered in blood. He told me that the bullet went right through Ed's head and into the wall, the wall that was right behind me. Had I not picked up that match it had a good chance of hitting me also.
From that day on, I was terrified of guns, I couldn't even look at one on TV without thinking about that night of horror. As the years went on I only had one more encounter with a gun. Someone I knew had a gun and brought it to my home, he knew I was afraid of guns. He pointed it at me, watched me shake and laughed at me. He said I needed to get over my fear, its been years. So that just added more to my fear now hatred of guns.
I watched the Rosie O'Donnell show each day since it started. I really liked her and had great respect for her. Then that terrible tragedy happened at Columbine HS. Rosie started the war against guns. I was with her, I had a fear, I hated them, and thought they did nothing but harm. Most importantly, I was not educated about firearms, so I believed what I heard. I posted at Rosies message boards all the time. After she started this, many angry gun owners came on there and started voicing their opinions. Some of them were just bashing some had some good points. I took the time to talk with some of them and ask them questions about guns. Every answer I got was a factual answer. I did some research on my own, and started realizing guns were not the problem with society today. So I backed off from listening to Rosie and kept learning new things about firearms. I made a lot of new friends that were gun owners. They answered my questions and helped me to understand things that I didn't see before. The main thing I learned is the mistakes Ed made that night. He had not been taught firearm safety. I now know that firearm safety is the most important thing when learning about firearms.
I have learned all the safety rules and even went to the range to rid the fear for good. Although now, I think I am obsessed with firearms! I plan on practicing more and have already bought my first gun, a NAA Guardian .380. I plan on getting a Govt Colt 1911 within the next few months. I now have a 'wish list' which consists of more 1911's, AR15, AK47, Benelli, and of course more knives!
I have a 10 year old daughter and will teach her about firearms and their safety. She already knows not to touch a gun if found and tell an adult. I can't wait to take her shooting, it is a day I am living for. I also plan to continue writing elected officials and anti-gun organizations to help preserve the second amendment. I now believe more strongly than ever in our right to keep and bear arms and will continue to educate as many people as I can about it. I'm very grateful to many of my 'cyber friends' for helping me over that fence, thank you all so much!
If you are a gun control supporter, I hope that you will take the time to learn more about firearms. Guns are not the reason for our violent society. Instead of blaming guns, why not start blaming the parents and the media? Parents need to establish morals in their child, and make sure that child feels loved. The media needs to stop worrying about their ratings. I think they need to stop reporting the school shootings, kids see that as fame, they figure if one does it it, makes it to TV and magazines, then why not join? Giving a murderer fame is not the answer. We also need to stop bickering about the second amendment. It is part of our Constitution and must never be infringed. People are looking for an answer to violence today, but gun control is not the answer. I personally feel we need more guns today, to stop the violence. Just think, if the teachers at Columbine were armed, the killers would have been stopped at the first sign of trouble. How about the Xerox company? Had just a few of those employees been armed, the killer would have been stopped before anyone was killed. Same goes for all latest shootings, if more law abiding citizens are armed, there WILL be LESS violence. A potential shooter will not walk into a school, church, office, etc. knowing that his victims are armed, but he will walk into a place where people are not armed. You never hear of anyone walking into a police station and shooting. Why? Because just about everyone there is armed. If guns are banned, you will see twice as many shootings. Most of these criminals are buying their guns off the black market. Should we ban guns, the black market will now become more popular, which will, in turn, arm our criminals and disarm our law abiding citizens. This subject is all a matter of common sense. Pro-gunners and anti-gunners both have one thing in common, we all want this violent era to end, yet we are working against each other, not with each other. We need to speak up to our government , they have the power to stiffen penalties, they have the power to decrease violence and can do it without banning guns. Please, take the time to educate yourself about guns, learn the facts and honor the Constitution.
I am one of three admins over at FFF , stop by and meet the family.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it! :)
~Sandy
In loving memory:
Ed Rodakowski June27,1969-Feb 7,1986
More about me: hmmm how boring is that? My life could be a novel, but since I am not a writer, I'll sum it up for you. I was born in Chicago, IL November 24,1970...good parents, good home, and an older sister to pick on me all the time. I went to a Catholic grammar school and a Catholic High School. Wasn't really a great kid, but I actually got my diploma. Don't ask what happened from there, I couldn't tell you myself. My life could be on the Jerry Springer show, seriously. I am busy being a mommy of a 10 year old and my 8 year old and 2 y/o old niece's live downstairs (kinda like having three kids). I work for AMVETS and am also a nanny to my niece two days a week. I collect white tiger things, they are all over my house. I also have a candle collection and once in awhile make them myself. I listen to heavy metal-rock-classic rock and some country. Music is what helps me deal with life's problems, so I listen to a variety of it. I've dealt with quite a few 'psycho's' in my life but things are finally starting to look up. I've reconciled with my husband of 13 years and we are working on a family of four. I believe in God and I have a big heart but one person can only be pushed around so much. I've been hurt enough in one lifetime so trust is not something that will come easy for me for a long time to come but I'm gaining it back little by little. You live, you learn. That's really about all you need to know about me..... :) Thanks for visiting!
Drawings ....these are some cartoons I drew....nothing publish worthy, just something I did when I was bored....so now I can bore you :D
Coolest cars ....Yes I love muscle cars! The General Lee is one of my all time favorites...gee could ya tell who was a tom-boy growing up? :)
Cool Harley .....No, it's not mine, and no I couldn't ride one alone if you paid me...but it is a very cool Harley. My buddy Charlie had one just like it.
Original End Of Summer Meet (EOSM)...Back In August 2000 a bunch of us met up at Terridarri and Gunslingers house for a weekend of fun, laughs, good food, good times and lots of shooting! This was the second time I was shooting and was able to shoot a variety of guns. We had a blast! RIP Slinger, we miss ya.
Here is a picture of my
daughter and I......she's just so hugable and so much bigger now! 
Pictures of my daughter and niece (updated 4/05)
My new niece(updated 4/05)
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