Then and now

Consider, if you will, how the United States' attitude towards guns has changed in the past 40-50 years.  While I'm generally glad to live in the 21st century, I do lament the loss of a different way of life.  Consider the ad below.  I found this on the Huffington post as an example of gun ads that were supposed to make me wince.  Well, this doesn't make me wince, it makes me long to be out there taking target practice with that boy and his Dad.  You truly cannot have more fun than plinking with an old .22 rimfire.  There is nothing harmful here.  No one is doing a drive-by.  It's just a young boy with his Dad and dog having fun in nature.  Today, gun owners are made to feel like criminals for doing what was a natural, all-American thing 50 years ago.  And you know why?  Ignorance.  It's ignorance that feeds hate right?  Well, hatred of guns is fed by ignorance too.  Ask most anti-gunners if they have ever owned or even fired a gun and I'll bet you they have not.  See, it's easy to hate or mistrust something that you have no experience with.  Couple that with the fact that media is full of guns used in negative ways and there is a significant portion of the population who has had no positive exposure to firearms at all.  So, if you happen to find yourself in a discussion with someone who is anti-gun, perhaps you should invite them to go shooting with you.  A little positive exposure can't hurt.  Who knows, they might want to do it again.