I was 11 years old when I had my first experience with a firearm…
One thing my Dad would always do is take each of his three kids, one at a time each summer, on a father-son or father-daughter trip.
It was usually a camping trip because both my parents were very frugal. (Dad worked at a food processing plant.)
This one summer, we were way up in northern Wisconsin’s bear country.
And as we sat around the campfire one night, there was some rustling in the woods.
Now, it was very dark. No one else was around. And let me tell you:
I was scared.
My Dad instantly hopped up from the log, went into the tent, came back and sat next to me…
Only now he had his 5-inch barrel, .357 Magnum, nickel-plated Smith & Wesson revolver.
It was his prized possession.
Never said a word about it.
But I went from feeling very scared to very safe…
There’s just something about that feeling when you’re with someone who you know will do ANYTHING to protect you.
Then, as we were driving back home, we drove past an outdoor gun range.
And Dad said, “Hey, let’s pull over here.”
He pulled out this funny little brown case…
A case that looked like it probably stored a hairdryer. He unlocked it…
And there sat the gleaming revolver that protected us.
He had installed some foam pads inside, so it worked perfectly for his needs. (I told you Dad was frugal!)
Dad took his time to make sure I understood the four universal rules of firearm safety.
Then, he helped me load the revolver chambers. We took turns shooting for what seemed like hours.
It was SO much fun!
Fast forward to the spring of 2017…
Dad was dying of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), which is just one of the most messed-up diseases you can ever imagine.
He was sitting in the recliner in the living room when he motioned me over to him because he could no longer speak.
Then he made a signal to Mom, who went back to their bedroom.
When she came back out, she was carrying that funny brown case.
I looked at Dad. He looked at me.
Mom put the gun in his lap, and he held it out to me with both hands…
His eyes and his hands said, “This is for you, son.”
He died not long after.
Do I still keep that gun in that funny brown case?
You better believe I do!
I share that story of what my Dad’s gun case means to me because when you join the USCCA at the Platinum or Elite levels by tomorrow, I want to give YOU a similar gift:
