Sunday, August 04, 2013

Accessorizing with Guns

My younger sister, Beanie, is a tiny thing compared to the rest of us. Even her two boys tower over her like giants. She is a gentle soul -- most of the time -- and cares for people and animals even when the people and animals are dangerous or simply mean. She always forgives first and she is generous to a fault. She does have a less generous side and we call her Stacy, Beanie with spurs on she's willing to dig into your soft spots without regret or remorse.

When Beanie became involved with the farmer across the field from Mom and Dad's house, she took a lot of kidding and criticism because he wasn't as handsome as her ex-husband or as charming. Beanie knew that charm can -- and does in her ex-husband's case -- hide a lot of faults.

Beanie's fiance is a farmer born and bred and he is also a mason -- and a chef raising his two young boys which he has taught to fend for themselves and hunt. Beanie doesn't like to hunt (it's killing the animals, you see) but she is willing to eat the meat, more so than in the past when the only meat she would eat on a regular basis, outside of the occasional hamburger from a fast food restaurant, was chicken. She even raises guinea fowl, which I have always thought were ugly chickens that make great watch dogs.

What I wasn't ready for was Beanie taking to guns. She has always been wary of guns and wouldn't touch one if asked  -- or forced. Her fiance wanted her to learn how to protect herself, and she did learn. She moved from target practice to liking guns and then to getting her concealed carry permit and carrying a gun in a Flashbang bra holster. She said her fiance's gun was too heavy and made her uncomfortable, so she went shopping this weekend and bought her first gun.

She bought a Ruger LCP .380ACP 6+1 round in Lady Lilac because it matches her coat and her earphones. She is accesorizing with a gun. The picture above is a photo of her brand new gun.

One of her fiance's boys asked her if it was a toy. It does look like a toy, but handling and performance are what is important. I asked her how it felt, so she took it out and did some target shooting. When she came back she said it felt good and she liked it. The Ruger is lighter than the guns she has used -- and she may buy a pair of shoes in the same color as the gun to match. I wonder if she'll go so far as to buy lingerie to match since she's using the Flashbang holster.

It only makes good sense to carry a gun since she is such a little thing and has to work and go through areas of town alone. She needs protection and she has it -- and has had it since she moved in with her fiance.

I am a proponent of gun rights and I write quite enthusiastically and passionately about the rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I have hunted and owned guns and I know how important it is to be prepared to defend yourself. Like Grandpa always told me, don't pick up a gun unless you plan to use it. I have never had to shoot a man or a woman, but I am fully prepared to do so when I pick up a gun to defend myself.

In short, I am quite vocal about my beliefs and yet it is my little sister who has quietly gone out and gotten her concealed carry permit and is accesorizing with guns. I think it is probably closer to the truth that most of the people who are ready to defend themselves and take hold of their constitutional given rights with both hands tend to be quietly doing so. They don't mind filling out forms and having to go through waiting periods. They do so quietly and with firm resolve to protect themselves.

I'm not worried about her fiance's boys either. The boys have gone hunting with their father since they were much smaller, although the oldest boy chooses not to hunt now that he is a teenager. His younger brother is quite the hunter though. The boys have been taught to respect and handle guns since they were very small as their grandfather taught their father, and as previous generations of that family have always taught their children to respect and use guns. These are the people who have, for generations, quietly gone about the business of farming and hunting and teaching their children to hunt and protect themselves before there was legislation to limit the sale and use of firearms. They haven't shouted about it and I doubt there will ever come a time when they will quietly give up their guns should it come to that in this country. They will quietly defend themselves.

I've learned that it isn't the loudest protesters that anyone needs to worry about; it's the quiet people who take hold of their freedoms and rights that should give everyone pause.

I'm proud of Beanie and amused by her purple polymer Ruger in Lady Lilac with her Flashbang bra holster and her concealed carry permit. She has changed drastically over the years even while she remains true to herself. Bravo! Beanie.

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