The first 10 pages were devoted to firearms. So my introduction to Cabela's raison d'etre was swift and shocking. (I was only on my first cup of coffee!) Both rifles and handguns were featured. I recognized some of the brand names from my childhood spent watching Westerns on TV with my dad -- Remington, Winchester, Smith and Wesson. I'd also heard of a few more: Beretta, Sig Sauer, Browning. I had never heard of the Savage Arms brand, but was interested to note "Youth Models Also Available". How nice. There were "hog hunters" and "bear hunters", "bull whisperer" and "varmit stalker", "tactical" and "home defense" models. Some had scopes, and some were ready to add your own high powered scope accessory.
The circular's pages continued then with an astonishing variety of "camo" stuff -- stalker cameras; binoculars; walkie-talkies; tent-like things called "blinds"; backpacks; shirts, jackets, pants, boots, gloves, hats -- my favorite was the True Timber Packable "Leafy Suit" made with 3-D leafy cut fabric including hooded jacket, pants, mitts, and MASK! You could wear that while perched up in a tree on a mesh chair apparatus that attaches right to the trunk -- handy! Why, that buck would walk right up to you and never be the wiser until your Savage Arms rifle popped him right in the heart!
Oops, did I just reveal my bias against hunting? Actually, hunting, while not something I could personally do (those doe eyes!), I can at least understand on some level. I guess. Well, not really. But if I was really hungry, I'd do what I had to do, just like my ancestors did. It just seems like all the high-tech gear involved now gives all the advantage to the human. Where's the sport in that? Or the respect?
But back to the handguns. My favorite, being a woman and all, was the Charter Arms "Lavender Lady" (with pink case!) What girl wouldn't want a .38 special + P with five-shot cylinder and 2" stainless barrel? It is ultra-lightweight and is part of their "duo-tone" collection! And on sale for only $449.99 -- $30.00 off the regular price! Shoppin' the sales feels so good!
I'm actually anti-gun. (You didn't see that coming, did you?) The damage, destruction, and death we reign down on each other in this country due to gun violence is astounding and terrifying. I think guns provide an "easy" way to kill lots of people when used by the insane and the insanely violent. Guns in the hands of us "good folk" give us a false sense of security, because it is only very rarely that any "bad guy" is stopped by an armed and righteous citizen who has an unambiguous claim that his action was justified.
At this juncture, I'm feeling a responsibility to look up statistics to prove my point. But this isn't a scholarly piece where I need to cite facts and figures. (Unless you are going to challenge me to do so, then we'll see). I just need to listen to my heart to know that a gun in my Christmas stocking would not be a welcome gift, even though Cabela's would like me to start thinking along those lines.
In fact, a gun in my hands would surely be a lethal weapon, likely accidently aimed at myself, klutz that I am. I'm not sure I really could pull the trigger on someone else anyway, even if for some unfathomable reason I would want to. I'd be so freaked out I'd never be able to get off a round before the bad guy had the gun out of my hand, adding to his own arsenal.
Now that I think of it, though, when I worked in foster care I was astounded at the number of children who had been sexually abused, even tortured, by adult men in their lives. Were I to come upon a situation like that taking place, I might be tempted to reach for my Lavender Lady, badass that I am when Mother Bear takes over my more mild-mannered sensibilities. I'd mean only to shoot to maime, but I'm not a very good shot. And that would land me in the defendant's chair at the inevitable trial. Playing with guns never ends well, for man or beast.
At this juncture, I'm feeling a responsibility to look up statistics to prove my point. But this isn't a scholarly piece where I need to cite facts and figures. (Unless you are going to challenge me to do so, then we'll see). I just need to listen to my heart to know that a gun in my Christmas stocking would not be a welcome gift, even though Cabela's would like me to start thinking along those lines.
In fact, a gun in my hands would surely be a lethal weapon, likely accidently aimed at myself, klutz that I am. I'm not sure I really could pull the trigger on someone else anyway, even if for some unfathomable reason I would want to. I'd be so freaked out I'd never be able to get off a round before the bad guy had the gun out of my hand, adding to his own arsenal.
Now that I think of it, though, when I worked in foster care I was astounded at the number of children who had been sexually abused, even tortured, by adult men in their lives. Were I to come upon a situation like that taking place, I might be tempted to reach for my Lavender Lady, badass that I am when Mother Bear takes over my more mild-mannered sensibilities. I'd mean only to shoot to maime, but I'm not a very good shot. And that would land me in the defendant's chair at the inevitable trial. Playing with guns never ends well, for man or beast.
At least, that's the view from here....©
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