Ted,
I recently completed the tactical weapons course under the direction of instructor Pat Rogers. It was a life changing event for me. The course allowed me to become familiar with the firearms, and also to understand what I hadn't realized before.....that black rifles are used and owned by people who are salt of the earth. Fifteen of us took the course, including four women, two doctors, a chef, a retired engineer and law enforcement and military folks. I have to tell you that I was overwhelmingly intimidated the first morning, and was tempted to quit. I had difficulty with the unfamiliar guns, and the course was designed in drill fashion. This was no bench rest scenario where you sat and tried to shoot as accurately as possible. Here we followed very explicit orders by the instructors and shot from sitting, kneeling, standing and prone positions. As the first day wore on, I began to feel more comfortable with the gun and shooting requirements. By the third day I didn't want to leave, and had one of the most incredible experiences of my life when I fired fully auto rifles and handguns. I made great friends among the other students and instructors, and have to tell you that I drove home from the Indiana course with an ear to ear grin. Sitting beside me in my pickup truck was a very large Elmer Fudd doll that was given to the student who screwed up the most. I don't need to explain the reasons why I was the recipient! It was all in great fun, and the outpouring of kindness from the people there was terrific.

Throughout all this, since I wrote that blog in February, I learned many, many things. I want to thank you for understanding, early on, how my words indicated an ignorance about black rifles, and I want to thank you for your efforts in using my ignorance as an example in order to unite all of use who own guns, all guns, whether they're for hunting, shooting, home defense, or simply as collectors items.

Rock on, bloodbrother!

Jim Zumbo