Are DU Vets More Attached to Weapons in Society?

[AbsoluteArmorer]

As a Vietnam veteran, and like most when I returned home, I felt the need to keep weapons with in my civilian life. I did that for about 20 years until I felt the need to stop hunting and sell away some of those weapons. I still have some for my own protection and peace of mind today, but wondered how many war/vets still have their own fascination for having weapons with them after they've come back home.

[Iblis]

1. Now more than ever, really...

My wife and I both had pistols when we were stationed in Alaska (a .38 revolver and .45 auto, respectively), and loved to go shooting. We had to sell them when I got out of the Navy. We both have expressed the want for pistols and shotguns again, as we are moving out to Tennessee and have no children.

I think it's pretty common, among your age group more than mine.

L

[atreides1]

2. Desert Storm Vet Myself

I didn't own a weapon until after 9/11, and I only did that because of a whack job that went nuts up in Phoenix and killed on man and fired on a Lebanese couple.

But I now keep my weapon close when I'm home. I'm seriously considering getting a CCW permit.

[1stCav]

10. Good Idea

[TomInTib]

3. I brought my favorites home.

Ithaca 12 ga pump and an AK47.

Both are at my Mother's house because my sweetheart doesn't want them around and I really do not feel the need for any firearms where we live.

[1stCav]

4. Of Course

Like Mastercard, don't leave home without it. Since I came back from Nam in 1967, I always had a weapon close by. Wasn't that what they taught us in Nam, not to trust anyone and if there is any question about who your confronting, use it and use it well. Would not feel right without them.

[RufusEarl]

5. I have weapons,

Haven't always. The past six years told me i had better prepare my family for survival, and thats what i've done. Always told myself i wasn't interested in surviving, but i changed my mind when Bu$h took over.

[1stCav]

6. Question AA

Got a question for you. Do you carry concealed and if so, what is your weapon of choice. A 25 cal. hider is good for me but have others like a snub nose S&W 38 revolver. AA, you never know, so why take the chance. Thats my thoughts on it anyway.

[AbsoluteArmorer]

7. lets see.....

I used to had a S&W snub nose 35.... sold it. I have a few shotguns. I have a .22 rifle with scope.. but who doesn't have a .22? I have a registered 6" 357 pistol also.

[AbsoluteArmorer]

8. death immersion stays with the vet

by the way, made a typo above... snub nose 38 not a 35.


Nice piece on PTSD... which relates a little as to why vets hang onto weapons in post war.


http://www.vetsoutreach.com/ptsd-factors.html



Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Vietnam Veterans:
The Inner War

Many veterans are enveloped in a death immersion; they remember it, they dream it, and the thoughts are ever present. It is not uncommon for them to possess and carry weapons.

[1stCav]

9. Good link AA

Can relate to that link AA and sure a lot of other Nam vets can as well. Was wondering about that S&W 35 cal AA, knew it had to be a mistake. I like the 38 snub nose wheel, reliable piece AA, very reliable.

[Major Hogwash]

18. Shit, this is bad.

How long does this death immersion last for the common groundpounder?

I think we're going to have a whole new generation suffering from this problem.

[exlrrp]

11. I do now

I didn't have a gun for many years after I left Vietnam, not at all while my son was growing up, didn't want them around my house for kids to find. I'm an exparatrrooper and have always been confident in my ability to deal with whatever situation arises..
Now he's grown, owns guns of his own, so I figured I'd get some. Before, I lived in the city (Richmond, CA) nowI live in a rural area where I can take target practice right from my porch if I want to. I own 10 acres in the middle of a huge private park like place (Lumber lands)
I owned a 9mm Gloc when I moved here last year but in the meantime, my dad gave me his M1 carbine and .45 he brought back from WWII and a couple of shotguns, now he's getting too old to shoot them.
Hunters hunt in the land around me and when they get too close, I just step out on the porch and fire off a couple mags of .45 just to let them know there's someone up here with a gun. Owning pitbulls doesn't hurt either in keeping them away.
I have the Glock stashed under the lid of my night table wheree I can reach it easy.
Ive HAD people break into my home before, once while I was there. Then I was 33, took a baseball bat to him ( a drunk) Now I'm 57 and am coming out of the bedroom muzzle first or not at all.
I think every liberal should own a gun

[exlrrp]

12. Automatic Weapons legal in OR

And I just might get one. But actually I'd rather have the M1 carbine. not how many bullets you shoot that count, its where you shoot em

[malmapus]

13. Not fire arms, but do have weapons from martial arts I practice

Have practiced Kendo for a few years now (shortly after I got out of service, found that I felt more at peace when I started Wu Su (Kung Fu), then went on to Kendo for the discipline side). But I keep a Katana, heck even my Shin ai can put the hurt on a house invader.

As far as firearms. I enjoy collecting black powder reproductions. I have an Enfield .58 cal that is a repo of the weapon used mainly by southern forces in the Civil War. Also have a Kentucky Long Rifle.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

14. Never felt the need

71-5 Never went to vietnam, A fortunate thing. Guys got sent all around me,sad events. Never heard a man say send him not me.Nobody wanted to go there.Most of the enlistees joined because they were drafted,and that may have ment the chances were less they would end up over in vietnam.Rather like a lottery from the reverse approach.Anyone could have been sent at anytime. There no cowards or whimps.The cold war wasn,t about vietnam either.Frankly I did,d know very many enlisted career of just short timers that flaunted their ribbons,in fact the best of them saw those as pointers on the exams.Those are the people I remember the most.Many of them had been to vietnam more that once. But I knew them as career people,those you could trust.I have a ribbon, but I know I could always barrow one of thiers if I felt the need to make an impression,But those are the people that would also tell you that you don,t need those to make an impression.Thats why I will always remember them.

[Dharma_Bum]

15. Never again ...

... Growing up I was always fasinated by hunting and firearms...
I really liked muzzle-loading, I even build a one out of one of those kits.

But after Iraq I just can't see myself ever picking one up again ...

... Never again.

[AbsoluteArmorer]

16. the worse kind of animal

I went through the same feelings about weapons about 15 years after I came back home from Vietnam. I used to keep them very close to me all those years. I hunted a lot as well. Then I stopped immediately one morning while hunting. I became disgusted with the killing, even of animals. I still have weapons, but for emergency use only. The worse kind of animal is man and because that, I still will keep my weapons on the ready if needed.

I'm glad you discovered these same feelings that I finally felt about weapons after your war duty in Iraq. That shows a lot of maturity and coping by you with your war. Sadly the leftover sentiments with these Middle Eastern Wars will last a very long time for many many years and society will answer to that for many Middle Eastern War Veterans will not lay down their weapons as soon.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

17. Guns

Same thing, befor the military, hunting ,fishing, It,s not the same.If I ever need one ,I know how to use it. It should not ever have to come to that.If you have been over there in Iraq ,we are with you.The effects of psychological warfare.

[Monkeyman]

25. yep same same

[Major Hogwash]

19. I want to ask you a question about this.

You slept with your rifle by your side while in Vietnam, right?

But, how long did it take for you to get over having a rifle by your side before you were able to go to sleep after you got home without having one by your side?

My dad slept with a rifle for 2 years after he came home from World War II.

I want to open up a dialogue here about PTSD because I think we are going to have a whole new generation of kids, actually young men, who will suffer from this.

[AbsoluteArmorer]

20. affirmative

That's correct Major Hogwas, our weapons in 'Nam were as much a part of us as our OD boxer shorts.

After I came home, yes my bedroom was 'armed' just as it were still Vietnam. In fact, I had 'soft' boobie traps on my property to alert me of 'intruders' during the night. Vietnam stayed with me for years Major Hogwash, more years that I wanted it to.

I feel the very same way as you do Major Hogwash about the returning Iraq vets. In fact, I feel that these vets will sport a more scarier scenario than us 'Nam vets did. They went into Iraq with a Bush mentality for which many should fear upon their return. More than what war games supplies a young person's mind with along with the conditioning factors that's embedded from such a wartime 'lifestyle', that generation also sports that Bush mentality for which they will feel above the law in many situations. Then add in substance abuse that the majority of veterans will try at some time or another. That is why VA counseling will be so importantly needed (asap!) as opposed to what returning 'Nam vets didn't have. That will be the key factor Major Hogwash for Iraq vets in my most honest opinion. They must receive almost weekly counseling for 3-5 years after their return back home in order for them to adjust back into this 'stressful' society. Otherwise, their mindset will be pretty much like this. When all else fails, they will depend on their weapons to fix what seems 'broken' or 'unstable' in their civilian lives.

[Major Hogwash]

21. That's what I thought.

The Iraqnam vets aren't getting the help they need now.
It will be worse in another year.

2400 dead.
17,000 wounded.
400,000 scarred.

[AbsoluteArmorer]

22. Gangs in the US Military

Not only will society be dealing with post war vets and some of them with that Bush mentality that I touched on, but now there is apparently more 'gang' activities reported in Iraq as well.



http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read/10448

Gang activity seen in U.S. troops in Iraq



BAGHDAD, May 1 (UPI) -- A growing amount of U.S. gang-related graffiti and activity is being reported among U.S. troops in Iraq, The Chicago Sun-Times reported Monday. "I have identified 320 soldiers as gang members from April 2002 to present," said Scott Barfield, a Defense Department gang detective at Fort Lewis, Wash. "I think that's the tip of the iceberg." No one has been arrested for a gang-related felony on the base, Barfield said, but some are suspected of criminal activity off the Washington base, he said.

Meanwhile, graffiti for such Chicago gangs as the Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings and Vice Lords is showing up in Iraq on military buildings and vehicles.

Christopher Grey, spokesman for the Army's Criminal Investigation Command, disputed the problem is rampant. "We recently conducted an Army-wide study, and we don't see a significant trend in this kind of activity, especially when you compare this with a million-man Army," Grey said.

[FILAM23]

23. I really don't know if thats the case with me

I had firearms before I enlisted, always had them
when stationed stateside, got rid of all of them
when I retired and then started getting some more
about 2 years ago.

[Joey Liberal]

31. This is a result of weak leadership

When I was an Army NCO, I would have admistered some "old school NCO Justice" to any so called "Gang Member".

[Mr. McD]

24. I bought a gun when I first got home from Viet Nam 1971

But sold it when my son was born in 1973. I had a nephew that found his fathers gun and is no longer with us. It wasn't worth the risk.

[4bucksagallon]

26. Had many before I went and still have many now.

I still reload and target shoot, but hunting, except for partridge is over as the song says "the thrill is gone".

[cezebrgr]

27. I like guns.

I don’t have any now, but I would like to get a matched set of Ruger mark II with heavy barrels for practice.

[AbsoluteArmorer]

28. veterans more or less attracted to weapons

Are you a war veteran or currently in the military? Just curious as to when you took a liking to guns and why? My first was a BB gun when I was a kid. Shot at targets of sorts. Then later used various rifles for hunting as I grew older. Then after the Vietnam war, I kept weapons around for my own peace of mind. Security. Man against man.

[Major Hogwash]

29. It's because we're comfortable around them

Can't say I have ever been afraid of a gun having been raised around them.
I started off with a BB gun, too.

As I was growing up, we were taught to respect Dad's guns - never touch them.
And because my old man was a WWII vet, he was just like a Drill Instructor - barking at us, except without the cuss words.
We were taught that those guns were his, and we had toy guns of our own.
We were taught the difference between the two - his guns could kill, and ours were to play with. His weren't to play with at all. Ever.

About the time I reached the age of realization, I was 11 years old, my old man took me out with his friend and my older brother to sight in their rifles for the upcoming deer season.
We had gone out together before, but I wasn't interested in what they were doing because the rest of us - my mom, little brother, and me - had to sit in the car and wait for them to get done.
But this time, my old man let me get out of the car for the first time, and get up on the "firing line" with them, just to their right and to their rear.

I was shocked how loud they were when you are up close to them.
Then my dad asked me if I wanted to fire his rifle.
He knew I did, but I was afraid to do something wrong.
So, we had a 10 minute lesson on how to hold it, where to point it, and what to expect.
After I fired the rifle, a 30.06, I was pumped full of adrenaline.
I wanted to do it again.
So, I fired it 2 more times, and then my older brother asked me if I was ready to go hunting with them that year.

I hadn't been told by my dad whether I could or not, so I looked over at my dad, and he said, "well, are you going or not?"
In my family, only the men got to go deer hunting.
I didn't get to carry a rifle that year, but I was growing up.
Going hunting with the men was a rite of passage.

That was one of my birthday presents when I turned 11 years old - being asked to go hunting with my dad later that fall.

[Joey Liberal]

30. I was a Rifle Marksmanship Instructor

I fired the M-16 every day for three years. I have no desire for guns. I don't hunt (not a sport to me). I keep one weapon for protection. But I do think vets who are used to rifles tend to enjoy them when they leave the military.

[57_TomCat]

32. Service and the service rifle

I am a Viet Nam Era veteran but never was in country during the unpleasantness.

I was a shooting and hunting enthusiast long before I joined the Army. Gun, in particular hunting shotguns and .22 semi-auto rifles were a daily part of my families life on the farm. A .22 and a shotgun,always loaded, were parked next to the back door to be loaded on the truck when out and about. Depending on the season or problem one or the other were always in the truck.

Practice with the .22 was always a treat. Shooting cardboard boxes and cans while floating down the creek were great sport. As I grew older I was fascinated with handguns and read many articles and books. I had my own .22 at 12 and a 12 gauge at 15. BB pistols were my companions during many walks in the woods.

The Army trained me to shoot the military way and I was qualified expert with the M16A1, M1911A1 as well as the .38 revolver used for special assignments such as MPI. Since the army I have almost always had shooting irons around my house. To this day I have a semi-auto copy of my M16 as well as several pistols to include the current military police handgun the Beretta M9. I do not believe I will ever be without one.

In my case the military experience was not the start of my firearm collection but a path along the way of a great hobby and useful tool.

[exlrrp]

33. Every liberal should own a gun

I am also a Vietnam Veteran (101st Airborne and MACV LRRPs)
I kept weapons close by me for years after Vietnam but gradually lost interest. I sold all my guns when my son was born--didn't want to have any around for kids to get into. When he grew up and became an adult, he bought some of his own so I figure I can have some now too.
I lived in a very tough town (Richmond CA) for years, people shoot each other over parking spots, so I started carrying again as I got older. More than once, showing the gun directed muggers and asaulters away from me. I am a combat veteran, I WILL shoot and I told them so. They decided to pick on someone easier.
Now I live in Oregon, things are much mellower, I only carry when I go to California. I live on 10 acres out by myself so I can shoot them whenever I want to, just step out on the porch and blast away. I do this when hunters come too close for instance, let em know ther'es someone up here armed and ready.
I have two .45s (1911)a Gloc 9mm, an M1 carbine, couple of shotguns and a .38 derringer, which is the carry gun.
I don't have a permit butdon't need one--this is for doomsday defence. Its easier to get out of a jail than a graveyard and in CA you have to kill several people before you do serious time.
I think every liberal should own a gun, there may be time when theyre restricted and only conservatives will have them. Its not a liberal government I am apprehensive of.

[kentjay]

34. i agree with you

on keeping your weapons.i have done the same,i have kept 8 weapons.i do not hunt and my code is that i will not use those weapons against anyone unless i have no other recourse.one other reason for keeping one`s weapons is the current govt. in power.

[malmapus]

35. Left firearms behind me when I left the service

Army 91-95. I have taken up martial arts since I left and prefer those weapons that I have trained with since (Wu-Su / Kendo). Mostly just for home defense / peace of mind.

[Skittles]

36. I'm not a gun nut

I have no use for guns