I went to buy a gun yesterday. [View all]

[live love laugh]

I hate guns.

I'm in Illinois. I got a required Firearm owner’s ID card about three years ago but never took the classes for conceal carry or tried to buy a gun.

After all of the looting, and violence I became scared. So after doing my weekly grocery shopping very early in the morning--I was done by 8:30 AM--I decided to stop in the nearby gun store. The lot was full so when I entered and saw about 50 people waiting in line that early in the morning, I immediately turned around and left. Crazy. It felt like I was in a Covid incubator.

I drove to a Cabela’s sports store much farther away. When I took number 75 they were waiting on number 31. l settled in for a long wait while I observed the customers--old, young, men, women and their kids, I was surprised at the diversity of buyers.

Two hours later when my number was called, the sales person told me that they were out of most pistols that he recommends to first-time female users like myself. He didn’t know when they’d get more. Besides, he said, even if they were in stock there’s an ammo shortage. He showed me two guns that were available. I held one as he showed me how much strength is needed to cock the gun, or pull the thing back to load the bullet (I don’t know the name). The other was bigger and heavier. Did I mention that I hate guns? Just holding the heavy weapons is indescribably revolting.

I talked to friends and one level headed person reminded me that she’d read somewhere that a high percentage of gun owners end up being shot with their own weapons and that I might rethink the investment. Im doing just that. There is a class coming up in July that the salesperson told me about. I may attend.

My takeaway is that people everywhere--even the ones who look the meekest are buying guns. If I were a criminal I’d be scared. America is armed.

I hate guns.