One of my favorite stops on my teaching tour every year is the Sand Burr Gun Ranch in Rochester, Indiana. The facility is a shooting park with rustic classroom, five ranges, and a gun shop that makes you feel as if you’ve taken a time machine back to the 1950s. Founder Denny Reichard does his gunsmithing there, doing action smoothing work that’s as good as you’ll find anywhere in the world.

The resident teaching crew, for the most part, are gun geezers, and they carry classic Smith & Wesson large caliber revolvers. Well, “when in Rome…”  For the first of the two classes I taught in June, I alternated between two Model 625 S&W revolvers, chambered for the .45 Auto cartridge and quickly reloadable with six-shot moon clips. Denny’s trademark gun is a 6” barrel S&W .44 Magnum that he has carried for most of his 36 years of police work that will soon end in honorable retirement. (He’s kinda slowing down, and only carries the one. For much of his career, he carried two at a time. He won the Indiana State Action Shooting Championship several times with one or another of those Dirty Harry guns. The difference was, “Dirty Harry” shot blanks. Denny carries 180 grain Magnum hollow points that leave the long barrels at 1600 feet per second).

Also on the crew were Dave LaRue and George Voltz. George was carrying a Reichard-tuned Model 629 S&W Mountain Gun in .44 Magnum, lightened for concealed carry with a Reichard-installed Scandium cylinder. (George jokes that since he’s old and all, he needs to carry less weight or he might break a hip.) Dave is content with a .45 caliber S&W with moon clips similar to mine, a Thunder Ranch Special tuned by Denny with classic-style wooden stocks cut to fit his hand.

As they said in the first “Die Hard” “Lethal Weapon” movie, revolvers are what a lot of old guys like to carry. Only six shots…but six for sure, and if you use these large calibers, six that hit hard. With roughly a couple of centuries of handgun shooting experience between us, we’ve learned to hit what we shoot at, and have accumulated a collective history of doing so. When you figure out how to master a relatively heavy double action trigger pull, you’re better prepared to teach the next generation how to distribute trigger pressure on their 21st Century “automatics.” Geezers are supposed to pass on The History Of The Old Ways, after all.

If we hadn’t been so tired after each day of class, we would have gone to the park and sat on those wooden benches and talked about old times, as befits people of our years.

…Feeding the pigeons…

…Trolling for muggers…

From left: Denny Reichard, 57, with .44 Mag; Dave LaRue; 65, with .45; Mas, almost 62, with .45, and George Voltz, 78, with .44 Mag.

Gun Geezers at Sand Burr Gun Ranch


From top: Denny’s .44 Mag; Dave’s Thunder Ranch .45; George’s Scandium-cylinder .44 Mag Mountain Gun; Mas’ Greco Custom .45.

Revolvers of the Gun Geezers


On the cusp of retirement, Denney Reichard leads a parade in the city he serves, Rochester, Indiana. On his hip is his .44 Magnum duty gun, in a holster of his own design.

Denny Reichard leading the parade in Rochester, IN

1 COMMENT

  1. Mas,

    As the younger brother that always tried to copy the bigger ones, I’m in heaven seeing those pictures. It does a body good to see those wheelies.

    If you can master the revolving pistol, you can master anything. When you know you only have five or six rounds before you need to attempt to reload, you tend to be sparing in your use of bullets, and hit what you aim at.

    Take care and stay safe. Your younger brother that is still trying to copy you older guys,

    Biker

  3. I’m one young guy who loves revolvers. I was the only one shooting the revolver class at the last IDPA meet I went to – made me a little sad. My Ruger GP-100 .357 mag isn’t quite as intimidating as the hand cannons you’re displaying, but it feels solid enough. I need to meet some of you elder statesmen of the range and learn how to fire the old guns properly.

  4. Not to be all nit picky Mas, but I think that movie quote came from the first ‘Lethal Weapon’ movie.

  5. Irrelevant nitpick- but, “revolvers are what a lot of old guys like to carry” was mentioned in the original Lethal Weapon film. Of course this was also said in the same exchange where the Beretta 92F was referred to as “heavy artillery,”…it’s disheartening to see how many instances of either gun ignorance or anti-gun sentiment were present in that series…

    Anyway, I am in the under-30 crowd and have often carried a revolver- though mainly as a back-up gun, with the exception being large-game handgun hunts (where a .44 magnum is never a bad choice for a primary). The “Old Ways” are certainly alive today in one form or another!

  6. Excellent column, as per usual. One quibble, the movie you referenced was the first “Lethal Weapon,” not, “Die Hard.”

    I may not be a senior yet, but my 4″ Model 66 is tied for the one gun I’d keep if I could only keep one.

  7. Great post! I enjoy hearing about pistol packing patriarchs!

    The last time I shot a CCW course (every time actually) I shot a “geezer” gun. S&W in .357, so the caliber might not qualify as properly geezerfied. The gent next to me, in his 60’s was also shooting a revolver in .357. Out of 20, we were the only two revolvers. We shot the best too!

  8. Mea culpa, gang. Movie reference has been duly changed. I shall shoot a happy face into a target with a Beretta 9mm as penance to the proper movie (if my memory is right on THAT one!), though I’ll probably not be able to do it while rolling sideways or anything like Mel Gibson.

    Mike, keep the faith and carry the torch to the next generation. Best advice I can give you on Geezer Gunning is that which I gave Brother Reichard, to remember when he retires. He’ll have to change his initial command from “Police ! Don’t move!” to, “You little bastards get off my lawn!!”

    Best to all and thanks for the catch,
    Mas

  9. Great article, as usual. I don’t feel embarrassed about carrying a wheelgun anymore. My 386 Nightguard is just about the ideal carry weapon in my opinion. 7 rounds of .38+P is plenty and that big Tritium dot is something I can get on target pretty quick in almost any light. For IDPA I switch between a 3 inch 686+ and a stock 4 inch 686. It’s satisfying to see how many semi-autos I beat at our monthly matches.

  10. How I would love to see a mugger stumble upon you geezers at the park. It would be him that would need the Depends.
    Another great article. Thanks.

  11. Mas,

    Due penance shall be if you can do that while shooting “cop killer” bullets out of a Beretta 92FS :P. And yes, you did get the smiley-face ref right :).

    I loved that movie series, but like someone else noted, the gun ignorance and anti-gun (and anti-NRA) sentiment that the director just HAD to insert was sad. I got through it by laughing at it. I about fell off the couch rolling in laughter when I heard Murtaugh yell to Riggs at the end of movie 3 (I think), “Riggs! Cop killers!” as he tossed the uzi to the entrapped riggs, who promptly shot 9mm’s THROUGH a heavy metal bulldozer bucket and though the BG. It was so absurd I thought it comedy gold.

    Anyway, as a ‘young pup,’ I love learning the old ways from the guys who were, once-upon-a-time young pups too. Because, honestly, I don’t really want to have to reinvent the wheel (or would that be wheel-gun) ;).

    ~SirBrass

  12. Nice! The first handgun I ever bought was a model 28 S&W with a six inch barrel in 1973. It is the one gun I own that I would never sell. It is as accurate as any handgun I have shot or bought, and now, after retiring from the police services after 33 years, I can carry it again! Good for those ‘geezers’ Mas!

  13. A further advantage of the wheelies is that you can tune your ammo load out to the situation. Many a year ago I kept a village police officer in practice and duty ammunition for his 4 inch Smith .44. His first two rounds were 200 grain hollow points loaded down to 1,000 fps for control. He followed that with two more full power jacketed soft points just in case he had occasion to stop a vehicle with an engine block shot. Then two more of the HP. His logic proved itself late one night on a roadblock on the nearby interstate.

  15. When not carrying a Colt New Service in .45LC I am privledged to be the custodian of a .45APC Smith and Wesson model 1950 with a 3 1/2 inch barrel. This is carried in a Myer’s holster. The rig came to our store from the family of a former El Passo Texas police officer. This revolver has custom one piece checkered stocks it is magnificent, the action is slick as silk and it obviously was carried by a real pistolero. Here in Arizona every Thursday AM I shoot at the Ben Avery facility and most of the fellows who arive at 7.00 am are geezers shooting revolvers. I invite all of you folks to visit us in Pheonix and come to our time warp gun shop Windsor Arms Company (602) 788-1939. Via Con Dios, Dave S.

  16. Ok, I have no idea what movie you messed up on but hey, where’s the picture of Denny’s original design holster!

  17. The only complaint I have about the seven wheelguns I currently own (S & W Model 19, two Model 66’s, Model 65, Model 429 Mountain Gun in .44 Magnum, Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt, and Ruger Security Six .357) is………. WHICH ONE DO I CARRY TODAY???

  18. Dave, I may just pay you a visit. Just the time spent listening to you ‘geezers’ and the chance to ask questions is part of what I love so much about the gun culture. So, if this young (in your book) guy comes in with a beretta Storm on his hip just to look at guns but also is pretty verbose, just start telling stories…. he’ll happily shut up and listen :).

  19. One of my favorite revolvers is my S&W 329PD (Scandium .44 mag.). However, with my old hands it’s loaded with .44 Specials that are still great mugger stoppers. It’s light overall weight makes daily carry a breeze. And, as has been said before, stoppage drill is just pull the trigger again. Revolvers rule!

  20. I’m only 53 thus not quite yet a senior citizen. Nonetheless, I like
    classic revolvers so much I own three: a Smith and Wesson Model
    15 .38 Special Combat Masterpiece, a Smith and Wesson Model
    66 “stainless” .357 Combat Magnum (both K-Frame with 4″ barrel),
    and finally a 6″ S&W Model 28 Highway Patrolman (1965 vintage).
    I have nothing against semi-automatic pistols. Yet, in some respects
    the six shot revolver perhaps is more practical, useful, and versatile
    than a semi-auto, especially for the outdoors person. Both .38’s and
    .357’s (including the latter loaded with .38 Special 148 grain lead
    wadcutters) next to a .22 or .32 remains tops for small game such
    as rabbit and squirrel. Also for dispatching vermin: raccoons, skunks, possum, etc. Also, for butchering livestock. CCI’s classic
    snake load of No. 9 shot encased inside a plastic capsule is lethal
    against venomous snakes such as rattlers up close. Finally, I don’t
    like chasing and retrieving spent brass shell cases. With a revolver
    I don’t have to. I rightly consider the venerable revolver just as
    much fun to own, carry, and shoot as any other firearm. A revolver
    is a comforting companion whether camping, fishing, hiking, while
    out gathering wild berries, or as a secondary gun during deer or
    elk season to supplement a rifle.

  21. I am 57, grew up with either a “K” frame or “N” frame Smith in my hands and never felt poorly armed. Those old Smiths with the pinned and recessed work in them and the diamond grips were and still are a source of pride & joy. Back then they truly came with work manship in each one shipped. What grand old guns they are.

    Respectfully,

  22. One of your respondents opined that the .357 might not qualify as a ‘geezer’ gun. But as I recall reading someplace years ago, the .357 was actually the first ‘magnum’ cartridge to ever hit the streets…way back in the ’30s, I believe. To me, that vintage would seem to qualify it. Personally, I prefer handgun calibers which begin with a ‘4’of which I have several, but I do own a couple of 5-shot .357 snub-nose revolvers. A Model 60 and an SP101.

  23. I’m partial to six-guns (S&W all) for a variety of reasons, among them:

    . I load my own, and I hate scrambling around chasing empties.
    . There’s simply no such thing as either a DA or single-action autoloader with a trigger that can compare with that of any S&W revolver.
    . No carry-weight auto can be chambered for serious calibers, such as .357, .41, or .44 Magnum.
    . No service-grade auto can match a quality revolver for accuracy. I wouldn’t want to attempt a head-shot at 50 yards with one.
    . If you need more than six rounds you’ve most likely already lost the contest.

  24. trolling for muggers, that got a chuckle out of me. that might be a good subject to write on, in fact. seems a bit taboo; sort of a touchy subject. might be good to get out in the open.

  26. Mas,

    Great article, as usual.

    I don’t know how many guys are in this situation, but I’ve sort of started re-appreciating the wheel gun after using autos for a long time. Not that I’ve got anything against autos, but the new breed of plasti-guns just don’t float my boat.

    There’s nothing wrong with a wheel gun if you shoot it well. I wouldn’t knowingly take one into combat, but I wouldn’t knowingly take ANY short arm into combat!

  27. Mas,
    Don’t want to jump on the mistakes in the column, but surely the cylinder in Mr Voltz’ mountain gun is made of titanium alloy, not ‘scandium’?

    Pedantically yours,
    Frank

  28. As a proponent of the right of self-defense, the right of any free person to arm himself, I must point out a big problem that most supporters of gun rights never mention. The vast majority of all real crimes such as armed assault are committed by armed government agents acting in the name of unjust laws and wars. For example, I guesstimate that 99% of all armed home invasions are committed by the police who will gladly and legally murder anyone with a gun or anyone else who tries to defend their home and family.

    In fact, military-style assaults against peaceful people are now taking place in every city and town across this country. Drug and gun raids by SWAT teams look exactly like the Nazis rounding up the Jews. I am willing to bet that there are more government goons kicking down doors in the U.S today than there were in Nazi Germany.

    The current wars on unlicensed drug owners and gun owners, like all other unjust wars against human beings and their freedoms, are made possible by gun control. When people don’t have the means to defend themselves, they are easy targets for fascist thugs who need a scapegoat and enjoy pushing people around, especially under the cover of law. The history of oppression and persecution is armed government agents assaulting defenseless people. With unrestricted access to guns, a government cannot scapegoat and persecute unpopular minorities because the victims would shoot back. It would be like a hundred thousand cops in Nazi Germany trying to arrest a few million armed Jews. The police would not even attempt to do so. Likewise, without gun control, the freedom-violating thugs in the U.S. would not have been able to transform the “land of the free” into the world’s leading police-prison state. They would not be able to target millions of the young, poor, and politically unconnected, and herd them into prisons like they do today because their victims would defend themselves.

    In any country with unrestricted access to guns, all drug fighters, gun grabbers, and other illegalizers would disappear. It would be like turning on a bright light in a dark room and watching the cockroaches run for cover. Why? Because fascist thugs are coward scumbags. Their idea of a fair fight is to first enact a few thousand gun laws in order to disarm their victim and then pay a dozen goons to point a dozen guns at one head.

    In any society with unrestricted access to guns, all other natural rights would be respected. Everyone would be free to live their own lives according to their own values as long as they were peaceful and did no harm to others. In a free society, no one would publicly advocated violence (the law) against peaceful people because he would be given a choice to back up or get the crap kicked out of him.

    Rick Freedom_First (at) verizon (dot) net

  30. Mas:

    My brother and I enjoyed the heck out of the MAG80 course with you and the other handgun geezers last week. Though 1911s are surely my gun of choice, I got home and pulled out my S & W Model 66 4″ ( the first gun I ever bought) and I decided I am gonna send it up to Master Denny for one his trigger jobs. And by George (no pun intended!), with all of those .44 mag hand cannons going off around me, I even pulled my two Model 29s out of the very back of my gun safe and may send one of them to him as well!

    Thanks again for your time and committment!

    -dale

  31. DJ,

    You are right. The age of the .357 truly makes it a “geezer” round, kind of like the .375 H&H. I was referring to the picture of the Geezers all using rounds that started with “.4”

  32. Am I the only geezer left who prefers single-actions? For CQB, fanning is as fast as DA squeezing (though it does require two hands), and for any shots that require the use of sights, it’s easy enough to thumb back the hammer — a method that I recommend for DA’s, also. And personally, I consider the shape of the SA grip to be the most ergonomically correct that I’ve experienced, especially for point shooting.

  33. It’s good to see these pros still carrying these revolvers. I have my Glock 40SW I carry for PP but I still prefer to carry my Black Hawk .30 carbine revolver for quickdraw time. I shoot more accurate with the revolver and I think the .30 carbine round is underated as a pistol round. (check the balistics). Semi autos keep their heads down but it only takes one well aimed round to stop the noise. I’ll take a revolver in a one shot pinch on the quick. (ya, I also own a .357 S&W that I love to shoot too). Thanks guys for the years you stood true to the fundamentals. While reading the story and writing this I realized that Iam one of these “old guys” that’s scarry.

  34. I am nearly 70, and my favorite revolvers are a S&W 586, .357 and a S&W Model 29 Classic (factory tuned) .44mag. The .357 is a favorite among my ‘younger’ friends. Learning to hold the .44 takes time to overcome the tendency to flinch.

  35. Ok Mas, your “geezer” article did it. I am gonna push you over the edge with this one I think. I’ve been thinking lately about my gun stuff. Let me summarize. Two dozen long guns. A couple that are expensive (2K +), the rest a mix of production rifles and shotguns. A half dozen WWII era Garands/Carbines/Enfields/Finn Nagants. 10K rounds of ammo. Reloading gear out the ying yang. Accessories, scopes, cleaning stuff, parts etc. I have always bought top quality gear and take good care of it. Certainly not the biggest collection around, but it is worth something.

    I’m ok these days health wise but had a scare a year ago. Kind of put things in perspective if you know what I mean. The wife and kids aren’t into guns at all. I am just using my own situation as illustration that’s all. What are your thoughts on us gun folks taking care of things when the “shop turns out the lights and closes for good”?

    Other than the standard reply of “just send it all to me” kind of answers I’ve gotten on forums (which I’ve given up frequenting) just wondering if you for instance have given some serious thought to this “geezer” issue? I’ve been to too many gunshows/estate sales/garage sales where there is a bunch of stuff that you just know meant quite a lot to someone and now the son in law is either selling it for 5 bucks or tossing it in the dumpster.

  36. Long Island Mike, check the Backwoods Home archives on the home page here for the article I did about gun collecting, with some advice from top experts in the field.

    Have ’em appraised now. Make sure your next of kin know what they’re worth. Specify in your latest, updated will who gets what particular guns.

    Bless you for thinking ahead, brother. I hope it doesn’t become an issue for ya for a few more decades.

    best,
    Mas

  37. Rick, I think you and I have some profound differences of opinion and perspective.

    Before I say anything more, I’ll give other commentators a chance to post.

  38. Although I’ve never been in law enforcement, I have owned several automatics and wheelguns. Although I appreciate autos, my all time favorite is an old (literally) S&W Model 1917, manufactured some time in 1918, shooting standard .45 ACP in full moon clips (reloads as fast as any auto), usually 230 grain gascheck lead bullets. Standard walnut stocks, no modifications to the pistol (i.e. no adjustable sights to knock out of alignment), shoots dead on at 7 yards as long as I do my part. Nice!!

  39. W-e-l-l all real men are wheel men, Grab your big bores and keep shoot’en.
    Thanks for all the kind words, boys!!!
    D.O.

  41. I refuse to dignify your reference to me and my fellow LEO’s as “fascist thugs” and “coward scumbags” by addressing those insults.

    What I will address is the ludicrous comparison of the possession and use of firearms to the possession and use of illegal drugs. How can anyone able to engage in logical thought feel that there is even a remote comparison between the two? I can think of no two worlds further apart than those of honest, law abiding gun owners and those that are engaged in the sale, purchase, possession or use of addictive, destructive and more often than not deadly chemical compounds.

    I’m a criminal investigator, not a “narc”. I can tell you with absolute certainty that over 80% of the crimes I investigate, which in my department range from harassment to homicide, are directly related to the use and abuse of illegal drugs. You know, that “victimless” crime. 8 out of the last 10 homicides in which I was personally involved in the investigation were directly related to drugs. Two were related to alcohol.

    Let’s take good ‘ol methamphetemine. It is a drug which requires no smuggling over the borders of numerous countries. Doesn’t have to have a broad and well constructed network for distribution and sale.
    It is powerful, addictive, mentally and physically debilitating, and ultimately deadly. It’s ingredients are common and relatively easy to obtain. And idiots who can’t cook a pizza are making it in their homes, where their children are! People who never had a chemistry course in their LIFE!

    What might begin as a “recreational drug” quickly becomes the only thing it’s users care about. They don’t work, wash or take care of themselves or their families; they cook up a batch or two, maybe sell a little of it, and use the rest. Eventually they have to come up with some cash, so they burglarize and steal hard working peoples property, get maybe ten cents on the dollar for it, and start all over again.

    Do you really think that if this drug were available at the local liquor store that this would change? OF COURSE NOT! Once the drug takes over, any pretense at a normal life is finished. The crime would continue to fund the addicts ability to feed their habit.

    And as for the “home invasions” conducted by LEO’S? By those I assume you are referring to the service of search warrants…you know, those things mentioned by the U.S. Constitution which allow law enforcement to enter private property in search of evidence of a crime. Those things which must be sworn to before a judge or magistrate and provide probable cause to suspend a citizens fourth amendment rights. If you think that they are handed out like candy, you have never been a cop. I can’t tell you the number of times I wanted inside a suspect’s home, but simply did not have sufficient probable cause to get a search warrant issued. It’s the price we pay for living in a free society.

    Do cops make mistakes? Sure. So do doctors and lawyers and plumbers and electricians and any other profession you can name. If it is your contention that we should just do away with all laws, you sir, are a fool. Anarchy would simply mean that the meanest and most violent persons would rule, with no one to stop them.

    Ah, hell, I’ve said too much. And probably wasted my time.

  43. I don’t believe Rick was comparing possession/use of “illegal” drugs to that of firearms. It appeared to me that he was pointing out that it is government that is assaulting the Rights of citizens in both of those areas.

    I believe the documents that created our country are still true today. That “… to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,…” and “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures…” . But ‘no-knock’ searches, military/SWAT raids make me believe that the government no longer believes the founding documents are relevant.

    Why did the government feel that it needed to amend the Constitution to legally outlaw the possession/use of alcohol but for marijuana all it took was a government decree (It’s bad. We’re here to make you safe so we will lock you up if you use it.)?

    You asked that “if this drug were available at the local liquor store” would this (burglary) would change? Rick never said it would. Burglary violates the Rights of others. It is the crime. When prohibition was repealed, did drunk driving end? No. But the government quit busting down doors and locking people up for drinking. There are no gun battles in the streets to corner the market for the alcohol.

    If John Q Citizen chooses to use marijuana (or any other substance), how does that affect my Rights? If he chooses to use alcohol/drugs that affects his competence and then operates a vehicle on public roads or to operate on me, that does affect my Rights. Yet the government punishes both.

    If my home was invaded by the police in the darkness of night and I made a movement that they took as a threat, do you really think that my dying thought would be “Well, I am glad the government is making me safe.”?

    You point out how easy it is for some to make methamphetamine for private consumption and than addiction can lead to neglect of their health. And that it can even lead to theft to support that addiction. It is not until that they violate the Rights of others by theft that it should become any legal concern of the government. Brewing alcohol is also easy to do. It can lead to addiction. It can lead to neglect of ones health. Yet it is legal to possess and consume. Endangering the Rights of others by driving while drinking is the crime. You can’t see the contradictions here?

    I do not contend that we do away with ‘all’ laws. Nor, did Rick in his post Yet you put that ‘straw man” point up there to make it seem as if he were advocating anarchy. He was advocating Liberty. Drug use/possession laws violate our Rights.

    Advocating that we get rid of the laws which violate the Rights of the citizens does NOT mean advocating for getting rid of all laws.

    And finally, Rick did not call LEOs “fascist thugs” and “coward scumbags”. He said “Because fascist thugs are coward scumbags.” There is a big difference.

  44. Interesting turn this thread has taken…

    To the fellow whose comment of today does NOT appear here — he’ll know who he is, if he comes back — I can only say this:

    If cops are stupid, what does it say of YOU that you try to post foam-at-the-mouth anti-cop drivel in a blog run by a sworn police officer?

    If you had a bad day with your parole officer, dude, don’t take it out on the folks here.

  45. LOL, from “old geezers with wheel guns” to “nazi storm trooper thugs and cowards.”

    MAS, all I can say is fire the moderator… oh wait.

    Law Enforcement has to be one of the most thankless jobs on the plannet. No matter what you do or how you do it, someone is always going to be pissed off. And no, I’m not a LEO. I have plenty of family and friends who are though, and I share their pain.

    To all you LEO’s out there, thank you for your service.

    As for wheel guns, I sure wish there were a group of respectable wheel gun geezers in my location who could teach me the proper technique of wheel gunnery. Though I might be more interested in hearing some good stories about days of yore.

    To fella’s like Rick and Patrick, all I can say is Rights are good, guns are good, drugs are bad. Didn’t your momma ever teach you anything?

    John Chick
    Monmouth, ME

    “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” –Thomas Jefferson to Charles Yancey, 1816. ME 14:384

  46. to terry kelly ..DICK i mean rick is like a slinkey, not good for anything but it brings a smile to push them down the stairs, thank you for what you do to keep geezers like me safe, Dave LaRue

  47. John, I agree with you that Rights are good. But guns are neither good nor bad but a tool. Goodness or badness is dependent upon the intent of the user. I also agree that most drugs are bad BUT my belief that Liberty says that the choice to use them should be left up to the individual and not the government.

  48. I love to see all you wheel gunners out on the range. Proud to say that growing up in gun culture I have met some of the best folks. I assure you six gun seniors ain’t seen the last of the revolver generation. With S&W new nightguard series I think we will get some of them auto lovin youngsters back on the wheelie wagon 🙂
    Thank you gentelmen for passing on the art of the revolver to those who have listened. Thank you gentemen for being fine examples of what people are supposed to be, if you weren’t us youngsters wouldn’t have learned so well.
    PS
    I normally don’t post but I was tired of reading things that were not related to this blog.

  49. Patrick,

    I stand corrected on the gun issue. You are correct. But there is a such a thing as too much Liberty. My liberty ends when it infringes on your liberty. And if doing drugs causes a person to infringe on my rights, or puts society in jeopardy, that is a bad thing.

    Our politicians just didn’t wake up one day and decide to pass a bunch of laws regulating drugs. It was the cause and effect of individuals taking substance abuse to the extreme.

    John Chick
    Monmouth, ME

    “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” –Thomas Jefferson to Charles Yancey, 1816. ME 14:384