At the rifle range in Basic, the closing ritual was to “police up brass.” Pick up all bullet casings. Keeping any of it was a punishable offense. We were expected to be sharp eyed and honest, and mostly we were.
So when I saw a bullet casing in the mud in the gutter as I put the trash bins out, I knew what I was looking at. Not shiny new, full of mud, I picked it up. Not that rain is likely, but leaving it there impossible. I had to make sure, got out the loupes to read the butt, “federal auto 380” then called the local pd. An officer came out within the hour, took my name and DOB, and the casing.
Much smaller than the M16A1 casings that is my only other reference. I liked target shooting, but detest guns generally.
My brother bought a rifle while still living at home. Mom insisted he completely dismantle it. He shot it into the coal furnace occasionally. He’d been jumped & beaten with a chain, into a coma, as a teen, so the urge to defend himself was understandable. But the fear my father might turn a gun on his family in a fit of rage was... likely. HE sympathized with a murderer who said, If I can’t have them, no one will, about his kids being taken away. Yeah, my childhood did not feel safe.
In Basic we also had to “police up” cigarette butts. I hate smokers.
6 comments:
(O)
Such interesting times. Then and now.
Nimble,
Yes, exactly. Conversation at work today about an 18 yr old son of my surgeon who could legally buy and take a rifle into school. Dr. B was not in favor of this. I made no comment about my brother.
Jesus-H-******! What a childhood and early life you had. It's perhaps understandable why you chose the career path you did.
Cat,
Just making it up as I go along.
Jesus effing christ. I dealt with the aftermath of shooting from '66 onward....thinking it would end when I flew back in early '69. I've been in more combat than most would imagine, and it ain't what you think. There is no honor and glory. There is no sense of patriotism, there is just backing up the guy next to you in the mud. That's all. I'm so tired of people, now that we have the anonymity of the internet, so suddenly know all about this. Well, as a retired doc living out the last few lives he has, I say to them: fuck you. You don't have a clue.
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