Nah, didnt even own one until after colllege. While in college, my roommate (actually he was an ''old roommate'') got murdered by two 18 year old black kids while he was working. The irony was that he was weeks from being shipped off to Afghanistan as an infantryman.
Thinking back on that, I had a paradigm shift in my thinking at that point. I realized that criminals will always be armed, no matter how small the crime. Even if they arent armed, you have to treat them as such... because the first time you dont you're going to be blown the fuck away by some degenerate with an illegally acquired pistol.
I've taken it upon myself to educate most everyone I know about responsible firearm ownership. I took an ef member from Denver to a local range when he had never shot a pistol, to educate him about firearms. Every girl I've dated, even some just female friends have been to a local range with me on ''ladies night'' where it's free for wimminz to shoot. I always try to educate people on how to properly handle a pistol.
Mountain Muscle is a helluva shot, and also a good guy. Him and I have shot at this same range before.
Responsible gun owners are a force to be reckoned with, and for the most part a group of law abiding citizens who enjoy a sport with a long tradition.