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Great post. Wonderful transformation. You're a wise man.

My transformation was a lot slower in a lot of ways - shot my first gun around 13 years of age - some big hand cannon my uncle owned, and he and Dad and I went out on his back porch and shot it. I think I took one shot and was done for the day. The summer I was 16 and working/living on a farm, the owner introduced me to the Ruger 10/22, and showed me how to shoot prone. That was probably the most fun - I'd take it out every week or two and plink with it. (Finally bought my own 10/22 a couple weeks ago.) Then it was several more years of a generally non-either-way attitude toward guns. Fast forward to my first CHL about 15 years ago, but really didn't carry with it. About 10 years ago is when I really started to getting into being able to protect myself, taking additional classes, actually carrying with some regularity, learning the "condition levels" (really lived in condition white before then), until now where I'm far more cognizant of the issues and the need to be aware/able.

Wish I had been as sharp as you as quickly as you were. I lived a naive and trusting life for many years. Congratulations on seeing the light so clearly so quickly.