by Peter Twitchell
There are just too many guns in the world that are being abused, because they are in the hands of the wrong people. Here, let me qualify this statement a bit. First we need rifles and shotguns here in Alaska because we are hunters who have been using firearms for the last two hundred years mainly to hunt to put food on our tables.
We were taught gun safety at a very young age. My Dad started talking to me about guns and gun safety, and mostly to answer my questions. The first thing I was taught was never to point a gun, loaded or unloaded at anyone. We were taught never to shoot an animal or bird, until it was within killing range, and never let it suffer. So it was vitally important to our parents where to place our shots.
The idea of accidental shootings and wanton waste of animals was taboo. The wanton waste of animals was strictly prohibited in our Yup’ik culture if we wanted to survive with enough to eat. After all, these animals were a gift from the Creator to feed and clothe us.
The one shot, one kill paradigm has been very beneficial to all of us who hunt. I don’t know what the old timers would think of the idea taking a mini 14 .223 cal. out into the field to hunt moose and bear. I know Dad respected those animals too much to take chances.
He had a favorite all around caliber, that was the 30.06. When you think about it, the .223 cal. bullet was meant for animals like coyotes, foxes, and maybe wolves.
Guns for any other purpose is reserved for the Law Enforcement community and the Military. Of course there are other beliefs out there, like the need to protect one’s self from criminals and those who would harm you.
In many ways it’s like the old west, that idea, where the general population is arming themselves and everybody and their uncle is packing a gun to feel safer. I asked a guy one time in the city why he was packing a Glock .10MM. He told me, “there’s people out there who will kill you for a dollar.”
