Did being shot at change your attitude?

[FN1910]

I read the posts about different one haveing been shot at and it got me to wondering if the reality of actually being on the other end of a gun barrel changed your attitude toward guns, carrying and LEO's?

I have never really been shot at although I have been peppered with birdshot while hunting and one my father almost hit me while trying to shoot a dog. I have known many people that have been shot and the reality of what could have happened in many cases takes the thrill out of target shooting and carrying and they have a new outlook on guns. I am old enough to have known many WW II veterans and it just seemed that the difference in where they served and what branch made a world of difference in what stories they were willing to share.

I was just interested in other's opinions on this.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[SIXTO]

Sure it does. There are some stories I'll tell over and over, and some I prefer not too. I'll let you guess why and what the differences are.

[SilenceDoGood]

For me, the response is going to be atypical (i assume) for what other people will tell you. I'm a thrill junkie. I skydive, cliff jump, race quads, bomb down hills on my mtn bike at break neck speeds etc. etc. I accepted a long time ago that death was certain but life was not, and I do these things because they let me know i'm still alive i guess (i'm no psychologist), but being shot at just reinforced the idea that i had better get out and keep on living.

[Miggy]

At the time, not. Back then I was your tipical person raised in a country where you are hammered the notion that guns are bad, peace (and being peaceful) is the only moral choice and there is pride in being a victim. My view of LEOs was about the same as my view about criminals and sometimes truthfully the only difference between one group and another was the badge. Both entities were on an absolute power trip and treated people like crap, abused them, robbed & killed them.

My views changed when I moved to the USA. The fact that I could have a gun for defense? Amazing concept! That I could use it and I would get a fair investigation? I could not wrap my brain around it! I became friends with a guy in a gunshop and hung around a lot perusing guns and asking tons of questions. Lots of LEOs went to the shop, I got to know them and realized that US LEOs are a group of professionals and not thugs with badges.