Much is being said today about guns and their use/misuse. To follow is a story about an event involving a gun and me that changed my life.

I grew up in west Texas where guns are a way of life. I have had a gun(s) since age 10 or so, and I often went hunting. At age 18, my cousin, his family, and my mother and I went to the family ranch outside of Marfa, TX. My cousin said that he would cook dinner for us if I would go kill some quail. So I got my 20-gauge shotgun and off I went. As I was walking through the pasture looking for quail, I saw what I thought was a coyote running from my left to my right. I could not see it clearly for all the tall grass, mesquite, and other brush, but I shot once and down it went. I walked over to it, and there lay dying was a fawn. I looked at that beautiful little baby deer, and I thought to myself, “What right have I to deny that beautiful little creature a full life?” The answer was clear: None! I returned to the ranch house without any quail. I recounted that story, and I said, “That’s it for me. Never again will I go hunting.” That event occurred in 1959, and I have not fired a gun again at anything but some tin cans for target practice. Now I strive to protect wildlife of all sorts: birds, dogs, cats, horses, deer, etc.