Cabela's: America's Obsession With Guns

I knew that America loved their guns and knives, but this blew me away. Evan wanted to buy a new pocket knife, why you ask? I asked the same question. The answer is a shrug of the shoulders and something along the lines of, "I've always carried a knife." As he says this Ethan sits polishing his boots with a rag, takes his knife out of his pocket to cut the rag in half before folding it and returning it to his pocket. "I use it all the time, it's just handy to have on you." Nope, I still don't get it. 

Daddy, Can I Have A Gun For Christmas?

After seeing one on Amazon that when folded fits in the credit card slot of your wallet, we took a trip to Cabela's to see if they also sold it. This place is massive and sells anything fishing and hunting related. I have no problem with fishing, and I have no problem with hunting (as long as it's monitored) but this is ridiculous. Mixed in with the fishing gear, clothing, knives, guns, etc there are stuffed animals everywhere. I didn't realise how big a moose is until I stood next to a couple of males rutting in the corner.

So far there is nothing out of the ordinary  just fishing gear. Yes it's a hell of a lot of fishing gear, but still just fishing gear. Then we moved upstairs. At the top of the escalator a large sign alerted me to the 'Gun Library'. This is where the second hand guns are kept in glass cabinets. Upon exiting the 'Gun Library' I notice dozens of people sat on fold up chairs. At this point the shop is only open for another 30 minutes on a Friday night, just keep that in mind. As I looked over puzzled, I heard a man shout a number. Following the sound I see a counter that is far too long full of guns, with even more guns along the wall behind. You had to get a number and wait your turn, just like going to the deli counter at Tesco's. The thing is that there were more people here than Tesco's on Christmas Eve. 

As we walked along the crowd of people I notice the colour pink out of the corner of my eye. As I turn my head I notice a sign saying 'Youth Guns'. Now these aren't air rifles or pellet guns, these are guns that can kill a man, and are aimed at children. I'm sure my mum wouldn't even let me have a spud gun as a child, I can't imagine her allowing me to carry a gun with live ammunition around. Next to the guns there is a mock firing range, and arcade, basically something you'd see at the fair. To me this just teaches children that guns are toys and takes away the all of the dangers, but that's me. 

As we walked a little further we reached the archery section. Why someone feels the need to hunt with a longbow or crossbow I have no idea. I'm sure the idea of hunting is to get a perfect kill. To kill the animal instantly so that it suffers no pain. I have difficulty seeing how that is possible with a bow and arrow, surely that prolongs the agony the animal suffers until it dies, if it dies that is. As I argue my case with Evan, I notice the variety of tips for the arrows. I assumed that they would just be sharpened points, but no. There are tips that spread out on insertion so that it cannot come out, and also mangles up the area penetrated. Tips with numerous points, big ones, small ones. Too many if you ask me, but that's me. One brand has a doodle of a turkey sweating as its mascot.

I Scared The Hell Out Of The Workers
Taking This Picture

Finally getting to the knife section Evan's face dropped as he couldn't find one suitable for his needs, whatever they are. I fail to see what a pocket knife can do that a pair of scissors can't. Despite being in the knife section, where knives are available as big as my forearm, you are never too far away from a gun. I noticed a brand of gun that says 'Zombie' on the side. Apparently this isn't a gun you'd go hunting with, but one for just 'shooting stuff' as Evan put it. Again I fail to see the point. It was also amusing to see the lack of people looking at the gun safes. Surely with all these people buying guns they will need a gun safe? If they already have one that means they already have a gun, so what need do they have to buy another? 

One of my friends back home was brought up hunting and loves it. My only experience shooting a gun was clay pigeon shooting with him and he told me how things need to be killed to control their populations. If they were left to breed then things would get out of hand. A reasonable argument I believe, especially when you have to jump through hoops just to get hold of a gun in England. By making it difficult to obtain weapons, only a handful of the population will hunt so the population of animal x will lower slowly rather than overnight. 

Apparently to own a shotgun in England you have a fire arms officer come to your home and fill out some paperwork. He also has a look at your gun safe to make sure that it is adequate. To have a rifle you have to jump through more loopholes and are more likely to have it rescinded should you do anything wrong. From being drunk and disorderly, to driving offences. Regarding handguns, you have no chance in hell getting one legally in England. 

I recently read that from April you can now carry certain knives on board American aircraft. I wonder what would happen if someone middle-eastern looking was seen to have a knife in his pocket getting on a plane in America? 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21678267

As we left I heard a number being called in the 40's (so over 40 people bought a gun on a Friday) and people were still coming into the store despite it closing anytime soon. Also remember that this is in Connecticut, one of the strictest states regarding guns in America. What a Cabela's in the south would hold is frightening to think of.

http://www.cabelas.com/home.jsp?WTz_l=Header