Your first firearm

[Craig Larter]

A Ithaca model 49 .22 single shot in 1962. I asked my dad for a bb gun and he gave me the .22. I couldn't believe I got a real rifle instead of a bb gun. First shotgun was 1963 a Browning A-5 16ga that belonged to my Uncle Harvey who was completely paralyzed by a stroke at a very young age. He also gave me a deer mount from a 12 pt buck he had killed in the early 30's in the Adirondacks. My parents actually trusted me with the guns in my bedroom----imagine! One day after school I thought I was home alone and a big crow had settled in a tree outside my bedroom window. I whacked him with the Browning but to my surprise my mom was home. I was in big trouble---grounded for a few weeks and the guns were locked away for a few months.