Worried about my Father Inlaw

[TYFOON]

Originally Posted by Grip

or..maybe he is a lying and has never done any of the stuff he said he has...who knows.

Sh@t dude are you kidding me?

[billbrasky]

Originally Posted by slugger6

I am a Vietnam veteran and I shoot regularly in IDPA and USPSA. I train for it and stay in pretty good shape for a guy my age. The day I can't shoot anymore will be a sad day indeed. I hope it is many years off.

Most of the members of our club are younger than me, but no one has more fun at the range. Not everyone my age shares my interest in competitive shooting...veterans or not. To each his own.

I figure even if I am in my 70s or 80s I think I will like shooting. Shooting seems like more fun than bocce ball, bingo, shuffle board, or what ever it is geezers do. I might not be able to handle a .45 at 80 years old though. I can deal with that i think. Getting old seems like a real bitch if ya ask me. I might have to take a break, or take a Tylenol afterwards but I would like to think I will have my faculties and I will still get a kick out of shooting junk.

I can admire nice wood working as much as the next guy, but I hope the day comes I never look at china cabinets over shooting sports.

[spamlovr]

My father in law fought in WWII. With is GI Bill, he went to engineering college. He was hired right out of school to work at NOSC designing weapons and delivery systems for the navy.

I asked him why he doesn't like to go shooting with us when we go, as I invite him every time. He finally told me he has had his fill of weapons for his lifetime. Well, since he helped designed everything from mini subs to the sidewinder missile to ballistic missiles with nuclear payloads and systems to launch them out of subs, I can certainly see his point. He's just had enough.

[happygunner]

Many as they get older are just not into firearms anymore.

[buzzgreenberg@msn.com]

Perhaps wagering a Radko Ornament on a friendly Shoot Out might peak his old target shooting spirit.....or you might ask him for a few pointers so you can win some Radko items cash for the display case...mixing and matching his interests with yours may help. Best of Luck...

[djhaycock]

I could see this from the point of having done something painful that he has difficulty dealing with.

Not to threadjack, but I remember being in D.C. with my father in the Boy Scouts and wanting to go see The Wall and my father was extremely adamant about not going there and I didn't understand at the time since I was around 10 or so (give or take a year). Finally, in 2001, my father was able to come to terms with this to a degree and visited The Wall with my mother. He was one of the first Marine battalions to land in Chu Lai I believe in 1965.

You may just need to give your father-in-law some time or realize that this is something he wants no part of anymore.

[armyguy]

ummm...... i felt that you should just let it go.

go fishing with him instead.

[Archer1945]

I had a friend years ago I used to sing with in a choir. He'd been a sniper in 'Nam and while he'd talk about rifles he'd have nothing to do with them, he even gave up deer hunting. However, pistols weren't a bad thing and he'd taken up competition pistol shooting.

[TacoMalo]

He's probably trying to keep old memories from coming back and I wouldn't blame him.

[fredj338]

Shooting has little to do with test. levels or Freudian ideas. My pop's was WWII Airborn, sniper trained, retired LEO. He did NOT teach me to shoot, never took me hunting, but took great pride in watching me develope as a shooter, attended several of my competitions & had many of my hunting photos on his wall. I think for many of the old timers it's a "been there done that, brought home the scars to prove it" mentality. Don't begrudge him his feelings. Maybe take up an interest of HIS to share with him. He won't be here much longer & you'll regret the time lost. After all, it isn't all about you now is it?