Why Today

In Spring of 2013 I found myself looking at the world of gun ownership and opened Vermont Firearm Safety. I wondered why it had taken me so long to make this journey. I'm a former US Marine and police officer, NRA member; NRA certified Pistol Instructor, a Private Detective and I’ve opened Vermont Firearm Safety. At that time I had carried a weapon all over the world professionally for more than 35 years, but I began to ask myself, “Why this year?” What motivated me into action? What will I accomplish with my new school? And, more importantly, what will my message be? I began to read about organizations that were popping up everywhere. When they showed up on my radar, my first thoughts were, they’re another left wing group showing up after the Sandy Hook tragedy. What is their hidden political agenda? Are they covertly trying to grab my guns? So, the Detective in me began my research: who are these people and what is their motivation. Here is what I found out to be true: Most groups or individuals who spoke out were just as frustrated with the negligent loss of innocent lives as the rest of us are. But here is the big difference; some decided to put their money where their mouths are, as the old saying goes! I did not find a hidden political agenda to take my guns. In the same tone I did not find a secret society for the far right either, they were just in the middle of both groups with a common sense message: Safety

and Responsibility. So as the year progressed and I watched and read Facebook and tweets (yes tweets! To know me, and to think I was reading tweets, you would smile!) I was waiting for the other shoe to fall, to see if any hint of political agenda would emerge. I began to write more on my Facebook, and to share thoughts of safety and responsibility with everyone I bumped into. I began to incorporate the message of Safety and Responsibility into my classes. Not for any reason, other than people I was teaching related to what I was saying. I was "Evolving"! How simple was the message: be responsible and secure your weapon so that a child or untrained person cannot have access to it. Don't act like a dumbass with your gun and point out when other people are not acting responsibly. This, in turn, will prevent negligent deaths or injury. I teach tactics, personal self-defense and the proper use of deadly force in the boundaries of personal defense. With all of

my students I encourage them to remember that their responsibility does not end when we leave the firing range; it is just the beginning. Safety and responsible behavior should be in the individual 100%of the time. We all need to be "safety ambassadors." If we follow the 4 simple rules of gun safety, if we all secure our weapon so that others do not have access to them when we are not carrying them, if we promote more positive conversations about guns and safety whenever and wherever we can (so don't get so insulted when someone asks you about your gun safety habits - even think about bringing it up with your non-gun owning friends!), then we will make an impact on negligent death and injuries.

So, with all that said, I now know why I'm still teaching my moto of

Safety Through Education. I'm tired of others with a political agenda trying to take my guns. I'm tired of others trying to tell me that the only good gun is a melted down gun. I'm also tired of being told that the only impact I can have as an individual is to donate my hard earned cash to their organization because they know more about this than I do. I am going to remain motivated to show all that I can - as an individual gun owner - be heard. I can put my money where my

mouth is and try to make a positive difference in preventing something completely avoidable. I hope that more and more people stand up for personal responsibility. We, as individuals, have that ability to talk to each other, remind each other and remember to be accountable for gun safety.

So please join Vermont Firearm Safety who’s moto is “Safety Through Education” and stand up with personal responsibility and hold those gun owners who are not responsible, accountable for assisting those whose only goal is to take our gun rights and guns from us!

Stay safe and hope to see you all down range in the very near future!

Marc Preston

Vermont Firearm Safety