I did not grow up around guns. My Dad never owned any firearms and short of a few BB guns, I had no experience with them. I was introduced to shooting "real" guns about 7 years ago. One of my college teammates had a Glock 22 and taught me how to shoot it. A year later I bought my first gun which was a Glock 21C. Over the years I practiced, read, and tinkered with guns until I had a good understanding of them. Here are the reasons I like guns:

• Shooting is a sport
• Appreciation of mechanical engineering
• Stress relief
• Safety/self-defense

Shooting is a sport! If you haven't watched Olympic Indoor shooting you should check it out. They shoot .22 caliber rifles at 50 yards with no magnification. At that distance they are shooting a bulls eye the size of a quarter. Most shooters at that level have resting pulse rates around 40 beats per minute. They shoot between breaths and between heart beats. WOW! Some of the best athletes in the world don't have resting pulse rates of 40 BPM. Shooting is a sport; It's not easy and you can always get better at it.

Once I started taking guns apart, I gained a real appreciation for the engineering/physics involved. Everything from the design to the machining of the parts is carefully planned and tested. Once you see all the moving parts involved and how precise everything fits and functions, you wonder how anyone was able to build something like it. Combined with the fact that a gun basically houses an small explosion and is able to last for at least 50,000 rounds. It takes a lot to impress me and I'm still impressed that we are able to build things like guns, cruise ships, and jets.

After some hard days at work, blowing off a few magazines of .45 ACP seems to melt the stress away. There is something to be said for the pounding of a .45 ACP round and push back as the gun recoils.

Of course, the original purpose of self-defense is always a reason. Take the reasons above and add the fact that a gun could potentially save my life or the life of someone else. BONUS! Personally, I don't hunt. For those who do, I'm sure that would be one of there reasons as well.

At the end of the day, guns aren't for everyone. This IS NOT an article to convince people they SHOULD like guns. However, I hope the reasons I outlined above give people a better understanding of why I and many others like them.

If you are purchasing a Class 3 item such as a suppressor or machine gun, you will need to submit a form 4. There are currently 3 different ways to submit your NFA forms. I suggest using a gun trust as it provides the most protection and least hassle. When using a trust, the name on your Form 4 application will be your trust name. It must MATCH EXACTLY as printed on your trust. If your trust says "Declaration of Firearms Trust by John Doe" then it must say that on the form 4. My first NFA purchase was a suppressor. The only Class 3 dealer close to me was brand new and (in my opinion) not properly qualified to do NFA paperwork. They completely my form incorrectly with "Revocable Living Trust by John Doe" which was kicked back by the examiner because the names did not match. Make sure they match!

When mailing the paperwork, here is what you will need:

1. (2) Form 4 Applications
2. $200 check payable the BATFE
3. (1) copy of your trust
4. Schedule A
5. Compliance form 922(g)(5)(b)

You will need TWO Original Form 4's. One is returned to you, the other is kept by the ATF for their records. You MUST print both sides on the same piece of paper. The check is self explanatory, but you should use a check (instead of a money order) to see when it was cashed. A copy of your trust is needed. Without it, they will kick back your application.

The "schedule A" confuses a lot of people. It is usually the last page of your trust and is just a list of your NFA items. I submit my schedule A with the item I am applying for ALREADY LISTED. A lot of people will argue this as you are technically still applying and have been approved yet so it should not be listed. I have always done it that way and never had a problem.

Last, the 922g form simply states you are a US citizen. If you complete all your paperwork correctly, the only painful part is the 3-8 month wait. Three if you are lucky, eight if the ATF is backed up.

If you are pursuing a suppressor or machine gun as a civilian you will need to complete a Form 4.  In additional, you will need to send a check for $200 made payable to the BATFE.  Certain sections of the form will be required or omitted depending on which method you have choose to apply.  Methods may vary by state.  All form 4 applications and additional documents required should be sent to:

National Firearms Act Branch - BATFE
P.O. Box 530298,
Atlanta, GA 30353-0298

Once mailed expect to wait 2-3 weeks before you check is cashed.  You may call the ATF branch for a status update in which they will ask for your name (or trust name), serial #, and sometimes dealer's name.  The only information they will provide is if and when your application went pending.  If there is a problem, they will tell you it went to a problem status with a brief reason why. You may ask for the examiners name as well. 

NFA wait times vary depending on the current backlog. Wait times can last anywhere from 3-8 months to be completed.  If you are submitting a form 4, I suggest you added your information to the NFAtracker.