I recently heard from a column reader who wanted to see more about guns in this column. Because I know that not everyone cares about guns, I’ll write about this fascination in moderation although I think that most everyone will find today’s column interesting.

My father kindled this interest in firearms in both my brother and I. In 1958, while I was still in high school, I purchased a .303 British Enfield rifle at a local department store for $16.88. Today that same rifle brings $495.00. This rifle carried England through both WWI and WWII. At this same time I bought a Model 1873 Winchester at a local gun shop for $20.00. Today this gun that won the West would be a thousand dollar piece. If nothing else, I learned early on that firearms could be a good investment.

In the early years of our marriage, this gun bug thing was still with me. In 1967, while we lived in Parkston, I applied for and received an FFL (Federal Firearms License). This license required that I actively engage in the gun business and hang a Rog’s Guns & Ammo sign on our front door. My first purchase as a dealer was a crate of well-used Spanish 7mm Mauser rifles that cost me less than ten dollars a rifle. I sold a rifle and a hundred rounds of surplus ammo for $20.00. My fledgling gun business continued through my Burke years (1971-1976) and when Rog’s Guns & Ammo moved to Wagner in 1976. When we built our new home north of Wagner in 1977, I included a gun room on the east side of the building. The business flourished.

Did the AFT (Alcohol, Firearms, & Tobacco) people ever check up on my activities? At 3:00 A.M. one morning there was a knock at the door. It was two FBI agents from Sioux Falls. In a routine stop, a Ruger .357 Magnum handgun had been found under the front seat of the car. The driver claimed he knew nothing about the gun. The FBI traced the gun from Ruger to Gopher Shooter’s Supply in Minnesota to Rog’s Guns & Ammo. Had I completed the proper 4473 form? Did I have the form on file? Did I personally ask the questions on the form? All had been done properly. They took the form, thanked me, and left. They were very courteous. (We certainly have efficient gun registration.)

Memorable customers? One night four rather rough-looking men knocked at the door. When I invited them in, their leader pulled a half-pint bottle from his jacket and offered me a swig. I obliged. They went on to tell me that they were not allowed to possess firearms other than black powder muzzleloaders. I sold them black powder pistol kits, sandpaper, and bluing. They graciously thanked me, and went on to tell me that I would never have to worry about a break-in. I never had a problem. They obviously had “connections.”

The business eventually became a personal problem. Too many guys showed up with a six-pack and wanted to talk guns well into the night. I had a family on the other side of the wall. I thought about quitting. The straw that broke the camel’s back? The phone rang at 4:00 A.M. on a Monday morning. A Tyndall man, on his way to an elk hunt, was going to stop for some 7mm Magnum ammo. After he left, I decided that enough was enough. I would hang it up!

There was a school board meeting that night. When the board called for executive session, I got up to leave. I was told to stay as I was the subject of the meeting. They very much wanted me to carry on as high school principal, but I would have to decide between that and the gun business. At this same time the UPS man was making frequent gun deliveries to the school shop. I told them that I had made the decision to quit the guns that very morning.

On the promise to never compete with him, I sold my entire inventory to Bruce Cull of Springfield. He was going to start a business called Dakota Archery. Today’s Yankton business is probably the state’s premier archery-gun shop.

I have never felt more like the wrong guy is writing this column than right now. As if I’m not frustrated enough with this virus thing, friends caught seventy smallmouth bass – all of them big, on Francis Case while my boat was down with mechanical problems. They used white jigs, and every point they fished yielded fish. Walleye action, especially on Sharpe, has also been excellent. See you next week.