The '80s made up for all the abuse I took during the '70s. I outlived all my critics. By the time I retired everybody saw me as a venerable institution. Things do change.
I try to do the right thing at the right time. They may just be little things...
You do have to change things as warfare changes.
For target shooting that's okay. Get a license and go to the range. For defense of the home that's why we have police departments.