I'm with you. I love to catch em, play with em a bit, and let em go.
Eh, I like to play with them a little bit, get out the video camera and go, "CRIKEY! Look at this lil beauty! Don't try this at home kids, DANGER DANGER DANGER!!"
In all seriousness, the Marlin is a great rifle, too. I own a Model 60, one of the best rifles ever made.
Brownings are nice, but in terms of quality AND accuarcy AND ruggedness, it's hard to beat the Marlin.
California sucks that's it.