By Rob Morse
Louisiana- (Ammoland.com) The man across the restaurant has a gun.
I look up. Yeah, there it is carried on his hip. I nod and go back to checking my mail while we wait for our food to arrive. I know some people with strange phobias and they are afraid of firearms.
The few people with phobias are unusual; not the 110 million gun owners in the US. It is time for the rest of you to get over the novelty and drama of firearms ownership.
The guy has a gun. So what?
Today, good guys have guns. Good guys have guns everywhere. Good guys and gals have guns.. and nothing happens. Most of the time you don’t even notice. It isn’t newsworthy. I want to change the attitude of the guy on the street towards firearms.
But, I don’t want to stop there. It is time our legislators, prosecutors, law enforcement officials and for the media to come to terms with gun ownership as well. We are not there yet.
We have a long way to go until guns are unremarkable. I can ask my friend if he has a gun. “Sure, I have a gun,” he says. To me it is insignificant, but saying those same words is considered a threat if my friend says them inside a store. Context is everything, and “I have a gun” has too many meanings today.
- “Yes, I have a gun” means her search is over when my neighbor wants to find firearms safety instruction for her teenagers.
- “Yes, that is my gun” means another new firearm to try for the friend who asks at the shooting range.
- “I have another gun” means we have to change our insurance policy when I tell my insurance agent.
- “I have a gun if we need it” means reassurance and safety as two women walk together across a dark parking lot late at night.
- “I have a gun” means it is time for him to leave when a thief hears those words as he climbs through a ground floor window.
- To the sheriff’s deputy being beaten by a thug, “Stop, I have a gun” means that good guys have finally arrived.
- I’m not sure what “Yes, officer, I have a firearm.” means to police officers these days. Some officers recognize that concealed carry holders are vastly more law abiding than the average citizen. Other officers see gun owners as an easy conviction given our contradictory gun laws.
- For many journalists, “He had a gun” means the story is over and written. The reporter can play to the audience’s emotions. The story becomes about the gun rather than the real life drama that just took place.
I expected us to be over our fear of guns by now. Guns exist. Guns are tools. We have them. Nothing happens. Yawn.
It is time we stop taking our attitude toward firearms from the people who write TV dramas.
Don’t get your information from Hollywood. Ask your neighbor instead. Ask the hundred million gun owners if you really want to know about guns in the United States. The facts are right next door.
Bad guys had guns for hundreds of years. Lately we’re seeing a resurgence of firearms ownership by ordinary civilians. It’s great that the good guys and gals have guns again.
Ask your neighbor if you want to know more. They have had a gun for years.. and you had no idea.
~_~_
Rob Morse: Rob writes about gun rights at Ammoland, at Clash Daily and on his SlowFacts blog. He co-hosts the Polite Society Podcast. He is an NRA pistol instructor and combat handgun competitor.
so hes got a gun…no big deal ..hes not pointing it at any body..
Two things: First, I don’t get much opportunity to deal with police, professionally speaking, because I almost never get stopped. However, on the few times I have either been stopped or interacted (for example, when my vest pulled up over my pistol while I was rendering first aid at an accident) the LEOs involved have universally been friendly, and actually gave me a “warning” instead of a ticket. The only questions I got asked were, 1) may I see your CHL please, 2) are you carrying a gun now, and if so, where is it, and, 3) So, what do… Read more »
Why advertise it?
I did the open carry while waiting on my CCW to arrive and over the years what my 4 children and 1 stepchild has learn after they watched me when went anywhere was to……. Se not just look Listen not just hear they have gotten so good at it that i cant sneak up on them any more and scare them with a RAAAAAAAR. So Nate yes he has the right and if he is like all the other Dad’s and now Mom’s that carry the only thing they are in danger of are the idiots that don’t have a… Read more »
I carry mine all the time but the darn 250 round linked ammunition belt is difficult to conceal and I guess the gun and it is sort of scary looking to some folks in the shopping center :).
After I turn 70 I will also carry concealed .I’ve been only carried for three decades and have never had to pull it or have anyone try to take it from me either..I’m often in areas which are labeled high crime rates ,I feel that if I had concealed my gun I would have had to use it ,Most criminals are cowards and will look for a better victim ,Also I use a level 2 holster ,And have insurance just in case..Stay safe beware of your surrounding.
I personally conceal carry regardless. Having your gun out in the open does two things, removes the tactical element of surprise, and two makes you the first potential target in a profit based crime.
You have to think like the enemy to defeat them.
I carry 24/7. I have trained my children and Grand children on all aspects of gun safety and maintenance. I have one grandson who by his own choice can break down and assemble an AK47 blindfolded. They have all been to the range and they all have a favorite. They all lord their better accuracy over each other as they practice. They all have had their targets mounted proudly on their bedroom walls for all their friends to see. All their friends too have an open invitation to go to the range for training, with their parents permission of course.… Read more »
I also believe in being discreet most of the time. On the other hand, being obvious may stop trouble before it starts.
I’ve carried concealed for nearly two decades and it never leaves my side, much less leaving home without it. No one is aware that I carry with exception of my family and closest friends. If anything, carrying has made me more aware of my surroundings and has enticed me to deescalate situations with conflict.. I do go anywhere different when I am carrying than I would if I were not carrying. In the time I’ve carried, I have disclosed the weapon 3 times, drawing only once. In all instances, the aggressor deescalated and reconsidered their position. I pray to god… Read more »