I have known people who for many years have traveled around town with weapons (but rarely on their person until recently) for their "safety" yet have never, ever been assaulted, robbed or provoked in any way. A weapon under the truck seat or in the glove box doesn't act as a direct deterrent, except maybe in how it made the owner feel more confident or secure.
During that same period of time, I traveled extensively around the same town to many of the same locations without benefit of a weapon on me or in my vehicle and I too wasn't ever assaulted, robbed or provoked in any way. I've been aggressively panhandled, cut off in traffic and the like, just like those with weapons. So it's really a mindset.
Gun ownership can be a great hobby and provide great security. But one thing about guns in the park, or a bar for that matter, is that some of those without the political and social commitment to a cause, like this author wrote about, are less likely to be as controlled and thoughtful about emotional confrontations. Maybe principled is a better term. Gun ownership, in and of itself, never provided the gift of maturity and we can imagine going forward for that to continue. Just because someone is now openly armed doesn't mean squat about a person's maturity level or degree of self control he might have in stressful situations.
I recently worked a temp job (Census) with a newly degreed fine arts graduate who was lamenting the lack of finding work in his field. Just a few months out of the box, so to speak, he was embittered beyond understanding. Was he thinking a fine arts degree was a pathway to immediate student loan repayment or instant gratification from society? I don't know but in my view, college isn't about job training as much as it's about learning to be a productive member of society.
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During that same period of time, I traveled extensively around the same town to many of the same locations without benefit of a weapon on me or in my vehicle and I too wasn't ever assaulted, robbed or provoked in any way. I've been aggressively panhandled, cut off in traffic and the like, just like those with weapons. So it's really a mindset.
Gun ownership can be a great hobby and provide great security. But one thing about guns in the park, or a bar for that matter, is that some of those without the political and social commitment to a cause, like this author wrote about, are less likely to be as controlled and thoughtful about emotional confrontations. Maybe principled is a better term. Gun ownership, in and of itself, never provided the gift of maturity and we can imagine going forward for that to continue. Just because someone is now openly armed doesn't mean squat about a person's maturity level or degree of self control he might have in stressful situations.