John and I were at the Susquehanna Valley Mall today. I am not a mall person – not much of a shopping person… but I needed new running shoes (and yes, I did score a pair!). On our way through Sears we saw a man carrying, in full sight, a .45 semi-automatic pistol on his belt. John’s response was “really?!”. Really.
Now a few thoughts go through your mind when you see a grown man, who appears for all intents and purposes to be sane, carrying a weapon in a department store. I’ve just written these thoughts and questions down randomly – no particular order:
- I suppose one good thing: apparently there is no longer a need to carry those pesky concealed weapon permits.
- I guess President Obama must be the most lenient president ever on guns because before his administration I never witnessed people just carrying guns into stores and restaurants. So yeah Obama!?
- How much do you have to love your gun to not be able to leave it at home – I wonder if that same rule goes for the kids or the wife.
- Are guns like the new fall accessory? Will they too go out of style at some point?
- Do you think the mall is really that scary of a place? Maybe you should just stay home (have you heard about Amazon?).
- How do I determine if you’re a good guy with a gun or a bad guy with a gun?
- And if only good guys with guns carry their weapons unconcealed, won’t the bad guys eventually crack that code and do the same thing?
- How do you know which guys with guns are the good guys and which are the bad guys? Maybe there is some sort of secret nod or handshake.
- Is there ever a time or place where you feel you wouldn’t need to be accompanied by your gun? The shower, for example, church, or the Emergency Room (you know when you have to get those bullet wounds treated)?
- What happens if you make other customers uncomfortable? Do they have rights too?
I think that I can conclude a few things: 1) Obama has been great for gun owners and so at the very least we can finally put to rest those awful rumors suggesting otherwise; 2) carrying your gun(s) in full view doesn’t make you appear tough – it actually makes you appear weak; and 3) you and your weapons in full view do not make me feel any safer…and in fact, they probably don’t make you or me literally any safer either.