It's all about the fear . . . apparently

Whenever I get into a discussion about gun rights and carry rights, I'm always asked "What are you afraid of?". I'm positive that I am not alone. I'm not sure what makes people think that just because someone exercises a right, they are afraid.

I think it may actually be the other way around. Why? Because every argument I have ever heard against carrying a firearm in public has started with "I feel", "I fear", or "I think". They "fear" that someone will take the gun away from the person carrying it. They "feel" that kids shouldn't be around guns. They "think" the owners of guns are unsafe, possibly unstable individuals. They proclaim open-carry to simply be a way to get attention. The act is deemed "provocative" despite the protection of the Second Amendment and despite the fact that 100 years ago, it was not at all uncommon for the general populous to be armed on a daily basis.

So, let's dissect this a bit. We'll start with the gun being forcefully taken from the individual. The act of wearing a deadly weapon on your hip brings with it the responsibility to be aware of your personal space and what is going on around you. Also, the invention of the BlackHawk holster with servo-retention can help immensely should someone sneak up from behind. I personally have a habit of keeping my elbow on the heel of the gun while maintaining a close eye on my surroundings. I stop and take a look at my surroundings when I pull in to a parking lot. I will sit in my vehicle for a few minutes and take a good look around. By the time I get out of my vehicle, I am pretty sure that there are no confrontations taking place in the parking lot. I get a general feel for the area and I know where potential trouble may be lurking and my proximity to those areas. If there is a confrontation going on, I'll likely keep an eye on it for a bit and decide if I think it will escalate and therefore I need to leave or if it's really just a quarrel and there is no threat. I do rely a lot on my gut instincts for this process. That's why we have instincts . . . to help us survive. I also hear the argument that shootings are few and far between so wouldn't it stand to reason that the person willing to risk their life by trying to take someone's gun is few and far between?

Regarding children and guns, education and common sense really are key. Letting your little ones help to clean the guns at an appropriate level of maturity and with proper supervision helps to de-mystify guns. Keeping them away from the little ones is also important. Acting like guns are evil and not taking the time to teach your child age-appropriate lessons about guns only sets up trouble.

Now to cover crazy gun owners - well, maybe there are a few crazy ones in the bunch but perhaps it's the liberal media who wrongly claims that we are crazy. Consider for a moment that the majority of gun owners are primarily concerned with being able to defend our families. Does this make us crazy? What about the real intention behind the 2nd Amendment - to protect ourselves from a tyrannical government? Are some Americans really so afraid of law-abiding citizens carrying guns that they are willing to give up our basic freedoms as Americans? If shootings are so rare, what are they afraid of?

Isn't it ironic that the question is typically asked of the wrong person?

I cannot speak for everyone but I can speak for myself. I am not overly afraid of anything. I put on my gun in the morning in much the same manner as I put on my seat belt when I get in the car. I wear it when I ride off into the forest because my horse might break a leg or I might come up on a cougar. I also carry insurance on my home, my vehicles, my husband, and my self in case the unexpected were to occur. If it's paranoia to be prepared, I guess we'd better get out there and round up a bunch of boy scouts.