I say use your concealed carry permit - it's time to let folks know there are plenty of us, raise awareness and reduce the 'fear factor' that is being generated by simple ignorance of things that can go bang in the night.
My first slap in the face was bumping into a cousin while in Buffalo, NY and when asked where was I going I answered "to the Buffalo Gun Center", to which the responded "Tsk. Tsk. Tsk." I thought to myself "these folks are truly ignorant". Thinking on it for a while I realized it was indeed ignorance but more so it was a fear of all guns, even those strapped onto the belts of police officers.
In the good old days (circa 1965) police used to carry their handguns in holsters that had leather flaps covering up as much of the handgun as possible. I always thought it was to prevent a grab.... I now realize it was to protect the eyes of innocent youngsters shortly after a war that claimed tens of millions of lives. Yet as a teenager, I could sign a rifle out of the gun locker in my high school, sling it over my shoulder and take the bus (public transit) to the range. We had a school chum on olympic skeet shooting team and he used to bring his shotgun to school so that he could head straight to the skeet range down the road from our school to practice. The bell rang and everyone left, including John and his shotgun and ammo bag. No complaints. Nobody was really bothered. Blood did not run in the streets. Far from it.
So, by all means, use your firearms permit(s) when requested for identification. I was at the pharmacy the other day picking up for my wife and was asked for photo ID. I presented my restricted firearms permit. Asked for another, I produced one of my carry permits. Asked for something more 'standard' I produced my driver's license, which was quite acceptable. The pharmacist never batted an eye when presented with firearm oriented permits, but I caught some eyes getting wide amongst the customers standing in line next to me.
It is time that we came out of the closet. I am not one to advertise the fact that I am a fun afficianado and actually refuse to provide ID or put my name in the "ammo book" that some stores seem to have wont to maintain. It is a request to have your home invaded or burglarized or worse. Yet, one on one, when weighing the pro's and con's, it seems to me that raising awareness of firearms in one's community in general is a GOOD thing.
My cousins, by the way, after we had an attempted home invasion two years ago and were able to protect ourselves (they actually never made it inside.... the dog barked, we pushed the panic button on the alarm system and dialled 911 and the police took the bad guys down at gunpoint. They were armed.) have never brought up the topic again, even though I have invited them to come to the range with me.
My 92 year old father who fought with the 'resistance' in the forests of Europe for five years during WWII and lived in holes in the ground all during that time, turns out to know more about Brownings and 1911's than I ever imagined. He even asked me if they held more than 8 rounds these days and I explained. When he is up to it I think we are going to make a trip to the range together. THAT will be a wondeful day to be marked in my calendar/diary. HE has no fear of firearms. They are simply tools.
Comments?
