Mindful replied on Permalink
Not carrying a gun is a lot like not being an aardvark
When I go about without an arm, I am not disarmed. To be disarmed I must consciously go about without an arm, and I never think of that at all: I do think about going out without the right glasses because sometimes I do that. I am perfectly free to be inclined and determined to commit crimes, or to say, "Hi, Bob, how's it going."
It must be sad to have to forego foreign travel since everywhere outside the US, almost without exception, there are very strict gun ownership, or gun-carry laws. When Americans are present, to be polite, people in foreign countries do try to seem fearful about being shot, but they're not really good at it because they watch too many bad movies. Does feeling no risk of getting shot in a foreign country take any pleasure out of travel? Low crawling about cobble-stone streets could wear out the elbows of your shirt. Dodging in and out of hedges looking fearful and violent could be taken for mime practice, or off-date Easter Egg hunting.
When I was in the military, I got to carry a 'rifle.' One never says 'gun.' If you do say the bad-word some sergeant will tell you, "Soldier, here is my rifle, and here is my gun (pointing to his privates), this is for shooting, that one's for fun." After packing an M-14 rifle about all day, carrying an arm lost some of its fascination. Carrying, or bearing arms is no problem for me; I'm just against putting bullets in them and shooting them. There may be less risk of private arms falling into the wrong hands if personal arms were bonded to the owner with Super-glue, or some surgical intervention. If you're wondering why I'm talking like this, the answer is I've tried using calm, sensible arguments, and it's been so disappointing, I've decided to just talk to myself. With a little practice it's possible to break the habit of killing, or being killed. It's slightly harder than learning to not fall upstairs, but you get the same achievement badge.
