Your right JoeJoe...
Unreasonable fear without a basis in reality is pretty hard to overcome....My wife grew up in a family that never had any weapons, and her father never hunted. I on the other hand started early with shotgunning, pheasants and my dad (the marine) deer hunting.
We've been married 40 years and she's happy to ignore it even though we've had weapons in the house for our entire lives and raised a couple of kids.
Although, I am still working on it....my sister on the other hand, also grew up around guns all her life, and absolutely freaks out and will get up and leave the room (as opposed to making me get up and leave the room)....We went on a long hike (9 miles) up into Grand Park at Rainier. I OC'd, had my pack on for nearly 3 hours before she even noticed....she whispered at my wife, who looked at me, shrugged and said, the bears should look out. What was funny was that they hiked into the lake to camp the night before, and it was nearly dark, a little foggy and she said they (her husband) experienced real "fear" coming into camp.....I said well, "Don't bring a spork to a gunfight"....
I have lots of friends that are anti-gun at some level: lack of knowledge, fear, whatever, but then, they sit around and watch NCIS, cheer for the good guys and curbside justice. Then, in real life are somewhat willing to be victims.....they all have security systems, external garage doors with 2X4's nailed to the wall, dogs, and louieville sluggers and cell phones next to the bed....
This gives them enough security to feel safe....until the cops show up.....mostly though, I think that they have all been reeled into the dogma of the anti-gun tirades and the media hype and statistical lies that they have been fed that we, as adults are incapable of protecting ourselves with out help and have to depend on the Man.
On top of that, no one really wants to acknowledge that we live in a pretty bad world and left to their own devises, BG's won't back off, and good guys can turn to the dark side over some stupid circumstance....And, we buy our homes in the best neighborhoods that we can afford.
Still, they're my friends, and we debate over politics, raising our kids, religion and fixing the social security system, and discovering great wines, food and Scotch and when to retire...Personally, I like friends with a wide ranging POV and even things I disagree with...... and seek them out.....it challenges them and it challenges me.....I am stronger in my belief systems being able to confidently debate my opinions and am better for it.
.......and in the meantime, I'll keep my weapons, keep safe and appreciate their friendship and the respect they have for my views!
........and they know deep in their stage 1, 2 or 3 paranoia, that when I tell them the adage " when seconds count, the police will be there in minutes" that the humor is a little dark, but I speak truth.
I want to get them some of those little orange (what color isn't taken yet) rubber braclets:
WWJWD?.........what would john wayne do? :lol:
