Wstar425
Regular Member
Looks like winter might be over here, and with that quite a bit more open carry outside. I live near a walking/biking trail that goes by an ice cream shoppe and I almost daily walk my dog past there. On the lake, scenic area, lots of people sometimes, and often lots of children.
Generally, the dog will get some attention, and once in a while someone will mention I'm armed. North of this area is woods, but meeting any dangerous wildlife would be a fairly remote possibility. Wolves, black bears, maybe a moose could be possible, but unlikely.
So, when people ask me why I carry a gun, I generally just say that "I believe I am responsible for my own safety." Sometimes it goes to more than that, sometimes not. I would say I talk to 10-20 people a week in that area, and maybe 2-5 will include something about a firearm. Most people seem to not notice, or don't care. We have a lot of tourist from Illinois up here, and they seem to be interested and positive, as well as more likely to start a conversation. I generally say hi if we make eye contact, but keep walking. I'm happy to stand and talk if someone has questions, but I don't initiate a conversation and I NEVER bring up the firearm myself.
Anyway, once in a while I will get someone who is say 4-10 years old ask me why I have a gun, and my standard answer doesn't really seem adequate to me for a younger person. Not bad or wrong, but maybe too mature of an answer? Any thoughts or ideas on a better way to answer this? Most times the parents are close by, but I've actually had quite a few kids come up to me and ask about petting the dog while the parents were some distance off. Then, they noticed the firearm later, I think.
Generally, the dog will get some attention, and once in a while someone will mention I'm armed. North of this area is woods, but meeting any dangerous wildlife would be a fairly remote possibility. Wolves, black bears, maybe a moose could be possible, but unlikely.
So, when people ask me why I carry a gun, I generally just say that "I believe I am responsible for my own safety." Sometimes it goes to more than that, sometimes not. I would say I talk to 10-20 people a week in that area, and maybe 2-5 will include something about a firearm. Most people seem to not notice, or don't care. We have a lot of tourist from Illinois up here, and they seem to be interested and positive, as well as more likely to start a conversation. I generally say hi if we make eye contact, but keep walking. I'm happy to stand and talk if someone has questions, but I don't initiate a conversation and I NEVER bring up the firearm myself.
Anyway, once in a while I will get someone who is say 4-10 years old ask me why I have a gun, and my standard answer doesn't really seem adequate to me for a younger person. Not bad or wrong, but maybe too mature of an answer? Any thoughts or ideas on a better way to answer this? Most times the parents are close by, but I've actually had quite a few kids come up to me and ask about petting the dog while the parents were some distance off. Then, they noticed the firearm later, I think.