I joined a group of about 25 people on a bus tour from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Half of us were American and half Israeli (from Tel Aviv). Within one hour I heard the following:
- from an American woman: “I don’t feel comfortable seeing so many people with guns.” (Walking by soldiers carrying rifles around Jerusalem.)
- from an Israeli woman: “There really should be someone on our bus with a gun if we’re going anywhere near Jerusalem.”
There are really two Americas on this one. I think people from the south and southwest tend to be a little more comfortable around guns than East and West-coasters.
I don’t know, I’m from the west coast and now live in Texas, carry a gun every day, and I’d be uncomfortable seeing _soldiers_ with rifles on the streets around me. I’m perfectly fine seeing _ordinary people_ with rifles, though (which does happen here in Texas).
I think the most liberal Americans are the ones most likely to travel significantly abroad (i.e. all the way to the Middle East instead of visiting Canada or the Caribbean). She is probably just more liberal than most. I think that an average American would understand the justification for one or more armed persons in this situation. Of course, you would want the person to be trustworthy and competent. In the end, Clint Eastwood’s idea of gun control probably applies the closest: “I have a very strict gun control policy: if there’s a gun around, I want to be in control of it.” If you have the gun, then at least you know the trustworthy and competent person is the one that is armed.
Making any judgement about the political beliefs of someone because they are uncomfortable with seeing a bunch of guns everywhere being carried by total strangers in a foreign country makes no sense.
Think about it: Who would be comfortable in that kind of situation? Not even the most gun-loving person in the world would be comfortable in the middle of one of the most tense regions.
Why does one need to carry a gun everyday in Texas? Is it that bad there?
I asked a 60s acquaintance of an acquaintance, who lives in Texas, and was showing pictures of herself with grandkids with a impressive strap-on holster with a gun (legal to carry there), about the latter’s uses.
“It sends out a signal to bad guys that I won’t be an easy target,” she said.
“Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to reach for that gun in defense?”
“No, but I’ve seen plenty of others where a gun could act as a deterrent” (paraphrasing from memory).
“Were you ever stopped/ asked by the police about the permit?”
“It happens – I always carry 2 copies of it on me, plus one more in the car, which also displays a Texan NRA chapter’s sticker.”
“Were theirs offensive challenges, with guns preventively drawn out?”
“No, they know me, and I don’t look like a terrorist. Most of my neighbors carry, too.”
There you have it. A gun as peacemaker, the lowercase version.