Got a gun, fact I got two
That's ok man, 'cause I love God
Glorified version of a pellet gun
Feels so manly when armed
Double think, dumb is strength
Never shot at a living thing
Glorified version of a pellet gun
Feels so manly when armed
***
This post isn't 100% an excuse to post a fantastic Pearl Jam song, but I couldn't resist the opportunity.
This past week, I go visit the optometrist. This is the first time I had actually set foot outside of my home in several weeks. It's dangerous out there, what with a killer virus and killer human beings running around, you know? I am at the counter settling up, and preparing to leave - masked of course - and a gentleman approaches with a gun in a holster on his hip.
I live in Ohio. The law in Ohio says that it is perfectly ok to carry a gun that you legally possess openly in public. I know this. This knowledge does not prevent me from feeling anxious and glancing around for all of the available exits. How do I know that this person will not draw the weapon and start shooting at every moving thing he sees? I don't have any way to know that.
I don't want to stare at this person. He is on the phone just outside of the doors. (Due to safe distancing practices, they do not open the doors unless you are a customer, you have an appointment, and you have called to tell them you have arrived.) The doors are not opening, so he is not yet on the phone with the establishment. I take a second glance at his direction, and right next to his gun - on his belt - I notice an oval badge, golden in color, inset in blue. This appears to be a law enforcement officer. He isn't in uniform. Neither one of these facts make me feel any more safe. Law enforcement officers in my home state of Ohio have a well documented tradition of killing people who look like me without any valid reason to do so.
Eventually, he is granted entry to the office, and heads over to the waiting area behind me to have a seat. I try to stay calm. I keep my hands out of my pockets, you know, just in case he gets ideas. I do not turn behind me to look at him. I silently urge the very nice employee in front of me to finish with the paperwork so I can exit as quickly as possible.
You know how this ends. Nothing happened. I went about my day. It would appear that the only effect is to my mental health and general sense of well-being.