I can't imagine what it must be like going through life being afraid of everything all the time and also having a fantasy in which you get to kill someone.
It's not fear. The guy in the picture walks around with guns because he wants to, not because he's scared. He wants to be challenged. He wants to be able to pull out his gun and shoot someone.
These people are not "scared" as much as they want to be feared.
I'm surrounded by it in Texas and you're 100% correct. These guys fetishize their guns and the idea of killing people. You'll note after being around a 2A nut that they aren't discussing things that worry them. Most of the language that you hear is along the lines of "I wish they would" or "I'd pop a motherfucker for trying that".
They are genuinely looking for an excuse to legally murder someone and you should not feel safe around them.
Someone could just pull this guy’s own back-gun and plug him at the grocery store. Looks like he could barely reach it without cramping up his old man arms. Though I assume he has to remove it before sitting in his truck all day.
You realize that people can lie to themselves and others and often rationalize reasons for their actions that are not the real reasons for their actions right?
I think there's an element of fear, too. The ones I've heard from are absolutely certain that they WILL be attacked. Someone WILL invade their home, and they will have to defend themselves. It's not "if", it's "when".
I assume these are the people that shoot someone who pulled into the wrong driveway by accident.
They want to be feared because they live in fear themselves. That's why these assholes keep murdering people for pulling into their driveway by mistake. They're terrified all the time. Conservative media has made them fear everything and they think the only answer is to show that they're tougher than everyone else.
I've noticed recently a lot of conservative 2A people using the phrase "be ready to flip the switch" a lot recently. Usually it's in the context of flipping the switch to killing people. And it always seems to be in a domestic context--they aren't talking about enlisting in a foreign war.
"Specifically, the research shows that people with conservative tendencies have a larger amygdala and a smaller anterior cingulate than other people. The amygdala -- typically thought of as the "primitive brain" -- is responsible for reflexive impulses, like fear. The anterior cingulate is thought to be responsible for courage and optimism. This one-two punch could be responsible for many of the anecdotal claims that conservatives "think differently" from others."
Not wrong, but the foundation for that is also form of "fear", the wish to be feared stems from the inner fear of looking weak and vulnerable. This is not a person who's at ease with himself or of the path he's chosen. He's hurting, a lot. Even knowing all this, it's still hard to feel empathy because of the way he chooses to deal with his psychological issues.
My brother has a neighbor who regularly yells crazy rants at the neighbors on his lawn while holding his gun in the air. The cops have been called and claim they can do nothing. This would be in Atlanta, so I'm not exactly shocked...
Same here. Knew a guy who conceal carried with a license for like 4 years before I ever found out. People who truly do it for defense rarely want people to know they have it.
LiberalGunNut™ here! I'm more than a little tired of liberals calling us "afraid". I have a Colt .45 on my desk at all times and a RIA .45 on my headboard. Not the slightest bit scared, or even mildly worried. But I've had some crazy shit come in my front door, more than once. Ever suffered a home invasion? How about by a bear? (Yes, both really happened, and more.) I also carry in the woods and on the water. Given that I'm legal, why not?
I avoid places where I might be scared, especially when armed. Who risks 20-to-life in a concrete and steel box if your case goes pear shaped?!
No one says, "Look at that fool with his kitchen fire extinguisher! LOL, bet he even checks it every 6-months and logs it. What a wuss!" (I have 2 other extinguishers as well, at camp and in my truck.)
This guy? Hell I know. Bet this, he's one of those who has no understanding of self-defense law. Justified shooting is a far narrower line than most think, regardless of one's attitude towards guns.
In any case, open carry people are plain stupid. The photographer already has the drop on him. All I see are 3 free guns.
Honestly, Your last two sentences are what I noticed.
Someone could easily sneak behind, or use another forward distraction to grab that butt gun while that guy's hands are both occupied carrying other things.
He doesn't look prepared at all to actually protect anything. Given his size, he should put all the guns, his cookie (or whatever he bought), and his keys in a bag so he has at least one hand free to defend himself. He could do more damage hulk smashing than trying to hit something with a tiny projectile.
The way you say "get to kill someone" instead of "you're forced to kill someone to protect yourself and other innocent lives" really ties up this comment well. It is exactly the mindset of the open carry crowd.