This will end well...

    This will end well...

TOWN OF ONALASKA, Wis. (AP) ―A picnic open to the public at a park in La Crosse County will offer free brats and hamburgers and an invitation to bring your gun.

[...]

[Hubert] Hoffman says the picnic is open to everyone, including children and those who don't want to bring a gun.

The gun rights advocate says it's a way to let the public know that openly carrying a firearm isn't dangerous or risky.

(full story)

    Now, I really don't mind people who own guns.  In fact, the way I see it, it's their right, and I'm fine with that.  What I don't get is this strange urge people have to actually go all cowboy and walk around with a gun on their belts when they really don't need them.

    I'm sure Hubert here hasn't really put too much thought into this, but openly carrying a firearm at a picnic may not be dangerous or risky, but let's say Hubert [or a gun-toting acolyte] is stumbling home drunk one night with his trusty shootin' irons on his belt, and a group of his most frightening stereotypes is walking toward him. 

    Now, I know this is a bit fallacious since I'm kind of assuming a lot here, but in that scenario, I think there's a lot of risk.  This group could overtake Hubert, swipe his gun, and, if they don't know how to use it, kill themselves or each other.  Or, if they do know how to use it, they could use it to commit a robbery.

    Or, Hubert could be so impaired to the point of letting his fear get to him, and he could gun down a group of perfectly innocent human beings.

    Or, he could also blow away a group of people intent on mugging him.  

    So, it's not so much about the gun owner being responsible, it's about assuming the gun owner is responsible and capable of assessing whatever situation his or her gun-toting self may find out there in the big, uncontrollable, chaotic society. 

    Personally, I think people watch too many movies.

-DP