What we need to realize is that about half the population of the United States is scared to death at all times. These people wake up in the morning and go to bed each night thinking someone is after them and between morning and night they think the same thing over and over.

So a good number of them get a concealed carry permit and pack heat all the time. And we don't know if the person standing next to us at the checkout is armed or not. Statistics show no increase or decrease in gun-toting crimes in Arkansas since the concealed carry permits were first issued. So what we can glean from that is that concealed carry permits do not deter crime, nor do they contribute to it....it's a draw. Except the fraidy cat portion of our citizenry can enjoy a day at the park with less fear some monster out of Dirty Harry can attack them and get away with it.

These people are gun nuts...not because they own guns...I own guns...but because of their constant fear of attack pushes them to get a carry permit. And if you dig deeper this same type of person so often assumes non-whites and the poor are ready to pounce any moment their head is turned. It must be terrible to go through life this way. As Shakespeare wrote, “A coward dies a thousand deaths, a hero only one.”

At this ugly moment in time so often the fraidy cats love Jesus and proclaim he's protecting their every move, yet feel the need to back Big J up with a hidden weapon. Kinda ironic, don't you think. They're also fairly big fans of torture. I assume someone fearing an attack at any moment finds it easy to believe X number of humans deserve a good torturing. It keeps us safe, ya know. What next? Concealed waterboarding equipment?

Since I never think of being in personal danger, I find it very hard to understand the mind of any non-law enforcement person who feels the need to strap one on before they shop at Harp's. I guess I just don't have the fraidy cat brain. And for that I'm thankful.

All this makes me think of my favorite passage from A Good Man is Hard to Find. Maybe the gun nuts are here to perform a service for us all. Ben Geren might turn into a place of salvation instead of silly recreation.

"She would of been a good woman," The Misfit said, "if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life." "Some fun!" Bobby Lee said. "Shut up, Bobby Lee" The Misfit said. "It's no real pleasure in life."