I don't believe I am paranoid.
I believe I am experienced. That is why I explored carrying a gun.
Back in the 80's while I was in the police academy, on break I drove to Washington D.C. to see the nations capital.
I knew they had some of the strictest gun laws in the country and that I probably should not even have a gun in my vehicle. But I had my smith and Wesson 38 policemen's special in a box with the bullets out of it.
We were driving over the Potomac river. My wife was videotaping the river. The traffic slowed down.. In those days video cameras were big and bulky maybe a foot and a half long by 8 inches. They were very visible.
The traffic slowed down because 2 fellows were out of their vehicles fighting and one of the fellows had a gun in the other fellows face.
As we passed my wife was videotaping, not the 2 guys in the altercation but the Potomac river.
The next thing I know the fellow with the gun was chasing me.
He chassed me all over Washington D.C. I would loose him and he would be at the next intersection.
I would loose him and he would catch me again.
It was cat and mouse. No cell phones in those days, no way to call for help.
I lost him again.
I was scared for my life. I told my wife to take the gun out of the glove box, put the bullets in it and hand it too me.
I was not going to shoot first but I was going to have my gun out and visible if he started waving his at me. And if he shot at me I was going to shoot back.
Once I got the gun out and loaded we pulled up in front of the Smithsonian and went in and hid.
I told the police once I got in the Smithsonian. You all know what they did for me.
Nothing.
But when I came out of the Smithsonian, I had a parking ticket on my vehicle.
That is one reason. I want to carry a gun while exploring.
The most dangerous animal. Humans.
We always used to say in police work you don't take a knife or a bat or pepper spray or even a tazzer to a gun fight.