I suppose I'll reiterate: Bill was a police officer (experienced with guns and their appropriate use), we were picnicing at a remote location and it was after dark when we were approached. I would have to ask Mother, but I'm pretty sure the gun was locked in the glovebox of the car until dusk and the lantern had to come out...
I don't give a damn skippy if the two t-shirt guys were freaked out by the snick of the safety coming off... we were just fine enjoying our family-time and needed no further company. They had no business with us, as evidenced by them leaving shortly after the short discussion exchange.
hh

Maybe it varies elsewhere, but in the south carrying a gun is not usually a big deal. The few times I've interacted with police, they've never seemed to care that I was packing and have even declined to see my permit when offered. Most don't seem to be alarmed by it, most people just don't seem to care.

No way. Criminals are always identified by the little black mask, bag with a dollar symbol on it, and "sneaky walk".

I got the idea already HH, just as I said: enjoying the country whilst needing a gun is unthinkable overhere. Having said that, I wouldn't go out in deserted places at night with my family.

I guess that's because in the US more people carry guns than cell phones.

Are you for real? Have you even BEEN here?

Yep, I'm real and I've been there.

Ridiculous hyperbole is so much fun to throw around, isn't it? Here in 'Merica we also sometimes refer to it as bullshit.

Hmm, in my house we carry 3 cell phones between us - and no guns. I know lots of kids who carry phones, but no guns. I'm thinking whomever gave you that statistic was a bit skewed.

Then you obviously weren't paying attention. 2 cells, no heat.

that does give me an idea for a new ringtone...;)

I never saw a handgun in the first 25 years of my life. Since then I have only seen handguns in private homes, gun stores, and firing ranges. I have never seen a handgun in public and I have never seen a handgun used against anything but paper targets. I can't remember anyone I have ever known who has ever used a handgun against anything but paper targets.

I grew up surrounded by guns. My dad had always collected and carried, my mom carried for a while, they were kept for protection at my parents businesses, they were all over the house and barns at the farm for protection and hunting, the were all over our home - in cabinets, displayed, and often just generally laying around (my parents were not very 'responsible' gun owners now that I think about it...).

I'm not into guns myself, and never felt I needed one, although I always enjoyed hunting.

Where are you located? Am I correct in thinking that England has banned guns and only the criminal element has possession of said guns? Is the rest of Europe the same way or are they more lenient?
I don't know, and would like to know...

I am certain the gun was only brought out because of Bill's law enforcement experience (dealing with bad shit every day makes you much more aware of it) and because the park was miles away from civilization (homes, gas station, freeway) and we were there at night.

Could we get away with it today? Maybe. Maybe not. ...but I'm certain I wouldn't take my family to that same park, in that same manner, after dark, in today's world. Safety in numbers.
hh

...so I guess out of the 17,789,864 people in the state of Florida there were less than 289,644 cell phone users in 2004?

You watch too many movies/too much television.

I've never seen a gun brandished in public.
I've never seen anyone shot in public.
I've never seen a shot fired outside of a firing range/hunting area.

Hippikos is completely correct. In the US, the number of guns carried by people far exceeds the number of guns carried by cell phones.

Lighten up, people. You owe him and apology.