"...in this modern day and age?"

By Bob Harsanje

“Are you kidding ?!?” my longtime business acquaintance inquired mid-bite during lunch. His incredulous look spoke volumes.

“No, I’m not kidding,” I matter-of-factly replied. “What would make you think I’m kidding?

He laid his fork on the plate and cleared his throat. “Well,” he measured carefully, “you just don’t seem like the type.”

“The type?” I queried.

“Well, uh, you know. You’ve always struck me as a real easy-going, friendly, very moral, ‘big-teddy-bear’ kind of guy. Sort of a ‘Clark Kent.’”

“Yeah, I know you’ve always been a hunter,” he continued, “but you just don’t strike me as the type of guy that would want to carry a handgun.”

“And just what ‘type’ of guy do you visualize?” I quizzed.

“Well, you know…when I think of someone carrying a handgun, I think of sort of a, well, ‘redneck,’ ‘back hills’ type of person who isn’t all that educated and kind of lives on the fringe of society. I mean, come on, in this modern day and age, why would anyone want to carry a handgun if they didn’t have some sort of ‘attitude’ and would just be looking for the opportunity to use it. You know, in a vigilante sort of way.”

“Let me ask you a question. Just exactly how did you come up with that image, that stereotype? Have you thought about that?” I asked calmly.