No One Ever Asks Why I Carry a Gun
Paul Bonneau at The Libertarian Enterprise - Why, oh why, did I ever leave Wyoming?
Actually, carrying in Wyoming is almost unneeded, because so little crime is there (gee, I wonder why--it couldn't be because Wyoming has the highest per capita gun ownership, or something along those lines, could it?) But one still needs a gun now and then. I did just have to put a goat out of its misery, and old lame horses need shooting too. Some fella I know shoots deer off his back porch with his pistol, during hunting season of course (heaven forbid we offend the hunting bureaucrats). Got to keep that family fed. I should upgrade to my Smith 629 (.44 Magnum) for all those damn bears, though. Had a grizzly on the back porch once.
The main reason though, is tourists, who abound in the Cody area where I live. When tourists see ordinary folks walking around with guns, there are two possible mental reactions. If a gun lover, it is "Wyoming looks like a good place to live!" If a gun hater, it is "I could never live here!" This suits me fine.
Maybe I'm not such a good ambassador; I admit it. People don't seem to mind though, so I guess I won't either. Maybe it's more important to be an ambassador where cops stop anyone (other than other cops) for carrying; but that's not Wyoming. It's not like it never ever happens, but those new hires from out of state usually get sorted out pretty quickly.
By the way, there are no permits for open carry. There is no law at all. Freedom--it does happen now and then. Quite a rush.