I got a nasty shock a few minutes ago on Facebook. A little Amish girl- 16-17, I would guess - stands with a rifle slung over her shoulder. Her caption: Daddy bought me a gun today! so happy!:)

It is a 44mag, she said, her father got it at a swap meet and she is going to use it to hunt deer.

Now, mind you, the Amish are a frugal people, active, outdoorsy, independent. They grow and hunt much of their food. So I'm not objecting to that.

I just think that five years ago there is no way she would have stood in that boastful, strutting way and in a public place. It seems to me that today's climate of 'stand your ground', 'open carry', "I can take it anywhere' has infected even the Amish.