Rick, it was Bordertown. And, I met many people in New England who had never owned a gun and had no desire to. Remember my dad was grew up in the old West on a ranch homsteaded by his grandparents, one of whom was a U.S. Deputy Marshall and had to kill several in his career in self-defense or protection of someone else's life. It was the nature of the settling; NOT something I am particularly proud of, esp, the native american part of me, even though it is just a smidgen.

A gun, in those days, was just part of the rancher's gear, for putting an animal out of its broken-leg misery or protecting oneself, etc. I would bet that at one time, when grocery stores were not readily available, that Mounties did carry some kind of weapon for hunting, another thing I abhor, but do recognise that back then it was part of living.

I feel I've evolved and do not feel the need to live in fear with a gun readily available; never did actually. Now, a can spray paint and we can talk!*smile* It might sound trite, but growing up in the West, guns were just part of the culture. I do not believe our culture, now, is such that they should be a part of it anymore.

Whew! No easy answers! Maybe I'll have to move to Scotland after all.

kat, pacifically