Posted on 11/30/2014 12:58:55 PM PST by marktwain
Earlier this week, I climbed a mountain. It is a locally popular way for people to get some exercise and a nice view. As usual, I was openly carrying a Glock 17. I carry primarily for political purposes, so I wore a "Gun Guy" hat given to me by Dan Baum at the Shot Show a couple of years ago. Another reason is that it can get windy on the mountain, and I have had broader brimmed hats blown off.
As I arrived at the top, a pair of young ladies asked me to take their picture, to commemorate their climb, and likely spread the event about on facebook, twitter, and other social media. I had just received a phone call, so I excused myself to my brother on the other end, and attended to the ladies needs.
I took their picture with their phone, and told them that I was a blogger who wrote about guns. The immediate response was noteworthy: Awesome! and Cool! Then one said that the first time she had shot a gun was in Arizona, but that she was from Pennsylvania. It is a little known fact that Yuma's population triples in the wintertime with winter visitors and tourists.
I mentioned that Pennsylvania had fairly decent gun laws as well; open carry without any license and an easy to obtain concealed carry permit, for example. She said well, yes, but it just does not compare to Arizona.
I gave the beaming young women copies of my card, with which they seemed well pleased; bid them goodbye, and started down the mountain. Now, of course, I wish that I had taken their picture with *my* camera!
It says a great deal about the growth of the gun culture, when pretty young ladies, out to obtain some exercise, fresh air, and nice views, see an older gun blogger as a positive and noteworthy figure.
Perhaps the ladies were merely being polite, but their enthusiasm was contagious. They did not appear to be competitive shooters, but they were enthusiastic about the idea of shooting, and of having the right to do so.
I suspect that we will attract more of them to Arizona, and grow more in Pennsylvania. It seems to be happening. Women are the fastest growing group of competitive shooters and concealed carry permit holders.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch
They are losing.
I’ve hiked in AZ, on more or less level areas and some of their mountains. I hope he had a pack with water in it just not shown in the pic. If he did that without water he’s both tougher and crazier than me - and that’s saying something! (well, the crazier part anyway)
If you’d told them you are also a class of ‘98 FReeper, they would have followed you home!
Bump.
The temperatures are moderate in winter, and the trail is an access road to the antenna farm on top of the mountain.
I was surprised at how positive they were...
Looks like I-8 running across the middle of the photo.
The view is from telegraph pass a nice 4 mile round trip in the cooler temps of winter not much water is needed. I have done the trip with many times with just half a litter and have had some left.
Cool!
I’ve OC’ed while hiking in AZ, never had a problem.
I’ve even open carried while hiking barefoot (the fine red dirt around Sedona feels really nice).
Good eye. You are correct.
This lady loves her glock 17, Ruger P95, Springfield xds, mini 14, Saiga AK-47..Best shooting area just east of Gold Canyon. Nice hiking at Peralta Trail on up to Freemont Saddle.
Not for liberal minds...
I just wish shooters wouldn't leave so much trash there. At some point somebody will close it off because of that.
Not recommended. I did that as a kid. I got my toe stuck with a cholla cactus needle and it became infected. I also stepped on a scorpion and got stung.
Hiking boots are your friend.
I know, so sad about that. We spent a long time there picking up spent shells, trash, left over shooting targets.
Whuuuuuuut ?
Class of 98 gets all the babes.
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