I get coffee from the same place pretty much each morning. Another regular customer is obviously a civilian and wears a pistol on his belt. Here I would not say that it is the norm.. but it is not terribly unusual and no one cares that much. I have lived in various other areas of the country and was considering this morning how very different some of them are. For example, the same guy wandering around NYC buying coffee with a pistol would draw a lot of attention and he would be subject to arrest. Even absent any other behavioral issues, the simple possession and display of the firearm would be an issue.
Conversely open container laws are a HUGE deal here. It has been my experience in other regions that though perhaps technically illegal unless the person drinking is being otherwise disruptive no one really cares all that much.
So I found it odd. Deadly weapon on the belt = no big deal. Beer at a park = huge crisis. Any odd regional social norms where anyone else lives? Something that is okay where you are but would be completely unacceptable a few hundred miles away?
Conversely open container laws are a HUGE deal here. It has been my experience in other regions that though perhaps technically illegal unless the person drinking is being otherwise disruptive no one really cares all that much.
So I found it odd. Deadly weapon on the belt = no big deal. Beer at a park = huge crisis. Any odd regional social norms where anyone else lives? Something that is okay where you are but would be completely unacceptable a few hundred miles away?