My formative years in shooting were in the late 1980's and what occurs to me often is how much differently I think because of maturity and changing times.
That doesn't really get my point across -- what I mean to say is that when I grew up, ONLY cops (or bad guys, I suppose) carried guns. Getting a license to carry was not only a mystery, it was not only very hard to get, it was very rare and it was my understanding (in my state) that you needed to PROVE a quality and specific reason for "needing" it and whether or not you got one had as much to do with the mood or character of the issuing agency head or person that happened to make the decision or have the pen that signed off on it. This was Michigan, circa 1988. And how TRUE all of that is... I have no idea, but that was the feeling and typical thought process that I was aware of at the time.
It was MANY years later after Florida began setting the precedent that it even occurred to me that a regular, law-abiding private citizen would be able to get such a license with no "reason" beyond wanting it or having the right to do it.
And yet, I still had much maturity in front of me -- because it didn't seem like something I had any desire to do at the time. Even still, I investigated the legislation here in Ohio and to put it bluntly... it was train-wreck AWFUL as it was first written. It was like a heavy, locked door had been locked since day one and at the first hint, it opened a crack and we got ONLY our finger in that crack. Far, far less then ideal. Awful, to be honest, having your FINGER jammed in the door keeping it open... but at least it was open. If you know what I mean.
And it has gotten far, far better, by leaps and bounds because of the diligent work by a number of good people who I am extremely happy to support.
Who is old enough to remember when (if you had one) the only discussions about which CCW was finish on a J frame and officer or commander.
This was all done, mind you, over a meal with a good friend.
Not me. Not old enough. But I might argue that it's only one's perception that those times were "simpler." Today is wildly different to be sure, but to just call the old days "simpler" isn't accurate, in my opinion. I could make a spirited argument to support that stance... but clearly, I've thread-drifted enough in one post.