A question for this group--

[digonswine]

28. I still can't see-

how carrying a gun with no safety on or even available is safe. Any 12-year-old that has been through hunter's safety will tell you that. If you have a gun that has no safety-this is inherently unsafe. It just is(unless not loaded). I'm not sure how much more clear this needs to be. If you have a gun that requires a trigger-pull to fire-this is unsafe.
As a hunter, I constantly check that my safety is on. Always. It only goes off when I intend to shoot and kill a deer.
I would need to be convinced that carrying in that way is safe.
Carrying a gun that is ready to fire in that way is patently unsafe.
I consider carrying a gun around to be a great responsibility. A "this is how people do it"attitude is pretty lame.
Let me be clear--I don't trust people. I think many are foolish and can't be trusted to be responsible.
Any person who thinks they can carry a weapon around, without the mechanical prevention of their making a mistake, is someone I don't trust.
I also look askance at those who think they need to carry a weapon-at least in most communities.
Those that most see the need to carry are exactly the ones that should not be doing so.
Sorry for taking so long for the response!