GA> How about some possibly relevent information -- can you dig up info on
 GA> concealed-carry vs open-carry?
 
I'm not sure what you're looking for.  It stands to reason that the goblins
are more off-balance when they don't no WHO is and is not prepared to resist
them.  My experience, and nearly everyone else's, has been that open carry 
an
also attract unwanted attention in some circumstances.
 >> "An armed society is a polite society." - Robert Anson Heinlein
 
 >  SS> I prefer the politeness of respect, not the politeness of fear.
 
 > If someone is unsure of who is or is not carrying, perhaps they'll
 > show the proper respect to EVERYONE they have dealings with.
 GA> Are you saying that I should cower all the time to show proper
 GA> respect? 
 GA> I hope not. I hope I just misunderstood what you wrote. Let me wax
 GA> verbose on my worry in the interest of clarity:
 GA> I prefer to be polite out of respect.
 GA> If I'm unsure if someone is carrying, then any "politeness" that I
 GA> exhibit is _not_ do to respect, it's due to FEAR.  I am under strong
 GA> motivation (for the best of reasons -- my LIFE!) not to offend others,
 GA> by deed, presence, or failure to cower appropriately.
 GA> I don't look at it from the point of view that *I* am the one
 GA> carrying, and that everyone should damn well show me a little respect;
 GA> but rather, that I'm the unarmed guy who isn't showing sufficient
 GA> respect (it's sufficient to me, but not necessarily to others).
 GA> It's immoral to base your actions on fear. You do what is right
 GA> because it is right, or you don't.
Your dichotomy between respect and fear is unnecessary.  People needn't 
"cower" to be polite to me, but there are idiots around who will treat me
differently if they think they can or can't get away with it.  Yes, they
are therefore immoral, but life is easier if they behave themselves whether
for reasons of fear or of honor or of respect.  Your notion of respect is a
more complex state than simple fear, but the differences are entirely 
nternal
and therefore not greatly relevant to the rest of us as long as you act
appropriately.  If my motivation is to be honorable, that shouldn't much
matter to you, either, as long as I am polite.
... Having a big ego means you don't have self-confidence.
--- FMail 1.22
---------------