I too was one of the few that got to read it. I would also add my name to the list of people that would like to see it brought back. I know I am not on your good list but I still enjoy a good read and this was one.
Though out my life there have been several hobbies that I have tried over the years. From the old paper and dice RPG days to Motorcycles and Paintball. I have been called a great many names from Big scary guy that no one wanted to get to know to Dungeons and Dragons playing dork(If you can believe that) and I am sure several names that will not be mentioned here. Every niche is going to have the fair share of hard core types. The gun niche is no different. You can’t label every one with the same label because everyone is different in their own ways. We all offered you advice that you asked for and I think it was the way you received it that set some people off. I also noticed that you seem to over look some things that might have helped. In the How to conceal big guns post you mentioned that you didn’t know what I looked like however on the previous page I posted a image of what I do look like. There wear some including myself that still tried to give suggestions even after you so sternly told everyone that you where not going to change in any way.
What you fail to realize is that you have already changed because you carry a gun. You are not the same person that you where before you made the investment to become a gun owner. Just like you were not the same person you were before you got into Cycling. All actions shape the person you are to become. You cannot go back or unlearn what you have learned. It’s that part of you that makes you, YOU. So I say post it again and let what you learned be passed on to others. You might think that only bad can come from it but is you don’t repost it you will never know the good that is also there as well. You also mention in the deleted post that you got into guns from watching the possibilities you see on Television and movies and such. I really hope that is as close as you ever have to come too real in your face violence. I have stared down the barrel of a gun and came within inches of not being able to post here tonight. I really don’t want to go into that in this post but I hope no one has to ever go through that.
If there was one type of clothing then everyone would look the same, if there was one type of car we would all be driving the same thing, if there was one type of person then life would be very boring but we wouldn’t know it. It is what it is. You might think that you are not a CCW but you are. I too am a CCW However that is not all we are. I am a Texan, a Biker, an IDPA shooter, a Network Analyst, a Gamer, a voter, a loving husband, a caring father, a Sci-fi nut, a movie goer ,a paint ball player, and the list could go on. But most of all I am an American that allows me to be all these things.
From what I can tell about you is that you are a well spoken, gun carrying, cyclist that knows what he wants that seems to get rattled easy. So please place the post back up there and let it do some good for others to see and don’t worry about what people say. If it gets to bad then the mods can handle it. From what I have seen they are pretty good about that.