[jyl]

I hesitated to post this but oh well.

Events of late, local and not, have many people I know feeling more apprehensive. I'm not talking about the current market correction or goings-on in Washington DC. I'm talking about outright violence.

It seems that every couple weeks there is another mass shooting, some get a lot of attention (11 shot dead in the PA synagogue) and others barely a mention (just today, McDonalds' shooting, Riverside shooting, etc).

Bomb attempts are in the news, and while the Florida guy was targeting specific people, we know the domestic terrorism tradition actually leans more toward mass attacks via bombs in public places.

Locally here in Portland, we regularly have fighting all over downtown in what are ostensibly protests but have become rolling riots. My city has become a focus for flag-festooned, gun-carrying right-wing extremist organizations like "Patriot Prayer" and "Proud Boys", and our local left-wing extremist groups have been all too eager to do battle amid the CS gas and riot cordons.

On a more pedestrian note, reports of knife attacks and shootings are up, and some involve random or misidentified victims.

Like presumably most of us, my daily life is usually remote from such events. But lately the distance is shrinking. Two men had their throats cut by an attacker on the light rail train at the station that I use. The streets around my office are regularly shut down by riot police. Police are now guarding our local synagogues where many of my friends worship.

I haven't carried a weapon for a long time. My CCW goes unused, unless I'm going to be in a sketchy place late at night, which I avoid being. But on Saturday, as we were going out, I just had a weird feeling so I buckled on the holster under my tuxedo (Halloween outfit). And spent the rest of the evening wondering, why am I wearing this "spoon"? Why do I feel like I need to be? And, since I'm basically a gear-head, am I wearing the right cutlery?

Anyway, no real point to this post. Just sharing what's on my mind. And if anyone wants to trade a S&W 442 + $ for a G26 . . .