What is it about a gun?

[Roadkill]

What is it about a gun that fascinates you? Lugers of course, but guns in general. Studying a firearm in its seperate components reveals nothing unique. Still looking at 1900ish technology with sequential improvements. There has not made the same advances like in automobiles
for the same time period.
Down south the best way to get everyone's attention is the comment "there's a snake". Everything stops, reactions are varied from "its gotta be a cottonmouth kill it" to "its a good one, leave it alone". But all attention is focused on it for a while. Regardless of the perspective, there is an immediate interest. Guns are the same way. The realization that "He's got a gun" even though unsaid brings out the same reaction. There is an immediate processing of the situation and potential threat. Law enforcement have guns. Military have guns. Hunters have guns. Must be a good snake. But when ordinary folks have a gun then there is an insecurity. Do we have firearms to foster this uncertainty? Are we the snake charmers who deal with a deadly instrument and voluntarily bring the cobra into our lives and to all who have connection with us thinking we can control the danger at the same time knowing it will destroy us if we are not diligent? Why do we have this fascination? Is it the power? The threat of using this power? Another person's realizing that I as a gunowner have real power over him since he does not have a gun? That I have a more powerful gun and more ammo therefore more power over someone who has fewer of both? I wonder if the Indian snake charmer has the same feeling as he walks through a crowded market with a deadly cobra in his basket as I do when seen getting out of my truck at Hardees after going hunting. There is an immediate reaction. Maybe what bothers me and the reason I banged this out is that I like the feeling.

rk