cupo-

I don't have any conclusions. I have an opinion.

I have, own, fire and maintain guns of my own including a pistol. One time when I was young in the ways of the Hoh I pissed off a guide (crankster, no longer working in the lower 48)who threatened to shoot me and for a time after that I carried a gun in my boat.

Then after much consideration I decided that the only reason I was carrying the gun was because I was afraid of what might happen. I see that as a weakness....much in the same way I view your thoughts on meeting druggies on the trail....

...or any other unseen, unknown threat for that matter.

The odds of using your gun in self defense on the river bank are infinitessimal, in ten years of I have never heard of a self defense incident involving firearms on the river. I DO however recall reading at least ten instances where gun violence (which includes threats such as 'I'll shoot you') HAVE occurred.

What I am suggesting to you is that a truly honest reevaluation of the reason why you a carry a gun to the river will result in the answer 'because I am afraid of what might happen'.

IMO, that's a weakness.....not a fault, not something that results in you being a bad person, not something that would in any way reflect badly on what type of guy you are....just a weakness.

Similar to my own weaknesses for internet porn, young girls, scotch and Cuban cigars.