acmariner99
Regular Member
During the stretch of nice warm weather a week or so ago a friend and i decided to do a GC day hike. (Bright Angel all the way down to the river and back in a day -- 15 miles round trip). I was OCing my S&W 686, my 'trail gun' in a blackhawk leather holster. I did get a few questions. A couple of river rafters noticed i was "packing" and asked why I had it. To which I replied, "If there is a problem down here, help isn't exactly close by. Its for protection." They nodded in agreement and then asked how you can get a firearm in Arizona. I smiled and obliged them. On the 7.5 mile hike back out, we were walking with a family from China or Japan. We passed each other a couple of times and near one of the rest houses one of them asked me: "Is that real gun?" "Yes it is," I replied. She then clutched her chest like she was having a heart attack, "it scary." To which I chuckled a little noticing it was in jest, "its ok, its only for my protection." She then let out an exaggerated sigh of relief, "oh, phew." I nodded to them and finished my trip. It's nice to know that even some from gun control happy countries can appreciate action for responsible self-defense.