A gaggle of gun-totin’ self-defenders gathered at a Starbuck’s in Sussex yesterday to pick up some java before demonstrating at the headquarters of the State Patrol. Starbucks corporate policy allows people to pack heat in their stores if state law allows it.

I love the quote from Krysta Sutterfield, one of the protesters, who generalized sweepingly, “If people see a gun, they immediately think ‘criminal,’ but criminals don’t wear their guns in holsters.”

What, seriously? They never holster their guns? So they just carry their guns around all the time in their hands, then? Isn’t that sort of inconvenient? Actually, Krysta, I’m pretty sure you’re wrong. I haven’t googled it yet, but I’ll bet there is plenty of evidence to prove that criminals use holsters at least occasionally.

And when I see people walking around with holstered guns, the first thing I think is not, “criminal.” The first thing I think is, “Wow, paranoid!” It’s one thing to keep a gun in your home for self-defense. I can almost get behind that. I think it’s dangerous, but it’s your home and if having guns in it will make you happy, then go for it, so long as you keep them there and you don’t discharge them when I’m around.

But to feel so afraid for your personal safely when you go out to Starbucks for a latte that you resort to not only packing a pistol in public (I love alliteration) but that you also have to have it hanging out there on your hip for all to see, that’s just sad. Sad and paranoid.

IN THE COMMENTS: Pete added, “Really? Paranoid. When I see a gun enthusiast, paranoia is not what I think about. I think about somebody who is just itchin’ to shoot somebody legally. Go ahead … make my day.”