boat* preserve* speak* resist* oil* fire* drive* fly* shoot* matter* close* right*
Nope! We weren’t going on a boat again. The kids got seasick the last time and learned nothing more than how to vomit over the railing without falling in.
We hadn’t saved enough money to fly anywhere so trapsing the Nature’s Wonders Club of 8-year-olds through our own local natural wonders seemed the best decision. One of the parents offered to drive us to the base of the trail leading to our famous woodland peak which was the tallest in our state.
I would carry a concealed handgun which I’d thoroughly oiled and loaded in private. It was likely I wouldn’t need to shoot it but having it was the wisest thing to do. Some of the parents may have objected but speaking to them about the value of guns in the wild was out of the question. Naive and ignorant of many topics concerning Nature and pro-active safety, discussing my decision would have complicated the matter and brought political resistance into play. Bears and ‘bad guys’ aren’t usually political, but they are, on occasion, more dangerous than those who are.
Now we are at a crime scene! Lights, rescue crews, and State Police surround my huddled, yet safe, group of 6. Professionals worked to preserve the drug evidence and are done with the questioning. We’d had a great time telling ghost stories and roasting marshmallows by the overnight fire, but on our way back in the morning, two men surprised us on the trail. They were most certainly drug smugglers who didn’t want any witnesses. My handgun saved us from certain death by wounding one and detaining the other. The kids had gotten more than a Nature training but a real-life lesson about not allowing strangers to get too close and that carrying a gun can be the right choice. Not one parent has complained about me carrying a gun since.
https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/2023/01/01/wordle-585/
Sillyfrog's Blog 
I grew up in a country where it’s super hard to get a gun, and so, I think that affects my perception of owning them. I understand where you’re coming from though. When it’s you (in this case the narrator), your family and friends, or them (the drug dealers), it’s a terrifying choice. And yes, the bears would make me rethink things too.
Thanks. Guns are better than calling for help in almost every case. Just showing a gun avoids deadly outcomes most often. Those statistics are never gathered. When it comes to protecting my family, the best method is what I want. Too bad your country doesn’t trust its people… perhaps the powerful there just don’t want to fear (or feel compelled to listen to) them. 😉