By Doug Hagmann
Over the course of three hours [at a gun show], I spoke with a total of fourteen men (attendees) and two vendors. I deliberately kept the conversations casual and the questions general. My primary questions involved asking the attendees why they were attending, and if they were going to (or already had) purchased anything. I posed my questions informally, as just another person at the event.
Every person I spoke to told me they were there to buy a gun, another gun, and/or look for bargains for ammunition. With the exception of one man, every person I spoke with said they were there to look at or buy weapons and/or ammunition for self-defense. The sole exception was not really an exception at all, as he stated that he already had all he needed for self defense and was there to purchase a more comfortable holster for concealed carry purposes.
I can best describe the mood of the people I spoke with was somber, although that might not be the best adjective to use. Pensive, perhaps, with a “somber” overlay, as if they were just leaving a funeral home after paying their respects to someone they once knew. In unrelated conversations, three of the men, each appearing to be on the trailing edge of their fifth decade of life, stated that they could feel that “something’s coming,” although did not elaborate on what they felt that “something” might be.
It is here that I stress the importance that none of the people I spoke with seemed to relish the thought of meeting that “something” head-on. None were looking forward to doing battle, and even exhibited a reluctance – even a sadness – about having to worry about being prepared. At one point, I recall thinking that I’ve seen happier people at the DMV. There was no talk of specific politics, political parties or policy, the upcoming elections, and not the least bit of discussion about race or national origins. The “something” they were feeling seemed much bigger than that, and I felt it as well. There was something very ominous in the air, and it was almost tangible.
