GUNFIRE IN THE CITY

Why does it sound so different.

On our lawn cutting adventures last year, Hive account@bluerthangreen and I wound up a lot of places. Some of those places were rural while others were urban. While we may have lived in some major cities before, these days we have both chosen to live out in the middle of nowhere. Things are a little different in the middle of nowhere when compared to the city.

GUNFIRE

Gunfire can be heard anywhere within earshot of a gun, and the sound can carry. I've heard it in various places growing up, and hear it often enough now. These days though, it doesn't really phase me. If I hear some shots, it's usually someone up to something, but not exactly something evil, or even specifically dangerous. If you hear a lot of gunfire, then someone is either sighting in a gun or having some fun with target practice, perhaps with a buddy. The point is, if I hear gunfire, it really doesn't affect me much at all these days. People have guns in the country for any number of reasons and if they didn't know what they were doing, then they'd all be dead sooner or later.

Last summer, though, I heard a gunshot and was immediately unnerved. I was concerned, possibly even a little afraid. The moment that I felt such a response in my body I instantly wondered, "What is so different about this gunfire?" Well, this time, I was in the city, St. Louis, MO to be exact. Things are different in the city.

Could someone just have been sighting in a gun? No, not really. That just isn't allowed. Could have have been having some fun enjoying a bit of target practice? Not exactly a valid option either, is it? These days, in the cities, few valid reasons for gunfire even exist, which is probably why just hearing it made me feel so different inside.

I've had my share of run ins with guns that wouldn't exactly be considered appropriate. From having some pulled on me to being worked over and pistol-whipped like in the photo above, I know that guns can be used in inappropriate ways. Still, it's not the gun itself that poses the threat, but the one holding it.

I guess that out in the country I had gotten so used to hearing gunfire under "normal conditions" that I forgot how terrifying it could be each and every time that people hear gunfire, which seems to be what is happening in some cities. It made me realize that some people spend their entire lives in the concrete jungle and really only hear two types of gunfire. They are either guns being discharged in unlawful and dangerous ways, or the police shooting at someone, both of which can be a terrifying situation for people. Anyway, I'm just trying to share an experience and a few thoughts, and I just felt like pointing this out. I'm not trying to push any agenda, but I can understand the viewpoints of others a little better now. Thanks!