Truth is, guns are better than coffee to stimulate sober behavior. People that are out of their minds, (whether by achohol, drugs or otherwise,) tend to behave quite rationally when guns are around. Look at the Aurora Colorado shooter, he correctly chose to go to a theater that did not allow its patrons to carry guns. That is rational behavior, even though he was completely nuts.
I was returning home from hunting yesterday on I-80 near Central Nevada. We stopped at a truck stop to let the dog have a walk. While we were walking an old Mazda b2000 pick up parked next to my rig and started discharging deadlocked, tie-dyed, smelly hippies of about 25 years of age. It was like a clown car six or seven got out of the front and from the camper shell. They were all clearly high on meth and exhibiting the associated behavior. Then they all started jabbering at each other called each other names etc. The last one out of the passenger front left the door open meaning that I could not get to my drivers door on my truck. Ms. Mad immediately took second position to me on my off gun side with the dog leash in her off hand. I approached the treasure of America's youth and said “Excuse me, will you close your open door so I can enter my vehicle.” One of them turned and said “Just wait a f^&king minute.” He clearly has not seen me before. I was dressed in cammo with a open carry handgun. He went white. His jaw dropped and he said “Oh, OK.” Closed the door and made a clear path. As I walked to my door the only female uttered something how rude. I just smiled and said to her “Yes, it was to block me from my truck.” Btw two of the “people” had long knives on their belt which I found odd.
A guy was watching from another truck two rows away and I heard him laugh at the girl. Then I noticed he had his hand inside his pocket. I smiled and waved at him on the way out. He gave me a salute and said “Semper Fi.”
Icing on the cupcake? The truck had expired Kalifornia tags on it. So I called it in to the NHP.
Great calming effect moment of open carry. If I hadn't had mine out in the open I think things could of gone different with more belligerence by the hippies in the initial encounter. If they are not a guest of the State they are telling stories about rude Nevadans with guns to their friends. I am OK with that.