[Brian Pfleuger]

I have an approach that I would call "Pragmatism".

I ask myself a bunch of questions.

Do I prefer to carry my gun every day? Yes.

Have I ever needed it? No.

Have I ever known anyone who needed one? No.

Do I ever not carry it? Yes.

How many folks engage in interstate travel every day? Tens of millions.

How many of them need firearms every day? Most days, probably none. Certainly very few. Tiny fractions of one percent, no question.

Does violence happen in random, unpredictable places? Yes.

Does most violence happen in relatively predictable places at relatively predictable times and for relatively predictable reasons? Yes it does.

Can I do a lot to avoid potential violence, such as avoiding inner city gas stations, questionable neighborhoods and so forth? Yes.

Will my cross-country trip take me to those places? No.

Are there major inconveniences associated with carrying the gun on this trip? Yes.

Are there potential legal pitfalls, which I may ultimately win but which could get very expensive and time consuming in the mean time? Yes.

My answers and the probabilities associated with them cause me to conclude:

I would not carry my gun on this trip.