Hi Jackpot,
The most to-the-point answer to your questions in general is likely in the FSW FAQ. If you haven't read it, I really encourage you to do so, as it answers at least 95% of the concerns and questions people generally have when finding out about FSW:
http://www.fundamentalsoffreedom.com/fswforum//index.php?topic=24.0 Your questions seem to boil down to two primary issues; 1) that of people seeking to get elected to local government and 2) nervousness at the psychotic, trigger happy, mentally- and emotionally-unstable picture the article painted FSW members with.
Despite the claims of the article, the FSW doesn?t seek to ?take over the government? of WY, or Sundance, or any of the Counties. There have been posts on the forum by people who have talked about the idea of running for one office or another, but that?s about as much as I?ve seen of it. From the FAQ:
?The FSW is merely an ad hoc group of people who are a) interested in living free/freer lives, and b) would like to do so in Wyoming as good neighbors with the locals.
?
The FSW will not endorse political efforts, as such has never been the FSW's task. Once FSWers are in Wyoming, the FSW has largely done its job and it is up to individuals to work for freedom as they see fit. In any case, I doubt anyone has to worry the FSW staging some kind of coup and dictatorship over Sundance (or any of WY!) Anyone who decides to run for a local political office (FSW member or not), still has to be elected, which means they?d have to do the same stumping around for support everyone else does, make the same statements of their positions, the same fund raising efforts, etc?. No one would be "blindsided" in any event.
As to gun ownership? Wearing a gun or keeping one within reach is no different than keeping a piece of rope in your truck. Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it, right?
i would probably a)feel a mistrust for this person to carry a firearm into a local establishment b)wonder what pushed them over the edge to need to carry c)Does this person know where their at?
I can appreciate your honesty, but feel compelled to point out a couple of things.
Feeling mistrust at seeing someone armed may be an understandable response due to the rarity of it. However, this rarity is largely due to the attitudes of ?I can rely on the police?, "Only paranoid nutjobs or criminals carry guns", and ?It?ll never happen here?. Your questions of ?what pushed them over the edge to need to carry?? and ?do they know where they are?? seem to reflect these attitudes.
Is it fair to assume that just because someone carries they have been ?pushed over the edge? and are thus unreasonable, or unstable? There are a lot of reasons people carry - previously being victimized and refusing to allow it again, having been in a position to protect oneself or others, a strong sense of personal responsibility or a refusal to be helpless.
Additionally, crime can happen
anywhere. Every time a crime takes place in a small town, or a quaint public place (like the mall in UT recently,) or a school, the response is inevitably ?I can?t believe it happened
here". Crime can and does happen in all kinds of places, and none of us know where and when the next time will be. This is why some choose to go armed; like the Boy Scout motto, some would rather "Be Prepared" than to watch (or become) victims.
Hope that sheds at least a little light on the subject. If you have any other questions feel free to keep asking!
BTW Danl, the Big Horns trump the Devil's Tower for me and Lynda too!
Chris
