Here are some fun anecdotes that may shock a lot of non Americans (and some urban Americans):
My dad first took me shooting around 6 or 7 years old. I shot my first 12 gauge shotgun at around 10 or 11 years old, and I kept a deer rifle in my room from age 15(I didn't have ammo). At 17, I bought an AK47 semi-automatic rifle, and got my first handgun at 19. I regularly conceal carry a 9mm pistol and I don't have a license, though I do have training from a very young age and plan to get a conceal carry permit just because. I plan to raise my daughter similarly.
I live in rural Missouri. Most kids and young adults don't get an AK47, but otherwise my story isn't unusual around here.
LOL I'm from a Northern California suburb and have a very similar experience. No AK, but I did get a 12 gauge for my 12th birthday (grew up hunting upland game birds) and got my grandfather's .30-.30 passed down to me when I was 13.
In my city, no. In my county, yes. Not many kids hunted at my school(s), but in the neighboring city, their high school had marksmanship, sporting clay, and hunting clubs sponsored by the school.
Come to think of it, the only friends I had growing up that were into hunting/ angling/ bushcraft were the ones I met through the Boy Scouts.
It is not unusual. There are around 15 states with constitutional carry and CCW reciprocity laws and counting. Additionally, the vast majority of states that do have CCW licensing requirements are loosening the requirements for approval. Not training requirements, mind you, but the requirements for your "reason." Hell, even in CA there are only 3 counties that aren't "shall issue" at this point. Even LA loosed restrictions like 2 months ago.
> I didn't know it was legal anywhere in the country to carry any kind of gun without a license.
Have you heard of hunting? There are millions of people carrying their firearms around in the wilderness every year.
Yes, I just assumed you needed a license to carry the gun, and maybe a hunting license to use it on animals. I haven't tried hunting so I haven't needed to look into the laws.
I think this is generally the problem. People make assumptions about "the way things are" based on limited perception or their local area and proceed to act like it's unusual on the internet, which gives these author's and articles a pass in our minds.
At least 20 states are Constitutional Carry as of 2021: http://www.gun-nuttery.com/rtc.php (there's a fantastic gif there - I honestly wish there were similar gifs for other state-by-state law changes)
And IIRC there's more states that have enacted CC in 2021 before Texas, bringing the total to ~23.
That's a shame that the news hasn't given you that information during one of the many times "guns" have hit the news. I really think someone is going to have a field day taking in the local laws & statistics and matching it to news items to give people a much more informative news stream.
I remember on my first year here in Texas, driving by Arlington's city hall and there were a bunch of second amendment rights guys protesting outside, armed to the teeth with assault rifles and camo pants.
The police in their HQ right across the street didn't seem bothered by it so I assumed it must be legal.
