I lived in Washington when young.

I remember being able to walk into the halls of congress and walk anywhere except the actual floor of the house or senate.

I remember being able to walk into the supreme court and sit and listen to cases being argued.

I remember being able to go to an airport and walk on to a plane with my baggage without any searches.

I remember being able to drive across the country without thinking about not taking the southern route because you might be pulled over in a random roadblock and have all your stuff pulled out of your car and have any cash you might be carrying taken by police without a warrant just because.

I remember being able to drive somewhere around town on Saturday night without being pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving or facing a random roadblock. I actually remember being able to actually have two drinks and drive home and when only really drunk people were stopped for drunk driving.

I remember when you went to summer camp and they taught you how to shot rifles and you got sharpshooter medals.

I remember freedom.

It was the feeling that you could go anywhere without being challenged and if you carried a gun people assumed it was to help protect someone or some thing and they thanked you for being there.