The salesman hands me a stainless steel, snub-nose, .357 Smith & Wesson revolver. The first thing I notice is how heavy it is.

I remember a scene in a movie once where Mel Gibson is carrying a handgun in his mouth. Then I think back to being 10 years old and running through the woods behind my house with my friends, shooting at each other with plastic guns, arguing over who is dead.

But what I'm holding in my hand is not a toy.

I push the release button and look through the cylinder. Although the gun is unloaded, I'm still reluctant to put my finger on the trigger. I don't even think about aiming it at someone. Unloaded, the weapon is nothing more than a fancy-looking paperweight, but in the back of my mind, I know the true potential of this particular hunk of metal. I thank the salesman for letting me see the gun, and I nervously place it back on the counter.

Tens of thousands of people around the country, people who never really thought of guns as anything other than movie props, must have had similar experiences over the past few months. The United States has been rattled, and people are preparing for the worst. After an initial sense of panic, Americans have started to calm down, but many people still look to the future with uncertainty. Since Sept. 11, gun sales have increased. Gas masks have become scarce. Local safety officials have increased preparation for biological emergencies. People can't even get their mail anymore without having to worry about becoming the victim of a terrorist attack. Many Americans are trying to stay vigilant and help fight the war on terrorism. Some are just going a little further than others.

Continued>> [2] [3]