#35: Bearing Arms

Gaining a "Particular Set of Skills"

Something that always intrigued me about The Andy Griffith Show is its casual depiction of guns.

Whether it was Farmer Luke taking potshots at an approaching and unconcerned Sheriff Andy (“if he wanted to hit (us), he would have done it already!”), or Gomer prancing and pointing a loaded shotgun at Barney in the courthouse, or Barney himself periodically discharging his pistol on accident, their nonchalance around firearms seems startling today.

Some of that was TV comedy. Still, popular TV shows often reflect their times, and Andy Griffith consistently treated guns simply as tools.

I don’t know what’s going on here, because it is a color episode and I have been told we refuse to watch the color episodes in our home. Whatever is happening, they seem awfully casual discharging a pistol downtown. I blame Aunt Bee.

Guns, like the horses I care for now …