I've visited your fair isles a few times, and know what real americans are like - not the characature many determine from the stereotype catalogue to judge events witin USA. While I dont have the sense of urgency to protect my people and stuff with firearms - I would use mine for that purpose as required.

Yeah - while I hear shots its the context isn't it. I guess when I heard one this morning I thought "someones filling their freezer with a beast today". Farmers will be hunting vermin way more frequently than me - lots of big native forest containing tracts of lands in these farms - dairy mainly - meaning deer hunting is a thing. Duck hunting is a thing, and so on. Skeet shooting fills in the rest. I hear a shot and associate it with food mostly (wont hear most vermin shots like .22 or air rifle). So makes me hungry lol

Gun culture is a thing isn't it - whether it is is built up from the ground through revenance, respect, safety and so on: its a generally constructive tool with personal protection built in. Versus if that culture is built up from grabbing a gun to wave around at the car meet next week "because Jason decided to wave his glock around after I thrashed his shitty Neon in the street race".

Cops can't police a culture of 'its normal' to pop off a few rounds in a public setting, or close to public settings. I feel sorry for responders who somehow get that burden placed on them, as if something they can do can stop dickheads being dickheads ahead of time.

Community can only change the culture, and if you leave - then the community shrinks. To stay takes those stones was what I was poking at, kudos to you.