Living between Denver, Colorado, and Los Angeles means I frequent the airport more than most. So I pass through the TSA check line more often too. These days, it's more convenient since I don't have to take off my shoes. I don't even have to remember to wear socks every time I go to the airport, haha.

However, I often see scenes in the news that I just can't understand. News about people who got caught bringing guns to the airport. It's not just once or twice; I hear about it almost every year. Each time, the question that pops into my mind is, what on earth are they thinking?

Everyone knows that guns are legal in the U.S. Especially living in a place like Denver, where gun culture is relatively familiar, it's true that guns don't feel like such special items. Many people have at least one gun at home for hunting, self-defense, or as a hobby.

But the airport is a completely different story. Airports are some of the most sensitive spaces in the U.S., and even novice travelers quickly learn how strict TSA regulations can be after just one flight. Bringing a gun to a place where even a water bottle or nail clipper can get you in trouble feels less like a simple mistake and more like a problem with one's mindset.

Of course, most individuals caught say things like, "I forgot," "I didn't know it was in my bag," or "I brought it out of habit." But it's hard to take these statements at face value. Because a gun is on a different level than a wallet or keys. The weight is different, the feel when touched is different, and most importantly, it's an item that comes with a recognition of risk.

To say they forgot about it seems to show just how desensitized they are to handling guns.

Living in L.A. gives me a different feeling. News about gun incidents is much more frequent, and the tension in public spaces is higher. In such an environment, one tends to think twice about bringing a gun outside the home. Yet, those who take them to the airport likely believe that their daily routine is more important than the rules. They think, since it's an item they always have and an action that poses no problem for them, they can overlook the rules of that space.

For these individuals, the airport seems to be just another place rather than a space that protects public safety. Regulations are someone else's story, accidents are someone else's issue, and they live with the thought that it can't possibly be a problem for them. Then, when they get caught, they feel wronged and complain that it's excessive. But the moment a gun is discovered at the airport, it becomes a collective anxiety rather than just an individual mistake.

So every time I see such news, I feel a sense of bitterness. People talk about the freedom to own guns while thinking too lightly about the responsibilities that come with it. Bringing a gun to the airport feels less like a matter of freedom and more like a lack of awareness.

It reflects an attitude of not being able to distinguish where personal space ends and community space begins. Living between Denver and L.A., I think what's scarier than guns is the mindset of people who handle them thoughtlessly.