"Prior to being mugged I did not feel I had to carry a gun. However, I knew how to shoot a gun very proficiently. As a boy, I used to play cowboys and Indians all the time"

This quote by Bernhard Goetz shows the idea that prior to his mugging, he did not feel the need to carry a gun. Nevertheless, he was still competent in shooting one, as he had actually grown up playing cowboys and Indians. This suggests that he had a familiarity with weapons, but did not feel the requirement to bring one till he was robbed. This could be translated as an indication of the times, as the occurrence of gun violence in the 1980s was much greater than it is today. It might likewise be seen as an indication of the worry that many individuals felt in the face of such violence, and the requirement to safeguard oneself. Ultimately, this quote reflects the idea that although Bernhard Goetz had a familiarity with guns, he did not feel the requirement to carry one till he was mugged.