I also carry but still think the gun laws need to be changed by those who understand guns and are not members of the NRA. I feel sensible gun owners know more about how to stop shootings than those who do not own a gun.

I don’t think it is the gun by itself they are afraid of, but rather the power the gun gives the carrier. They are afraid of something more powerful than themselves, like a group of citizens with the power to make real changes. The Republicans have been hijacked by the far right, and the leadership at the NRA went off the deep end now that they picked Ollie North as their president! He’s a convicted felon, so can he even legally own a gun?

Good point.
It's like carrying a sidearm into a bar. Your examples are where the chances of emotions getting out of control would, in my mind, require checking your gun at the door.