That's not true. Haight/Ashbury was a VERY strapped up place for it's time.
Carrying a gun may have been considered "not groovy" but many people of the time and culture were even FORCED to arm up due to the shitty situations they were all living in, and the people who think it's EASY, and OK to manipulate people who are tripping.
Guns do kill, and are bad. Like I will never carry one, because I NEVER want to be in a situation where I have to say "What do we do with the body??" EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER. And I didn't copy and paste that. For real, that is one situation I will avoid forever. And if I had a gun, I trust that I would no doubt be able to pull the trigger if I ever needed to. And I don't want that. I'd rather have an unconscious bloody guy thanks to my weaponless rage, than a dead guy and a smoking gun in my hand.
But Cowboy isn't real anymore. I mean I'm from Texas, and when I get older I will be wearing a Cowboy hat. But you gotta be a "real" cowboy, not just say you are. I'm not saying your not "real", I'm just saying MANY MANY people out there are just fascinated by the west, and dressing the part.
But, if you can't handle yourself when shit gets real. Like REAL REAL, then you aren't a cowboy. Your a lie, and a hat.