It's only fear mongering when it is false or exaggerated. I carried a gun on me to protect myself and others while deployed, and that was common sense, I don't right now because I don't find myself in dangerous spots much and consider it, for me, a net hassle. I know a lot of people that's not true of, but more importantly I recognize it as their decision and I also recognize that most of the gals I know who carry one are more confident, less afraid, and that's valuable in of itself. Colonel Colt is a hell of a gender equalizer.

Now I personally know a couple dozen people off the top of my head who are carry and conceal, as I also know tons of cops and troops, and not one of them is reckless with it. As to whether or not they think the nation is declining, frankly that's not your business as its a subjective perspective. Nor, even if it were true, would 'illustration of a point' be legit grounds to violate someone's rights.

"I don't want people carrying guns because it illustrates our lack of confidence in the nation" is about one step to the stupid of "I don't want anyone say anything negative about the government as it may make people think things are going downhill". Of all the reasons I've heard for banning firearms or concealed weapons, that's one of the worst, and I've heard some damn stupid ones.

Any reasonable action taken by any person to make themselves feel safer, where it doesn't impinge on your freedoms, is justified simply if it makes that person feel better. If that means a hidden pistol or knife, or martial arts, or a panic button, we've no room to complain until and unless that specific individual acts recklessly or unreasonably with it. Other people's irrational fears of guns, that merely having a gun on one's person makes them a special threat, do legitimize them taking steps to minimize it, like getting their own gun, working in a gun-free establishment, or wearing body armor, but not taking that gun from the other person wholesale.