Only one person had a concern, everyone else knew what his conversation meant. Checks and balances are needed.
_This is a sad situation, let’s discuss positive ways to make it better. No bashing please. _
This sounds alot like retaliation more than fear. Especially since the gentleman was a retired police officer. A little common sense could’ve prevented this black eye on both the department and the community.
As for your question how do we help people who are afraid of firearms. First and foremost be approachable, the firearms industry is an extremely intimidating one to get into on any level.
Second it’s up to the people who are scared or curious to take a step out of their comfort zone and try something new. Preferably with someone with a decent amount of knowledge and in a safe manner.
Third and it applies to everyone. Quit allowing the media to continue to drive the wedge. All we hear is the extremes on both sides of the argument. Most of us live in the middle, we should meet there and respect each others different opinions.
I agree with what you’re saying, @Sheepdog556 - especially the part about the media. I think the extremes are publicized more because they give better ratings. Unfortunately ratings are money for them. 
I’m afraid that, for many of the folks who are unreasonably afraid of firearms, there is no
way to help them. They don’t want help, don’t believe they need help but do believe that you need help because you aren’t afraid of guns.
This case illustrates exactly what is wrong with the so-called “red flag laws”. One person overheard a snatch of coversation, a conversation they weren’t involved in, and came to a knee jerk conclusion. When reported to the police, who presumably knew this man, they performed no investigation at all, just plowed ahead as though the complainant was an authority to be obeyed.
No investigation, no records check, no conversation with other witnesses or the subject himself. Incredibly, after receiving a report of gossip, the authorities immediately convicted this man and at once deprived him of his livelihood and most of his civil rights.
One of the shining beacons of the American Way is our handling of criminal justice. The rights of the individual are paramount, and in many aspects outweigh the rights of the state. Innocent until proven guilty, no self-incrimination, rights of privacy, rights to competent representation, being tried by a finding of fact…these are precious things which we have and should be able to count on, unlike much of the rest of the world, even “developed” countries.
This man was accused, tried, convicted, and punished in short order without a shred of due process. No formal charges, no advice of councel, no chance to face his accuser, no chance to tell his side of the story or to present corroborating or exculpatory evidence; just a lone accuser, then straight to harsh punishment.
This is the kind of “law enforcement” you’ll find under communist dictatorships and divine kings, not in a civilized society which values the individual and justice.
I love America, but something like this makes me shake my head and wonder “what are we thinking?”