As to why people might be cautious, I would say it’s completely rational behavior. A linebacker is more physically dangerous than a baby and people react to them differently.
Becoming desensitized is just a normal response to exposure, not a more or less rational behavior.
I never suggested that a hunting knife or an ax is of any use in a bear encounter, not even a handgun is of any value in a boar encounter, I just enumerated some things that are tools, are commonly open carried in the woods and are scary for some people.
As to why people might be cautious, I would say it’s completely rational behavior. A linebacker is more physically dangerous than a baby and people react to them differently.
Becoming desensitized is just a normal response to exposure, not a more or less rational behavior.