NH:Armed Citizen Confronted at Starbucks

Gun Watch ^ | 17 September, 2013 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Photo by Dave Workman

A mother needed to use the Internet to order items required by a minor emergency on the road.   Naturally, she turned to Starbucks.

Starbucks has become known nationally for its neutral policy on the carry of firearms.  If you are following the law, Starbucks is willing to take your money in exchange for their product.  Here is what happened in a New Hampshire Starbucks as written by the mother it happened to, Riana, on opencarry.org:

Here I am, minding my own business, sitting with my husband and son in the Starbucks on Main Street. I had several things to take care of, as our vacation plans have been drastically altered by a broken-down vehicle, and needed internet access to handle them.

A man came up to me, pointed at my holstered sidearm, and asked rather indignantly, "What is that?"

I replied, "That is my defensive sidearm, sir."

"Well, I'm glad you feel safer, but I don't." he said.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, sir," I said calmly.

The complainer then went immediately (and loudly) went to the staff, demanding they "do something" about me. The staff simply responded that I was well within my rights, and they would do nothing. He told them he didn't feel safe, and another customer piped in that he indeed felt safer with me carrying a sidearm. The complainer then left the store in a huff, hollering that he would never come back to this store, because of the policy.

Later the customer who piped up came by and thanked me for carrying. The staff never made any comment to me. My son did note, however, that the complainer drove off in a car with Massachusetts plates, so that explains a lot.

This is an unusual experience for people who openly carry firearms.  I have openly carried firearms for many years, and the number of negative encounters, all milder than the one above, can be numbered on the fingers of one hand.   It might help that I have been told that I have a mild and inoffensive appearance.  I have also been told that I look like a policeman.  Fortunately, I have never had another person loudly complain to management that I was allowed to carry a firearm. 

 ©2013 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.

Link to Gun Watch

[marktwain]

It is unusual for armed citizens to encounter such hostility. Fortunately, the numbers of those who have emotional issues with citizens carrying guns is rather small.

[Resolute Conservative]

Was the hubby carrying too?

[clamper1797]

Figures that it would be some “Masshole” who would complain

[WayneS]

Pay no attention to the obnoxious Masshole.

[Age of Reason]

"Well, I'm glad you feel safer, but I don't." he said.

Correct answer: Well, if you don't feel safe, maybe you should carry one too.

[tgusa]

The MASSHOLES strike again.

[OB1kNOb]

So the guy started harrassing a stranger that was carrying a holstered sidearm. He sounds like a candidate to be a self-correcting error. Definitely not the brightest bulb in the pack.

[tgusa]

He well might, if the Peoples’ Republic of Massachusetts would let him.

[Venturer]

I wish I could carry here in the People’s Republic of Maryland. Especially since the people who elect the democrats to rule us are also in the Counties that carry the most votes, and have the most crime.

We are ruled by Prince Georges Counties and Baltimore and surrounding area’s the places with the most crime an the biggest need for the rest of us to carry, but Maryland is filled with Democrat Gun Grabbers.

[Vigilanteman]

The complainer then left the store in a huff, hollering that he would never come back to this store, because of the policy.

Had I been in the store, I would have led a hearty round of applause.

[WayneS]

Not only have I never had a negative comment - to may face, at any rate - I once had a Culpeper Town police officer thank me for taking responsibility for our own safety when I was open carrying while riding bicycles with my young son in a town park.

[barefoot_hiker]

The guy is willing to “confront” an open-carrier, so how “unsafe” could he feel? I mean if you were really scared of the open carrier, why would you confront and potentially anger them? In reality, the guy probably knows armed citizens are the most law abiding demographic. He just doesn’t like guns, doesn’t want anyone else having them and is a nosy asshole to boot.

I mostly OC when in Arizona (nice to have that choice) and have not had any issues so far.

[RC one]

"Well, I'm glad you feel safer, but I don't." he said.

The little fascist felt safe enough to start a confrontation though, didn't he?

[exPBRrat]

Funny how these busybodies get really indignant ONLY when dealing with civilized palefaces.

As far as the young lady goes, I would advise you to conceal carry and don’t provoke when in public. Keep a low profile.

[who knows what evil?]

There should be a $5.00 'surtax' added to the toll of any vehicles sporting Assachusttes or New York plates when passing thru toll plazas on Red Hampshire interstates. The same should apply to vehicles with Red Hampshire plates IF bumper stickers supporting Democrat candidates are present OR if a 'coexist' sticker is present.

They'll pay.

[Dr. Sivana]

The complainer then left the store in a huff, hollering that he would never come back to this store, because of the policy. < . . . >the complainer drove off in a car with Massachusetts plates, so that explains a lot.

Unless the store is near the border and the wussy Mass. resident lives/works near the border, chances are he wasn't going back there again, anyway.

[Paine in the Neck]

Suppose: You’re afraid of guns. You see someone with a gun. Your fear makes you exceedingly anxious that that person may shoot up the place, you included.

You decide to:

1. leave

2. Approach the person with the gun and piss them off

Select one answer and justify your choice.

[Cowgirl of Justice]

Because she was a woman. I daresay that yellow bellied coward would never have started that conversation with a male or a minority.

[who knows what evil?]

If Washington, D.C. had 'open carry'; the twelve that died yesterday might still be alive.

Wouldn't you like to hear someone say that on some national cable show today?

[going hot]

I have openly carried firearms for many years, and the number of negative encounters, all milder than the one above, can be numbered on the fingers of one hand.

Mostly can be handled with the finger of one hand.