Posted on 06/02/2014 8:27:47 AM PDT by windcliff
The last couple of months have been rough for proponents of open-carry gun laws. No fewer than seven restaurant chains have taken a stand against firearms being brought to their businesses, after activists in Texas conducted provocative demonstrations in which they toted semi-automatic rifles into various eateries. Texas law allows rifles (though not handguns) to be carried on display in public, but some patrons and employees were unnerved and angered by the demonstrations, and a national group advocating for reforms, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, pressured the companies using social media campaigns. After Mother Jones published videos of the gun activists in action, Sonic and Chili's Grill & Bar became the latest to officially reject guns on their premises.
There has also been a particularly dark side to the story of the gun activists: As I first reported in mid May, members of Open Carry Texas and their allies have used vicious tactics against people who disagree with them, including bullying and degrading women. Just last week they harassed a Marine veteran, pursuing him through the streets of Fort Worth on Memorial Day.
In an extraordinary statement, the NRA denounced the open-carry demonstrations as "foolishness" and "downright weird."
Evidently the National Rifle Association has come to realize that none of this is good for business. In an extraordinary move on Friday, the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action—the organization's powerful lobbying arm in Washington—issued a lengthy statement seeking to distinguish between "responsible behavior" and "legal mandates." It told the Texas gun activists in no uncertain terms to stand down.
(Excerpt) Read more at motherjones.com ...
Mother Jones is afraid of the societal change rapidly eroding hopes of a leftist utopia being implemented.
Too dawned bad.
I’d agree with a bit of volume reduction.
All we need is for something - anything - to happen that would allow the MSM (candidate for low IQ average winner) to paint gun owners as (fill in your worst description here).
I agree. Going out of your way to make people uncomfortable by open-carrying a rifle into a public restaurant, just to make a point, is counter-productive.
When the CHL law was first enacted in Texas, we worked to educate businesses on the law, and pointed out that they wouldn't know who was carrying a gun, and posting a sign only kept out the law abiding. We also pointed out the risks of creating a gun-free zone. In many cases, businesses took down the signs and/or changed policy.
Now, the "open carry" demonstrations have undone our efforts. Several businesses (like Chili's) are now changing policy again.
I understand what the proponents of open carry are trying to do. But, I think they are going at it the wrong way. Instead of "educating" people, they are making them uncomfortable, and the inevitable over-reaction is a step backwards.
Mother Jones is fabricating dissention.
Then again, I have found plenty of wi+ years ago who were staunch second amendment supporters but who wanted to toss assault weapons under the bus as an embarrassment to “legitimate” shooters.
The point of the provocative open carry demonstrations is to show that what most people ignorantly think is dangerous (a “man with a gun!”) is perfectly safe.
I think it would be even more effective if we recruited muscular black men and tattooed Hispanics who were legally qualified to open carry rifles, and made opposing gun rights a racial issue. Also, some hot chicks to make good optics for the PR. Then grannies. Then (yes) flaming gays.
Don’t give that commie rag any hits - read the original NRA statement here: http://www.nraila.org/news-issues/articles/2014/5/good-citizens-and-good-neighbors-the-gun-owners-role.aspx
Yes it is Mother Jones. We know what their agenda is. I will say that if I were with my family in a restaurant and a person walked in with an AR-15 or an AK-47, it would be disturbing. I say this favoring concealed or open carry. Wear a sidearm on your hip, no problem at all. I think this is evidence of very poor judgement.
This is a real catch-22. If you don’t excercise a right, you might lose it. On the other hand, some open carry in some situations is probably not prudent.
I have a CCW permit and prefer that method over advertising myself as a carrier. But I do open carry handguns in some nearby rural towns.
Yes, but it should be better planned and paced to produce a "slow trickle" of these events, more widely scattered at different locations. Move too fast with it and the negative media stories just sort of get linked together and the ignorant beliefs are reinforced.
and proponents of open carry also ought to revive the American dress code of a coat and decent shirt (tie optional). A sport jacket is a very nice way to have easy access to your holster while keeping it a bit more private.
Walking into MacDonald's trailing your trusty 38-55 Winchester, wearing shorts, a dirty tee shirt with an NRA slogan, flip-flops, a 10-day beard, a mullet hair-do and many strange tattoos does not inspire confidence. Especially of you are a girl.
I was downtown Dallas with my daughter when we just happened to walk by the activists. I’m not against open carry, but this is just not the right way to do this. Unfortunately it unnerved my daughter. I explained to her what was going on and she chilled out.
The average bystander, not knowing what the heck is going on, could possibly over react, etc. There just too many opportunities for something to go wrogn. If I was a restaurant owner, I would have politely asked them to demonstrate somewhere else or would have contacted police to report.
Overall, it was just surreal...that’s all. Not used to seeing this.
Just last weekend, at a little country store with a lunch counter, saw a guy walk in with an open carry holstered pistol. Despite the worst fears of the liberals, the only thing that happened was the he ordered his food, waited for it to be cooked, paid for it and left. No one was killed. No panic. Just another day here in the heartland.
“I understand what the proponents of open carry are trying to do. But, I think they are going at it the wrong way. Instead of “educating” people, they are making them uncomfortable, and the inevitable over-reaction is a step backwards. “
Yes, they are beginning to act like Gays and Gay Marriage. The beef I have with the NRA (and why I let my membership lapse) is the fact that they will support DemoRATs so long as they are “right” on guns. I’d be a lot happier with the NRA if they were pro Constitution!
Nice to see “Mother Jones” weighing in on this.But who next? The People’s Daily?
No they aren’t. It’s clear this is creating a major issue for 2nd Amendment Rights activists. While I am no real believer in 99% of the “false flag” idiocy ... if there is ever going to be one, count on it being as a result of this.
Bad place the clip an extra mag in my opinion.
As hard as it is to believe, this is due to Texas law.
You can carry a rifle in public, slung over your shoulder.
But, you can't carry a handgun openly, except when "engaged in a sporting purpose". Even with a CHL, you can only carry one concealed.
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