Open Carry at North Texas Love's

Gun Watch ^ | 20 August, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

In a previous article, I mentioned that I was doing a favor by moving a lady and her possessions across the country.   The trip became a bit more memorable near the end.   In the last hundred miles before the drop off point, I was informed that a prominent outlaw motorcycle gang  had found out that she had been in Arizona, and now knew that she was moving back to the Midwest.   I was told that she had been instrumental in putting one of the officers of the group in prison for a few years.   I was assured that they were not interested in me.

I asked her about it, and she said that if they were going to do anything to her, it would have happened a long time ago.  Part of  the goods being moved was a Harley.

I dropped off (guided in the last few miles), loaded up, and headed back.  Crossing northern Texas, I stopped at a Love's Truck Stop to refuel vehicle and body.   While doing so a Texan came in with a rifle in a truck rifle rack.  I count that as open carry.

I asked to take some pictures.   Mr. Kenneth Ware agreed, but he did not want his face plastered on the Internet.      He farms three sections of wheat that he and his wife own without debt.   That is 1,960 acres for people who do not have a background in surveying.  Another way to describe the size of the farm is land that is one mile deep by three miles wide.   He does most of the work himself.    He said he farmed it with antique equipment, because a new tractor would cost as much as one of the sections of land.

The rifle was a Winchester model 67 with most of the finish gone.   He said it was still accurate enough to pot a rabbit at 100 yards.   I said he had good eyes.

He remarked that I was the first person to ask about the rifle.   It had belonged to his wife's grandfather.   Her uncle had it until he died at the age of 100.  Now he has it.   The grandfather probably bought it new as an adult, as the model 67 was introduced in 1934.

If you pay attention in the original movie "The Parent Trap", you will notice a rifle in a truck rack on the California ranch.   It appeared to be a Remington .22 to me, but It has been a long time since I saw the picture.   "The Parent Trap" came out in 1961.   At that time, you could order anti-tank guns and anti-aircraft cannon and ammunition through  the mail and have them delivered to your door.  I do not recall a single crime being committed with them.

Kenneth appeared to be about 70, because he had a grandson that had graduated from West Point and was now in Baghdad.   I asked Kenneth to thank him for his service, and mentioned that I had also been in the Army.   I wonder if the grandson had shot his great, great, grandfather's  rifle.   I bet that the West Point officer can shoot.

There are rough estimates that gun owners are about one  third of the U.S. population.   My experience is that the percentage approaches three quarters when you are talking about the military and combat arms.   It is well known that the best places to recruit soldiers and Marines are the rural South, Midwest, and West.   Those places have high concentrations of combat veterans.   Nearly all are members of the gun culture.


©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
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[marktwain]

When there are guns in the truck racks, you know the culture respects the rule of law.

[CrazyIvan]

“When there are guns in the truck racks, you know the culture respects the rule of law.”

I used to keep a (spent) LAWS rocket on mine. Got some funny looks.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I buy 67’s all the time, perfect gun to train beginners on, and then give it to them as a gift.

[marktwain]

The acreage figure is incorrect. It should be 1,920 acres, not 1,960.

Mea Culpa.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Well, there goes one mule.

[dware]

Mr. Kenneth Ware agreed, but he did not want his face plastered on the Internet.

Huh. Wonder if he's any relation? Lol.

[Night Hides Not]

used to keep a (spent) LAWS rocket on mine. Got some funny looks.

I was thinking about putting one of these in my backyard, but my wife vetoed the idea:

Against drones, it might be a bit of overkill.

[Tijeras_Slim]

But it kicks booty against Malaysian Airliners!

[Night Hides Not]

I remember that the pilots were a bit unnerved when we got missile tone during training exercises! lol

[Jeff Head]

"He farms three sections of wheat that he and his wife own without debt. That is 1,960 acres for people who do not have a background in surveying.

A "section" is one square mile, or 640 acres. Three sections is 1,920 acres.

[Jeff Head]

Oops, I see you already corrected it.

[Kartographer]

The second gun on the rack? Per my Reporters Guide to fire arms is either a AR47 Gazzoka or a AK Glock Atomic Pulse Rifle and Cappuccino Maker. Can you tell me which it is? ;-)

[T-Bird45]

I say it’s an AK Snowzooka Brushmatic but I’ve been know to be wrong since I couldn’t locate the selective fire switch...

[aragorn]

Against drones, it might be a bit of overkill.

I seem to remember a quote to the effect that "overkill never fails", or something along those lines.

In any event, if you encounter a good deal on those, please let me know as I have just the place for one. Oh, and a Bradley would be nice too...

[Kartographer]

"I say it’s an AK Snowzooka Brushmatic but I’ve been know to be wrong since I couldn’t locate the selective fire switch...

Are you sure? My copy of A Reporters Guide to Firearms says that the AK Snowzooka Brushmatic was banned from civilian ownership and only former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Body Guards can legally carry one?

[Resolute Conservative]

The only reason we don’t open carry like that anymore is we don’t want our stuff stolen. In days past you could leave a rifle in the rack and windows down while you ate or shopped. Not anymore. I hide what I am carrying.

[marktwain]

We can return to those days. It will take the same kind of resolution and faith that we had 200 years ago.

http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2013/05/armed-citizens-and-modern-frontier.html

[SgtHooper]

“That is 1,960 acres for people who do not have a background in surveying.”

Hahaha, right, I hope he is not a surveyor or math teacher!

[Night Hides Not]

Don't waste your money on a SGT York! lol

Man, that system was a failure.

[smokingfrog]

Some kind of semi-auto street sweeper.