I choose not to pack heat into otherwise friendly, family establishments, because I think it's
1) useless, under the circumstances,
2) frightening to some people,
3) a little bit too "in-your-face" for me,
4) a statement that goes something like: "look at me--chip on shoulder, gun on hip.."
But that's probably just me, as I read other comments on this thread. Weird, too; because I'm as big a gunnie as anybody on here. I just don't take them in among polite company.
Quite a few shootings happen in friendly, family establishments. Luby's Diner for one. The McDonalds massacre in CA. I could give you,off the top of my head, a list of about 20, in recent yearsm in Pittsburgh, PA.
Quite a few shootings happen in friendly, family establishments. Luby's Diner for one. The McDonalds massacre in CA. I could give you,off the top of my head, a list of about 20, in recent yearsm in Pittsburgh, PA.
I choose not to pack heat into otherwise friendly, family establishments, because I think it's
1) useless, under the circumstances,
Luby's Restaurant in Killeen, Texas is a nice safe family oriented establishment. See http://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=1445
Here is a great web site for information regarding weapon carrying - or as I think of it, exercising your second amendment right !! www.packing.org
By the way, in Texas you have to have a concealed, and just like another poster commented, it HAS to be concealed. Any unconcealed carrying is illegal. In regards to carrying in establishments that serve alcohol, it is legal only if the establishment does not derive the majority of their income from alcohol sales. Also, other establishments can prohibit carrying concealed on their premesis by posting a state approved sign, that is in compliance with the state law. It amazes me that businesses would want to prohibit law-abiding citizens from carrying weapons - these citizens have had background checks and passes a state course, been fingerprinted etc.
So to me, these signs tell the criminal -- come on down - the coast is clear !! You can carry at an airport -- as long as you don't try to go through security. You can carry on school grounds such as parking lots, but not in the buildings, nor at race tracks, or sporting events. I believe government buildings and courthouses are off limits!! As the instructor kept telling us regarding carrying where you aren't supposed to: " It's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6" -- and he was a state legislator!! Isn't it something that we have to have all these laws to allow us to exercise a right granted by the constitution??
Really? It sounds like you have ZERO firearms training. If someone is trying to kill me, the last thing *my* firearm will be is "useless". But maybe that's only because I take it seriously and have spent hundreds of dollars on training.
frightening to some people,
That's *their* problem, not mine.
a little bit too "in-your-face" for me
If someone is uncomfortable with another American carrying openly, that is *their* problem, not mine. I'm not going to surrender a fighting tool simply based on other people's perceptions.
Anyway, sometimes "in your face" is the only way to get things done. (Sam Adams, Rosa Parks, etc....)
a statement that goes something like: "look at me--chip on shoulder, gun on hip.."
Like I said earlier, if you truly believe that, then you need to get some serious firearms training. Or sell your guns to someone that will appreciate them.
I just don't take them in among polite company.
Why? Do you think a magic force-field will protect you from violent predators simply because you and your friends "wish" them away?
Or are you so selfish and arrogant that you expect a police officer that probably makes half what you do to risk *his* life protecting you because you were too lazy to take reasonable steps to protect yourself?
Like a friend of mine says: a sheep with a gun is still a sheep.
Migraine,
The key thing to understand about the situation in Virginia is that gun owners are NOT PERMITTED to carry concealed in restaurants that serve alcohol.
If you see it as "in your face," or "chip on shoulder," remember that the problem is not with the gun owners, but with the law itself.
I'm sure that most folks in Virginia would prefer to be discreet with their defensive firearms, but the law doesn't allow it of them while they're out to eat.
If some gun-phobic legislator has a problem with it, they need to introduce a bill to repeal the silly prohibition on concealed carry in restaurants and get it passed.