Posted on 08/21/2005 6:02:36 AM PDT by CholeraJoe
"Never, ever leave home without it." No, not your American Express card, your sidearm.
This morning, I woke up about 4:15 and was hungry, so I decided to drive to the local 24-hour beanery. The only other customers were a table of 10, intoxicated 20-somethings making alot of noise.
There were 7 muscular young men and three loud-mouthed young women. After listening to their raucous laughter for 10 minutes, I politely asked the waitress to ask them to hold down the noise. All I wanted to do was eat my breakfast in relative peace.
Her request for quiet lasted about 45 seconds, then the noise and laughter resumed. At that point, I decided to do something.
Bear in mind that I am not an imposing figure. I'm 5'9", mid 50's, and slim. I walked over to the table, and walked completely around it twice. I said, "I'd like y'all to hold down the noise for a while, please." One of the young men started to give me trash-talk but within seconds was elbowed by the guy next to him, who whispered something in his ear. Then everyone at the table said, "Yes, sir, or OK."
What made the difference? Open carry. I was wearing a 9mm semi-auto on my right hip. I never touched it and I made no threats, but it was nevertheless visible.
What if CJ was a cop, or an ex-cop, or the group was planning for the right moment to kill the owner, beat the waitress to death, steal the money, and burn the joint down?
All these negative comments immediately dive for the FUD factor.
People who think this way are the ones who don't, won't shouldn't carry, because they're the ones most likely to shoot themselves.
A CCW in NY, yes, NY.
Yep.
You had as much right to be there as those loud youngsters.
I've been in that situation a couple of times. In one case when it was apparent that the people I asked to be quiet were intent on starting something I policed up my Wife and left. It's not worth shooting someone over being loud but it's also not worth being run off before attempting to politely ask them to quiet down.
Most people have manners, even if they need to be reminded to use them.
This is how the smoke and perfume nazis started out too. Ping to Gabz, who knows how that works.
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
Have you ever heard of "Drunk and Disorderly," or its cousin "Prejudicial to good order and discipline?"
Perfectly fine, had CJ witnessed such an event beginning. Lots of drunk (but 100% LEGAL) rowdiness doesn't equate to that in any book.
That is no reason for an armed society. I think you're always conscious of wearing that gun and you make decisions/judgements because you have it on you. That gun is too big for you.
"Would you have done the same thing if you were armed?"
*Yup*
I believe you would have confronted them to tell them to pipe down, but doubt you would have circled the table twice. That's the part that trubbles me. Intimidation with a weapon.
OK, so a citizens arrest or a statement of the actual statute might be in order. CJ didn't do any of that. He simply intimidated in a plausibly deniable manner.
Switzerland is one of the most polite countries on the planet - and yes, everybody is armed. - by LAW.
I asked:What would you have done if they had continued to carry on? Shoot them?
I wish you would answer the question. For my CCW, I was taught that if my gun became a factor in any situation, I must be prepared and willing to follow through and shoot someone.
LOL! What if they were a bunch of terrorists with a suitcase bomb.
You can what if it to death but the simple fact is they were a bunch of kids winding down the weekend. If you propose a gun on your hip gives you a right to intimidate others you completely misunderstand the concept behind right to carry laws which is to protect yourself in extremis, not threaten others if they annoy you.
I am sick and tired of individuals believing they have a right to make life miserable for everyone around them. We seem to have lost all sense of control and decency. The world does not revolve around just YOU.
Also, I have just about developed a new philosophy of self-defense. It occurred to me that gasoline would be a very effective means of reducing the use of firearms. If someone looks like (s)he has a tendency to pull and fire, just spread gasoline around. If you're going to kill me, we both might as well go up in flames. It would also prevent a lot of unauthorized dynamic entries into homes, etc. by those who shouldn't be there. Who in his/her right mind is going to fire a weapon with gasoline everywhere? Oops, forgot. Waco.
Perfectly fine, had CJ witnessed such an event beginning. Lots of drunk (but 100% LEGAL) rowdiness doesn't equate to that in any book.
Exactly.
I have no problem with folks having a good time, but I believe that most logical folks can agree that MOST customers seeking a meal and cup of coffee at 0430 also expect a bit of peace. If one table of rowdy customers is causing problems for all...then it is proper to ask that they calm down...which he did before his personal stroll.
Now that does not give the compaintant the right to threaten....which he didn't.
This begs the question, "Would this loud group have been so loud and obnoxious had a party of policemen been at the next table?"
Yeah man - blast all them punks and then enjoy your oatmeal - NOT!
Choleric Java already said he would. And that he thought it would be justified under a liberal Montanan self defense law. I'd like to see the case law on that.
I agree. If people want to protect their life or property with a weapon, that's fine. If people want to enforce rules, regulations, and the law, become a police officer. I carry, concealed, and would have never walked around, acting tough with a weapon because loud noise bothered me.
Disorderly conduct? I think that had they been drinking & were intoxicated, the possibility of PI would also be in order....
The only reason I had my 9 was that my .357 was in the safe and my .40 was in my other pants.
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