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.
Dude, you came upon them and the restaurant when it was already noisy. Implied threats of gunplay to enforce your will on the crowd seems a little crazy to me. It seems like an unnecessary risk in a world where "takeout" can easily be arranged. What if, instead of a goofy drunk, one of them had been an angry drunk and had challenged you, or waited until you turned your back before rushing you with a knife, or thrown a hot drink in your eyes, or just capped you for the thrill of it, or who knows what?
This falls into my definition of "crazy-brave."
You deserve kudos for an inspirational freeper page.
Well done!
"Here Lies a Guy Who Wanted to Eat a Quiet Meal at Denny's" is not the most noble of epitaphs, my friend.
Besides, a firearm is a tool to be used in only the most dire and unwanted of circumstances---something you reach for last, not first. A gun is not something a mature, responsible adult postures with. Leave that Mickey-Mouse bravo sierra to Hollywood, gang-bangers, and rap stars.
Precisely.
Now THAT is going to leave a mark. LOL
Good heavens CJ!
Gotta love open carry.
When did God tell you this?
Good post. I was taught to never, EVER bluff with a firearm.
He did not tell me this directly. However, according to the founding fathers, the rights enumerated in the BOR are not there because they are being granted to us via the Constitution, but more as an acknowledgement of our God-Given rights. Do you disagree with this?
Never commit the main body of your breakfast force without: (a) Adequate artillery preparation (b)Having arranged for air support (c)Making sure you have a clear plan and route for withdrawal.
Of course, it would have been good to know whether or not the "seven muscular drunks" and their debutante dates were themselves armed.
So, next time you're a-hankering for some breakfast at 4:30AM, send out a patrol first, mark the location with a white phosophorus rocket, call in some 105, pin down the kitchen staff with SAW and outflank their main body with the rest of your squad.
So you want home fries or grits with that?
Joe, never eat breakfast again without checking with your superiors.
I also notice you are overdue for your annual fitness evaluation.
Hey Kenny, this has got to be my favorite post of the week! You rock!
However, from a legal perspective, RKBA has not been interpreted to mean that a citizen has a right to openly carry a gun in public, much less inside a restaurant. I wouldn't be in favor of such an interpretation either legally or morally. Open carrying of guns by private citizens is symptomatic of a lawless society not a law-abiding and -respecting one.
I don't think there is much doubt about what the founding fathers meant. Of course some of our courts use the constitution figurativley as toilet paper. That doesn't make them right it only makes them evil.
That doesn't take away the right it only makes it more difficult to exercise.
Having said that, IMO you abused your right to carry. The weapon is there for self-protection, not intimidation. When you abuse your carry rights, you erode public support for such, public support that has been hard-fought and won by responsbile gun owners.
I think you would be quite wrong. Having a property open to the public for business does not remove your rights to set the terms for using that property.
yep. me too. there's always someone faster and crazier.
besides, I hate paying lawyers.
Interesting post.
What!
And spoil desert!
Ping to see if Cholera Joe ever comes back.......
Anyone else taking bets?
From dictionary.com...
inalienable adj 1: incapable of being repudiated or transferred to another; "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights" [syn: unalienable] [ant: alienable] 2: not subject to forfeiture; "an unforfeitable right" [syn: unforfeitable]
Our rights do NOT come from the government. Even if you are an athiest, the principle of "natural rights" still applies.
However, from a legal perspective, RKBA has not been interpreted to mean that a citizen has a right to openly carry a gun in public, much less inside a restaurant.
In many areas, it has.
I wouldn't be in favor of such an interpretation either legally or morally. Open carrying of guns by private citizens is symptomatic of a lawless society not a law-abiding and -respecting one.
Do you oppose concealed-carry laws as well, or just open carry? Either way, I fail to see how holstering a weapon is somehow not "law abiding", and I'm confident that the vast majority of freepers agree with me on this.
The TRT is an outstanding organization.
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