On second thought I'm not sure that walking around the table twice was prudent or necessary. Simply speaking in a firm, clear voice should be enough.
I think you were right to ask them to quiet down though.
No need to involve the manager.
BTTT
GOD MADE MAN , SAM COLT MADE IDIOTS WITH GUNS @ 4:30AM GO TO THE LOCAL BEANERY . DON'T TRY THAT IN BALTIMORE @ 4:30 AM .. .. ..
Well, I have to leave this fascinating thread to get ready to go to church. It really torques my jaw that I can't carry my weapon into our church building. You can't imagine how many rude people there are in there. If I could open carry, you bet those people behind me would carry that fussy baby to "crying room". The circling part would be awkward, but I would manage it somehow. I mean, I have a right!!!
You are a dangerous man, CJ
To summarize...
It is okay for a person with a firearm to impose his will on others, even though they are acting in a legal manner.
By displaying the weapon, which you give credit for "changing the behavior of the rowdies," (my words) there was an implicit threat. You can lawyer that statement all you want, but your words indicate an intent to threaten.
You do not have a right to a quiet breakfast. There was no threat of injury to you or anyone else.
I support the right to carry. I do not support the right to threaten in any way those whose behavior you do not like. Your original post indicates that was your intent.
This act showed extremely poor judgment for a number of reasons. The idea that you think you can "out-lawyer" your actions by saying you never touched your weapon, only displayed it, does not change that fact.
I guess the were all white kids. Don't try
that in the city, they will tell you to F'off
if they speak english and shoot you in the parking
lot.
Are you from Montana? Strange, the kids
were just having some fun.
Should have joined them...
Obviously they weren't quite the thugs you paint them as. Had you pulled that stunt in Oak Cliff (Dallas neighborhood) you'd have been shown enough hardware to liberate a small Central American country for the 3rd time this year. Which is in itself rather moot as you'd have been arrested long before that as open carry is illegal in Texas.
I'm crabby in the morning too but you were wrong. You should have gotten a to go box.
Keep it up and someday you will meet someone who is more stupid than you are, and you can spend the rest of your life either justifying how you shot that stupid punk, or wondering at how fast he was able to pin your arm so you could not get it out, and then marvelling at how he beat the living sh!t out of you.
Cholera Joe,
I live in Massachustts, a traditionally anti-gun state, so perhaps I treat my concealed carry permit with some delicacy, since it was so touchy to get it.
When I applied, my instructor suggested I request a concealed carry permit. My town requires that I have to write a letter to the Chief of Police explaining why I need it.
I know that rankles people who don't live here, and I understand why, but that is the rule in my town.
My instructor explained: The Chief of Police doesn't want to have to explain later on why he approved a concealed carry permit for a murderer.
So, I disagree with what you did. Doesn't make me right, but just my opinion. If they had been harassing other diners, throwing food around, and perhaps telling the owner to shove it, maybe it might have been appropriate.
In this case, noisy, intoxicated post-adolecents...I don' t really think so.
what state has open carry?
By my figuring, I've had about 17,000 breakfasts so far. Shame I didn't know in advance I was entitled for every last one of them to be exactly the way I wanted. Guess I'm a pussy.
So think about it, was your desire for a quiet breakfast worth a trip to the ER to have your jaw wired shut or a trip to jail for shooting someone in a restaurant.... or both?
Despite what I've read from others, it appears you were polite during the "discussion". The fact you had a smoke wagon hanging from your hip was incidental and it's clear you didn't threaten anyone. There's nothing wrong asking for consideration from others in a public place.
Kentucky is an open carry state too. But try doing that in Louisville--you'll be harassed by every copper in the joint.
My first instinct would have been pretty much as you did Joe, although I'm wondering if those kids might have learned more of a good example from you if you had asked them to come join you over at your table, and tell them you'll buy a round of cups o' coffee so they won't be too woozy when they hit the door and maybe get behind the wheel.
And you might have had a few laughs from those boisterous party girls & guys.
Hey, just a thought.
I don't agree with the author's attitude. Carrying carries (if you'll forgive the wording) certain responsibilities; one of these is the avoidance of conflict. While this wasn't brandishment, it seems of questionable judgment to me.
Justified or not, killing someone is something you have to live with for the rest of your life, as well as the hatred of the family and friends of the person you killed.
You are the one who created the potential for violence in this situation.
You have no business displaying a sidearm during a request that someone be a little quieter. Guns are for self-defense, not for intimidation. You intimidated.
Frankly, if I were in law enforcement in your jurisdiction, I'd jerk your open-carry permit for this. You have no business with guns. You can't be trusted with them.