NRA: Texas open carry rallies ‘downright weird’ and ‘scary’

Houston Chronicle ^ | 5/2/14 | Lauren McGaughy

[Oliviaforever]

Starbucks, Chipotle, Sonic and other food and drink chains have an unexpected new ally in their recent decisions to discourage the carrying of firearms in their establishments: the NRA.

On Friday, the NRA weighed in on a spate of recent open carry rallies across Texas, calling them “scary” and “shows a lack of consideration and manners” out of character in the Lone Star State.

[DTogo]

30 years ago kids carried rifles to school on schoolbuses to go to the shooting club.

And that's the point, because they had a reason to be carrying a rifle. Going to Chili's, Chipotle or Home Depot with your AR to look like a "bad ass" instead makes you look more like a "dumb ass."

You may be a big Martial Arts expert, but if you dress like a Ninja just to go dining or shopping... WTF??

IMHO.

[CrazyIvan]

“This is more like Rosa Parks sitting in the front of the bus (if done with quiet, peaceful dignity).”

Unfortunately the people lacked those better qualities in the video I saw.
And you know what video the MSM will fixate on.

[Freeping Since 2001]

I support these efforts to raise consciousness about the benign nature of guns in society, and to work for open pistol carry.

I only wish that the NR, instead of wetting its pants, was in the lead. They should be using meetup websites to organize special events, creating camaraderie among gun owners, and generating powerful events. Consider the beneficial optics of these images:

1. A bunch of bikini-clad 20-somethings with rifles on their backs is running a charity carwash (to raise money for the NRA (sling carefully to avoid denting the cars). The sponsor could provide reilfes to show how they hold up on a hostile environment. (Good for a state with open pistol carry for obvious reasons).

2. A red-hat type meeting of elegant little old ladies with rifles slung on their back meets for tea at a fine old hotel.

3. A contingent of rainbow-clad flaming gays on a pride parade is carrying real rifles as a precision rifle corps.

4. Lawyers in business suits go out for a power lunch downtown with AR-15s on their backs.

5. Parents with toddlers, and babies in strollers also carry rifles on a kiddie “play date” at the park.

Honestly, if we think like gay activists, there will be a gun toting (good, likeable) guy on every show on TV in 20 years, and people will think it’s silly to ban guns in special places like schools and churches, because they don’t cause problems anywhere else.

[Freeping Since 2001]

Based on recent history, if I’m in a diner having my coffee, and somebody walks in carrying a rifle (not just slung or cased, but carrying in his hand) my immediate thought is that a robbery or massacre is about to happen, and I’m very likely to draw on the rifleman. And I think myself to be as pro 2nd Amendment as they come.

---

And you almost seem ready to acknowledge that if you saw folks with rifles and pistols every day, everywhere you went, you’d probably overcome that dangerous reaction you have now.

[Freeping Since 2001]

Where is the link to this video purportedly showing the insulting and humiliating behavior?

[Freeping Since 2001]

You may be a big Martial Arts expert, but if you dress like a Ninja just to go dining or shopping... WTF??

---

If it would benefit society to have people more frequently dressing like ninjas, (and thus more commonly accepted in society) then I’d agree. But ninja-dressing is silly, and gun acceptance is good.

Working toward good is different than working toward silly.

You seem to assume that their intent was to show off, and not to be activists for gun acceptance.

[Freeping Since 2001]

Unfortunately the people lacked those better qualities in the video I saw.
And you know what video the MSM will fixate on.

---

So there’s nothing wrong with open carry to raise consciousness, just that these guys were doing it ineffectively?

Let’s have better open carry events, instead of advocating cowering in surrender to those who want to closet gun owners and same them into their gun closets.

It’s time for guns to come out of the closet! ;-)

[Uncle Miltie]

Folks ought to get used to seeing people with a sidearm.

I’ve lived in places where a gun on your hip is not extraordinary. It is extraordinary the first few times, then it just becomes interesting.

Everyone should grow up and acknowledge the 2nd Amendment as a fundamental right like free speech, and not freak out every time someone exercises The Bill Of Rights in public.

[Dead Corpse]

I disagree with open carry of rifles in a manner which is likely to cause alarm to reasonable persons.

Which is a nebulous definition big enough for the anti-gun crowd to drive a steamroller through.

"Every man, woman, and responsible child has an unalienable individual, civil, Constitutional, and human right to obtain, own, and carry, openly or concealed, any weapon — rifle, shotgun, handgun, machinegun, anything — any time, any place, without asking anyone's permission." L. Neil Smith. The Atlanta Declaration.

[steve86]

I politely told her what the licensing and regulations were like

We don't care for any "licensing and regulations" around here. Her type can move to Chicago.

[zeugma]

Sheesh. What is with all the second amendment hate here?

Same thing I'm wondering. Threads like this are good ones to draw out the quislings though.

 

[re_nortex]

Nothing weird or scary about them.

I wholeheartedly agree. When well-armed Patriots are in a restaurant or any public place, I feel safer and vastly proud of America. Those leftist restaurants prohibiting such displays in support of the Second Amendment repulse me since they often allow disgusting sodomite behavior.

Seeing genuine pro-God Americans exercise their Constitutional Rights is heartwarming and even the Jack in the Box manager, pictured below, is well pleased. It sure is better than the loathsome abomination of sexual deviancy that I once saw at a Friendly's restaurant in Massachusetts, much like that in the image below.

[dhs12345]

Agreed And me too — off and on.

You have to choose your battles.

[dhs12345]

Yup. Lol. I'll remember that when I am in Texas.

[CodeToad]

The NRA coined the phrase “Sporting Purposes of Firearms” that gun grabbers use to this day. The NRA has been behind every single major federal gun control law on the books including the 1934 NFA and the 1968 GCA.

The NRA is NOT anyone’s friend.

[GeronL]

um... the pic on the right was totally unnecessary

[Georgia Girl 2]

I am a proponent of open carry but would never do it myself. Mr. GG2 and I believe CC is a more pragmatic choice.

[re_nortex]

um... the pic on the right was totally unnecessary

It was a study in contrast vividly illustrating God-fearing armed Americans exercising their Constitutionally-protected Natural Rights (from the Creator) versus the type of vile behavior characteristic of homosexuals. Those restaurants prohibiting the former but allowing the latter are dead to me.

[RC one]

I don’t see how these jokers are doing anything other than moving our agenda backwards. They are not our friends IMO and I too am about as pro-second amendment as you can get. Open carry of rifles should be legal but sensible persons should reserve the exercise of that right to situations that call for it. It shouldn’t be done just because it’s legal or pretty soon it won’t be legal.

[Dead Corpse]

I carry openly, or concealed, as I feel the situation dictates.

That decision should never be influenced by public “fear” or anti-gun hate. It’s irrational.

There are wolves out there. They find the weak spot to feed on the sheep.

Some times, it pays dividends to NOT look like food...