Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jun 3, 2014 8:39:44 GMT -5
This must be a first for the NRA. NRA says Open Carry Texas demonstrations 'downright scary'
The National Rifle Association has issued a strongly-worded criticism of a fellow gun rights group, calling its practice of so-called "open carry" demonstrations "downright scary." The criticisms of Open Carry Texas were noted in an unsigned post published Friday on the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action page. Open Carry Texas members have become known for gathering in public places, mostly notably restaurants, carrying large, high-powered rifles. Most recently, Sonic, Chipotle, and Chili's joined Starbucks, Wendy's, Jack in the Box, and Applebee's in banning firearms from their premises after protests by Open Carry Texas. "Let’s not mince words," the post on the NRA's site said, "not only is it rare, it’s downright weird and certainly not a practical way to go normally about your business while being prepared to defend yourself. To those who are not acquainted with the dubious practice of using public displays of firearms as a means to draw attention to oneself or one’s cause, it can be downright scary. It makes folks who might normally be perfectly open-minded about firearms feel uncomfortable and question the motives of pro-gun advocates. Rest of article below. NRA says Open Carry Texas demonstrations 'downright scary'
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jun 3, 2014 10:26:58 GMT -5
That is the last thing I want to see in a restaurant (diners with pistols and rifles) I am patronizing. I will take my patronage elsewhere.
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Jun 3, 2014 11:22:33 GMT -5
I'm glad to see the NRA take a stance against this sort of thing. It sure doesn't do their cause any good!
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EVT1
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Post by EVT1 on Jun 3, 2014 11:32:08 GMT -5
Knew this would happen eventually- no excuse for walking into a restaurant with that kind of hardware. Open carry is generally a stupid idea- doing it with these kinds of weapons is a step worse.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jun 3, 2014 11:35:43 GMT -5
I'm glad to see the NRA take a stance against this sort of thing. It sure doesn't do their cause any good! I am thinking the NRA is concerned about future backlash if these multiple death shootings of innocents continue by the mentally ill and those with grudges against classes of people.
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mollyanna58
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Post by mollyanna58 on Jun 3, 2014 13:50:44 GMT -5
I'm glad to see the NRA take a stance against this sort of thing. It sure doesn't do their cause any good! I am thinking the NRA is concerned about future backlash if these multiple death shootings of innocents continue by the mentally ill and those with grudges against classes of people. I'm thinking that any sensible person would be concerned with someone carrying a weapon into the local Applebees.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jun 3, 2014 14:00:36 GMT -5
Anyone going into Applebee's isn't sensible to begin with. Shoot me if I go in one!!
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mollyanna58
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Post by mollyanna58 on Jun 3, 2014 14:33:57 GMT -5
Anyone going into Applebee's isn't sensible to begin with. Shoot me if I go in one!!
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jun 3, 2014 14:35:02 GMT -5
Sorry, couldn't resist.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Jun 3, 2014 14:35:06 GMT -5
I am thinking the NRA is concerned about future backlash if these multiple death shootings of innocents continue by the mentally ill and those with grudges against classes of people. I'm thinking that any sensible person would be concerned with someone carrying a weapon into the local Applebees. There are families of Luby's customers who would disagree with you.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jun 3, 2014 16:17:23 GMT -5
I'm thinking that any sensible person would be concerned with someone carrying a weapon into the local Applebees. There are families of Luby's customers who would disagree with you. The Luby's shooter-another mass murderer with an intense hostility toward women.
What do many of these killings have in common?!?
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jun 3, 2014 16:18:40 GMT -5
I'm thinking that any sensible person would be concerned with someone carrying a weapon into the local Applebees. There are families of Luby's customers who would disagree with you. I would immediately walk out of any restaurant if customers (as pictured in the opening post) were carrying weapons such as these guys.
Not worth it. Not today. You never know who will go off and why.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jun 3, 2014 16:24:17 GMT -5
Amen. If you're carrying concealed, you want and intend to be discreet. These people are sending a message and I'm not interested in it.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jun 3, 2014 16:28:58 GMT -5
Amen. If you're carrying concealed, you want and intend to be discreet. These people are sending a message and I'm not interested in it. I so agree with the above.
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resolution
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Post by resolution on Jun 3, 2014 16:29:09 GMT -5
There are families of Luby's customers who would disagree with you. I would immediately walk out of any restaurant if customers (as pictured in the opening post) were carrying weapons such as these guys.
Not worth it. Not today. You never know who will go off and why. I would do the same. I grew up in an open carry state where normal people would carry a small handgun at their hip, but these guys just look like trouble. I wonder how much sales those restaurants lost before they started writing to the NRA asking them to cut it out.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jun 3, 2014 16:31:07 GMT -5
I would immediately walk out of any restaurant if customers (as pictured in the opening post) were carrying weapons such as these guys.
Not worth it. Not today. You never know who will go off and why. I would do the same. I grew up in an open carry state where normal people would carry a small handgun at their hip, but these guys just look like trouble. I wonder how much sales those restaurants lost before they started writing to the NRA asking them to cut it out. I don't think the NRA has any say or control over these folks. Even the NRA is annoyed with them. These folks are giving gun owners a bad name (to some citizens).
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jun 3, 2014 16:32:08 GMT -5
Maybe if restaurants had a single assault rifle stored in a "break glass in case of mass shooting" case somewhere...
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resolution
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Post by resolution on Jun 3, 2014 16:42:41 GMT -5
The restaurants were probably thinking the NRA was their best shot at influencing the nuts. I am not sure who else would have a chance at it.
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EVT1
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Post by EVT1 on Jun 3, 2014 19:00:08 GMT -5
I'm thinking that any sensible person would be concerned with someone carrying a weapon into the local Applebees. There are families of Luby's customers who would disagree with you. I really doubt that- those families would probably be the first to freak out when some asshat walks in with rifle.
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EVT1
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Post by EVT1 on Jun 3, 2014 19:04:27 GMT -5
The restaurants were probably thinking the NRA was their best shot at influencing the nuts. I am not sure who else would have a chance at it. I think the NRA sees the problem these nuts cause- they pissed off Starbucks and numerous other places that were OK with guns until these folks showed up and started making a scene.
Of course now they are threatening to leave the NRA for some other group- so as was said on some other site- the NRA has it's own little tea party element. Are they going to go with the mainstream gun owners or the lunatic fringe- which until today I was sure they were the lunatic fringe.
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truthbound
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Post by truthbound on Jun 4, 2014 2:57:31 GMT -5
I'm glad to see the NRA take a stance against this sort of thing. It sure doesn't do their cause any good! I am thinking the NRA is concerned about future backlash if these multiple death shootings of innocents continue by the mentally ill and those with grudges against classes of people. No they are correctly pointing out the actions by assholes who make gun owners look bad.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jun 4, 2014 7:57:28 GMT -5
I am thinking the NRA is concerned about future backlash if these multiple death shootings of innocents continue by the mentally ill and those with grudges against classes of people. No they are correctly pointing out the actions by assholes who make gun owners look bad. Funny how the NRA has now backtracked their comments. Cowards. NRA calls 'open carry' criticism 'a mistake'
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Jun 4, 2014 8:09:41 GMT -5
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jun 4, 2014 12:02:56 GMT -5
They technically never made them. As the article indicates, the comments were made by a low-level staffer. I needn't point out the numerous instances where the comments of a low-level staffer being attributed to the Obama administration was met with biting skepticism on our board. This instance is no different. Mr. Cox obviously didn't represent the NRA's official position. They're goofy for guns, but they're consistent. The NRA should probably just people the guns are gay, then neither hell nor high water could keep them out of Starbucks.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jun 4, 2014 12:18:50 GMT -5
They technically never made them. As the article indicates, the comments were made by a low-level staffer. I needn't point out the numerous instances where the comments of a low-level staffer being attributed to the Obama administration was met with biting skepticism on our board. This instance is no different. Mr. Cox obviously didn't represent the NRA's official position. They're goofy for guns, but they're consistent. The NRA should probably just people the guns are gay, then neither hell nor high water could keep them out of Starbucks. The spin from the NRA to get them out of trouble from some gun owners? Yet most of the pro-NRA/pro-gun posters who have posted here say the Texas group is wrong. And your "gay" comment does not make sense.
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jun 4, 2014 12:52:45 GMT -5
They technically never made them. As the article indicates, the comments were made by a low-level staffer. I needn't point out the numerous instances where the comments of a low-level staffer being attributed to the Obama administration was met with biting skepticism on our board. This instance is no different. Mr. Cox obviously didn't represent the NRA's official position. They're goofy for guns, but they're consistent. The NRA should probably just people the guns are gay, then neither hell nor high water could keep them out of Starbucks. The spin from the NRA to get them out of trouble from some gun owners? Yet most of the pro-NRA/pro-gun posters who have posted here say the Texas group is wrong. And your "gay" comment does not make sense. The NRA came out with a clear official statement because gun owners assumed (like the rest of us) that Mr. Cox' comments were the NRA's official position. It wasn't. The fact that the NRA doing damage control doesn't mean they originally condoned Mr. Cox' comments. As for the NRA members on the board, they obviously don't represent the full spectrum of opinions backing the NRA and in this case their views don't reflect the NRA's official position. My comment vis a vis "gays" was to point out that this is just a right wing analog of the left's anti-discrimination engine. These businesses clearly don't want men traipsing around with guns in their stores, and if the world had any sense at all businesses would be able to turn away any individual whose business they dared lose, but yet again we have a totally intractable group of people who not only don't give a fig they're not welcome, they proudly march anywhere they please chanting "Rights! Rights! Rights!" to advertise that fact. If you find it pathetic and more than a little annoying, welcome to my world.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jun 4, 2014 12:59:33 GMT -5
so Virgil Showlion-do you believe everything the NRA states? If yes, why are they above reproach?
And really, did you really need to take a swipe at a class of people to make your point about guns in restaurants? The customers who own the guns and rifles are more than welcomed in the restaurants. It is the carrying of guns into the restaurants which are not. Gays don't normally carry guns and rifles into bakeries and flower shops, let alone restaurants. So your comparison is ludicrous at best.
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jun 4, 2014 17:43:43 GMT -5
so Virgil Showlion-do you believe everything the NRA states? If yes, why are they above reproach?
And really, did you really need to take a swipe at a class of people to make your point about guns in restaurants? The customers who own the guns and rifles are more than welcomed in the restaurants. It is the carrying of guns into the restaurants which are not. Gays don't normally carry guns and rifles into bakeries and flower shops, let alone restaurants. So your comparison is ludicrous at best. It's specific behaviours that aren't welcome in the restaurants. And it's a perfectly valid point, even if you won't acknowledge it. As for the NRA: no I don't believe everything they say. That doesn't mean you can say "Aha! Look! The NRA has reversed their position." when they disavow the statement of one of their low-level staffers. It's far more reasonable to believe that the low-level staffer was expressing his own opinion and not that of the organization. If you believe in your heart of hearts that the NRA pulled a 180 in their official position because of public reaction to Mr. Cox' comments, fine. I can't disprove that.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jun 4, 2014 18:01:57 GMT -5
so Virgil Showlion-do you believe everything the NRA states? If yes, why are they above reproach?
And really, did you really need to take a swipe at a class of people to make your point about guns in restaurants? The customers who own the guns and rifles are more than welcomed in the restaurants. It is the carrying of guns into the restaurants which are not. Gays don't normally carry guns and rifles into bakeries and flower shops, let alone restaurants. So your comparison is ludicrous at best. It's specific behaviours that aren't welcome in the restaurants. And it's a perfectly valid point, even if you won't acknowledge it. As for the NRA: no I don't believe everything they say. That doesn't mean you can say "Aha! Look! The NRA has reversed their position." when they disavow the statement of one of their low-level staffers. It's far more reasonable to believe that the low-level staffer was expressing his own opinion and not that of the organization. If you believe in your heart of hearts that the NRA pulled a 180 in their official position because of public reaction to Mr. Cox' comments, fine. I can't disprove that. If there are no guns or rifles over the shoulders of patrons there is no specific behavior to deny service. At least the restaurants are being honest and stating at their entry doors weapons are not allowed. The same cannot be said for bakeries, floral shops, and other businesses which support wedding events. Have the gonads to publicly advertise you do not cater to gay weddings and commitment ceremonies.
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jun 4, 2014 18:34:47 GMT -5
It's specific behaviours that aren't welcome in the restaurants. And it's a perfectly valid point, even if you won't acknowledge it. As for the NRA: no I don't believe everything they say. That doesn't mean you can say "Aha! Look! The NRA has reversed their position." when they disavow the statement of one of their low-level staffers. It's far more reasonable to believe that the low-level staffer was expressing his own opinion and not that of the organization. If you believe in your heart of hearts that the NRA pulled a 180 in their official position because of public reaction to Mr. Cox' comments, fine. I can't disprove that. If there are no guns or rifles over the shoulders of patrons there is no specific behavior to deny service. At least the restaurants are being honest and stating at their entry doors weapons are not allowed. The same cannot be said for bakeries, floral shops, and other businesses which support wedding events. Have the gonads to publicly advertise you do not cater to gay weddings and commitment ceremonies. It's a business making a statement about legal behaviours they don't tolerate. The open carriers are perfectly within their rights. It's perfectly legal for them to carry weapons openly into the store. They're not harming anybody. The restaurants simply don't want them there. I don't have a double standard with regards to businesses being able to openly turn away customers: if business X tells a man who insists on carrying openly that he may not enter the store--even though he's perfectly within his rights to do so--I support the business' prerogative to make that call. If a business refuses service to individuals wearing "Bush Lied" tee-shirts, I fully support their right to do so. If a business refuses service to blind individuals for whatever absurd reason (or perhaps there's an excellent reason for it; it's irrelevant), I fully support their right to do so. Businesses may discriminate. That used to be an option. Now the principled ones claim they're too busy and the not-so-principled ones defile the cake batter. Anyway, your rebuttal and then let's call it a wrap.
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