NRA: Yeah, A Bunch Of People Walking Into A Restaurant With Rifles Is "Weird" And You're Not Helping Gun Rights By Doing It.

People seem to be surprised the NRA would come out against groups of people walking into restaurants with AR-15s and other rifles but I'm not. The NRA has always promoted responsible gun ownership and use. There's nothing responsible about being a jackass.

Yet while unlicensed open carry of long guns is also typically legal in most places, it is a rare sight to see someone sidle up next to you in line for lunch with a 7.62 rifle slung across his chest, much less a whole gaggle of folks descending on the same public venue with similar arms.

Let's not mince words, 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.

As a result of these hijinx, two popular fast food outlets have recently requested patrons to keep guns off the premises (more information can be found here and here). In other words, the freedom and goodwill these businesses had previously extended to gun owners has been curtailed because of the actions of an attention-hungry few who thought only of themselves and not of those who might be affected by their behavior. To state the obvious, that's counterproductive for the gun owning community.

More to the point, it's just not neighborly, which is out of character for the big-hearted residents of Texas. Using guns merely to draw attention to yourself in public not only defies common sense, it shows a lack of consideration and manners. That's not the Texas way. And that's certainly not the NRA way.

We talked about this on our last podcast and my point, aside from the general idiocy of it all, was that it's counter productive. But being an obnoxious jerk usually is. With all his money Bloomberg couldn't get Starbucks and Chipolte to change their gun friendly policy but a handful of people determined to be who they gotta be were able to. These fringe open carry types are demanding that companies put their money where the open carry people's mouths are. Don't be surprised when a business declines that opportunity.

Rights are important but so are the responsibilities that come with them. And the responsibility not to do something you know to be provocative with a gun is part of the responsibility that comes with gun ownership.

posted by DrewM. at 01:42 PM

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