Chipotle Follows Starbucks & Asks For No Guns

[ShotgunBlast]

After an Open Carry Texas rally (where OC handguns is illegal but OC long guns is legal), Chipotle is following in the footsteps of Starbucks to ask gun owners to please leave their guns out of their locations.

I'm all for people doing whatever they want as long as it doesn't harm anyone else, but just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you SHOULD do something. Of course the anti-gun crowd is claiming this as a win and who can blame them? It was handed to them on a silver platter.



Here's one from a Starbucks.

[Mindflayer]

Here's my issue - when you walk into a public place JUST to get attention and to "MAKE A POINT CUZ I CAN!" you are doing the entire movement a disservice. Frankly, if your maturity level is one where you MUST BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION and you think it's funny to "scare the sheeple", then you should not own a firearm. Period.

[MarcSpaz]

I don't beleive in intentionally scaring people... but in stark contrast to what I have seen in this thread so far, I would like to say that it is my Constitutional Right to carry whatever "Arms" I see fit to protect myself, wherever and whenever I see fit (respecting private property rights of course).

I mean, come on guys. In some states, like Maryland, you can only OC a rifle. So if you can't get a permit to CC, can't OC a handgun and rifle OC is your only option, what is a law abiding person to do? I sure as heck don't deserve to be at more risk because all I have is a rifle or all I can carry is a rifle.

The second amendment doesn't say I can carry arms as long as other people aren't scared. And people don't have a Constitutional Right to feel safe or to not be afraid of an inanimate object or the otherwise law abiding citizen carrying said rifle.

Just because cowards and uneducated are complaining, that doesn't seem detrimental to the fight to keep my Second Amendment Rights alive and well. In fact, in my opinion, OC'ing with a rifle frequently and without incident is the only thing that will offset or undo the impact that the media has. Today, the only exposure most non-shooters have to AR's or shotguns is when they hear about "another mass shooting" on TV.

See, if you wimp out on the OC of a rifle... IMHO, that is detrimental to the cause. You give the left even a little bit and they will be right there to say "see, even gun owners say you don't need to carry a gun in public", then strip what's left of our rights away.

You don't want to carry a rifle for protection... fine, don't. But don't tell me I can't or shouldn't.

[FiremanBob]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Open carrying a firearm into someone's place of business not for protection, but to make a political statement, is stupid, rude, and counterproductive. It helps nothing, and damages the cause of the very rights these people claim they hold dear.

[MarcSpaz]

.
I concur. I won't debate that point at all.

The more I look at those pictures above, the more I find them troubling. Though I have only OC'ed a rifle once, I would think that a multi-point sling and on your back while barrel down would be a lot less offensive or threatening compared to what those specific folks look like. Hand on the grips looking like you are ready to fire does not come across as friendly at all.

My own thoughts on carrying a rifle for protection really fall in line with a story I heard once. The story is about a Sheriff who receives a meritorious award for his many years of service to the community. During the reception, a lady notices that the Sheriff is wearing his sidearm. The lady asks whether the Sheriff has his handgun because he is expecting trouble. The Sheriff looks at the woman and replies: “No Ma’am. If I was expecting trouble I would have brought my rifle.”