What would you do- Guy walks in Walmart with assult gun

[wlfhound27]

makes me wonder if there should be armed guards at the front of all public places with helpless people. This idiot could of caused not only his own life to come to an abrupt end, but also ruin a "hero's" future for pulling his concealed carry and popping his butt/ If youre gonna be a jack wagon and carry a black rifle or a long rifle in a wal mart....sling it on your back

[Mike D]

This, exactly!

I don't understand how some of you guys don't see that going around "exercising your rights", could cause you to lose that right.

Keep running around in public with your long guns strapped on, and I can almost guarantee that that law will change.

So do you feel the same about al of our rights or just this one specifically. Why does one trump the other? They all carry the same weight in my eyes.

[txsowslayer]

I'll admit that I have not willfully attended any rallies myself. I have been put in situations to contact people there. It's hard for me, because I'm a huge gun nut and I know that most people there see me as a guy who woke up in the morning and said "OK, let's see who's rights I can infringe today!!" It's not true. I HATE having to be that guy, but it's what the people of my town want me to do. The demonstrations I have been to have been generally peaceful, but tend to get verbally combative before I can even get a word out. If I'm called there, I have to make contact with people. All I ever expect to say is like a spoof of Dumb And Dumber: "open carry demonstration, huh? Alright! Well, see ya later!" But people's first reactions to me have put a sour taste in my mouth I suppose. But that youse to show that not all open carry advocates are overly confrontational just like all cops aren't power hungry d bags.

To answer the other question, all I can say I do is encourage safe gun ownership to all I come in contact with and I'm a member of the NRA (No that I really believe that's doing much anyway, but I'll save that discussion for another day). I'm just against the idea that we must do SOMETHING, whether it helps or hurts our cause. You see many issues in Washington being brought up this way. No one has a good plan on how to fix the problem, but we have to do something whether it helps or not.

I believe holding the media more accountable for their one sited reporting would go a long way to change many peoples ill-conceived notions about guns. Just my opinion.

Please excuse any grammatical errors.

If you are called to one of the demonstrations with respect I assure you that you will be met with the same respect. That is how it has been at any and every rally I have been to.

[mwinter501]

Well, I'm going to bow out of this thread because it is getting out of the realm realm of a healthy debate (I don't have much tenure here and I really like the site). Txsowslayer, I appreciate your passion for our rights, even if we don't see eye to eye on the tactics. I'd honestly like to have a beer with you some time. I bet it would be good for both of us to have a positive interaction since we are on opposite sides of the fence on this issue.

Edit: this is not in response font sows layers post directly above, I was typing when that was posted.

[PondPopper]

If I seen I guy in Wally World carrying a assault rifle I would walk up to him and ask him if I could look at it. I'd tell him that's a nice looking gun. Where did you buy it? I want one just like it. What do you plan on happening in here today? If you need help holler. This just to feel him out. If he acted stupid or confrontational I would leave the store. I might even call the authorities. There are extremely mentally deranged folks in this country who can still legally purchase a fire arm.

Does he have the right? Yes. Does he have the right to freak folks out and make them very uncomfortable in a public place. Absolutely not(here is where the mentally deranged part comes in). Do I think it's very unwise to carry that sort of a weapon into Walmart? Very much so.
Bad judgement will get you in a tight spot.

[Dallas8237]

That is what i don't understand...there are not many more pro-gun / 2nd amnd guys than myself, but those of us putting up the good fight should have some sense when we are representing all gun owners.

Guys, you do not sweep people with your muzzle with an unloaded gun (My guess this would not get you thrown in jail, but kicked out of your gun club)

You also should not walk into any public retail store without the action open inside a sealed case...why does the legality come into play if it's the right thing to do?? Gunshows are the only place I can think of where this does not raise any concern. Even shooting ranges want you to enter and leave with all weapons cased / bagged!!

Those who choose to act puffed up just because 'the law' says it's legal in this case does not mean you are asking for problems or making the right decision to openly carry in a very public place with some very recent scary shootings. Pick you battles gents...this is not that complicated.

I can make you a promise if all gun owners started carrying their empty long guns everywhere they went into public places, the law would be changed quickly due to foolishness...good grief, some of you just throw the baby out with the bath water & choose the weirdest mountains to die on??

Every action gun owners take will be used by the antis against us...what Howard witnessed is not helpful or does it have one positive arguement to encourage the behavior. Forget about the law & focus on the future / common sense actions we gun owners should use to help our cause. Using the blind blabber of 'im legal' is not going to help steer the bus in the right directions with stories like this.

[txsowslayer]

You said it, not I.

Lol... You might not have offered anything educated but you do add comic relief. Thanks.

[BIG IRON]

Koresh... I haven't attended a rally/demonstration where that has been a chant muttered once. You support background checks? 10rd magazine limits? 1 arrow in your quiver?

None of it.

[txsowslayer]

Well, I'm going to bow out of this thread because it is getting out of the realm realm of a healthy debate (I don't have much tenure here and I really like the site). Txsowslayer, I appreciate your passion for our rights, even if we don't see eye to eye on the tactics. I'd honestly like to have a beer with you some time. I bet it would be good for both of us to have a positive interaction since we are on opposite sides of the fence on this issue.

Edit: this is not in response font sows layers post directly above, I was typing when that was posted.

Absolutely Sir. Have a good one and good luck in the Tree Stand!

[Ironman]

So do you feel the same about al of our rights or just this one specifically. Why does one trump the other? They all carry the same weight in my eyes.

Keep making a nuisance of yourselves with your chest beating rallies and the general public will tire of it and have the law changed so you no longer have a "right" to have your little chest beating rallies. It doesn't take a smart person to figure that out.

Then, when this happens, you will blame us for not standing up for our rights, when the truth is, it was your actions that got "our" rights taken away. It's quite simple for anyone that has logical thinking.

[txsowslayer]

None of it.

Gotcha. At least now I understand which side of the tree line you are on.

[txsowslayer]

Keep making a nuisance of yourselves with your chest beating rallies and the general public will tire of it and have the law changed so you no longer have a "right" to have your little chest beating rallies. It doesn't take a smart person to figure that out.

Then, when this happens, you will blame us for not standing up for our rights, when the truth is, it was your actions that got "our" rights taken away. It's quite simple for anyone that has logical thinking.

You sir, need to go read the stance of our "Future" governor of Texas. Greg Abbott.

[Daniel75]

Keep making a nuisance of yourselves with your chest beating rallies and the general public will tire of it and have the law changed so you no longer have a "right" to have your little chest beating rallies. It doesn't take a smart person to figure that out.

Then, when this happens, you will blame us for not standing up for our rights, when the truth is, it was your actions that got "our" rights taken away. It's quite simple for anyone that has logical thinking.

Sigh......one of these days I'm gonna agree with more of your posts than I'm comfortable with, and I'm already at critical mass, kinda like this thread . Well put, I always said I was a gun nut but apparently there's another level out there.

[EastTx]

Keep making a nuisance of yourselves with your chest beating rallies and the general public will tire of it and have the law changed so you no longer have a "right" to have your little chest beating rallies. It doesn't take a smart person to figure that out.

Then, when this happens, you will blame us for not standing up for our rights, when the truth is, it was your actions that got "our" rights taken away. It's quite simple for anyone that has logical thinking.

:thumbup:

[Dallas8237]

If you are called to one of the demonstrations with respect I assure you that you will be met with the same respect. That is how it has been at any and every rally I have been to.

That's a pretty blanket statement. Just like everyone one here has their own views, people at a protest, rally, etc. also have their own. There are a lot of folks that are confrontational from the beginning just cause they want something they can put on the internet. Just cause you can do something doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.