Open carry Texas

[PR3D4TOR]

I don't think there's anything irrational about having non-military people walking around in public with assault rifles. For what?

I don't see how that's any of your business.

Guy's got 30 rounds in a magazine armed and loaded and you want me to look at him as I do anyone else? He could harm a dozen people in seconds.

So? I can do that with my car.

[Skyyr]

I don't think there's anything irrational about having non-military people walking around in public with assault rifles. For what?

Guy's got 30 rounds in a magazine armed and loaded and you want me to look at him as I do anyone else? He could harm a dozen people in seconds.

Firstly, actual "assault rifles" were greatly restricted from ownership in 1968 and banned in 1986. The only "assault rifles" in private ownership now are those registered prior to 1986, and those are in the ballpark of $20,000-50,000, or more. So no, there is no such thing as a regular guy walking around with an "assault rifle."

The rifle you're referring to is literally no different than a hunting rifle - it just "looks" scary. Now that we're cleared up on that...

You could be killed instantly from a collision while driving. And according to statistics, you're much, much, much more likely to have that happen to you than you are to be killed while encountering 100 open carriers. Your fear is literally quite irrational.

That's a different matter. Starbucks is well within their rights to deny service to anyone breaking their rules and dismissing them from their property. However, violating Starbucks rules is not violating the law. It's just rude.

Bring a gun into a store, and a customer isn't likely breaking the law. Ask someone with a gun to leave, and a business isn't likely violating anyone's rights. Refuse to leave when asked, then you could be breaking the law, gun or not.

That's actually not true. Most states allow for criminal prosecution (many times felony charges) and revoking of firearm carry and/or ownership rights for violating a "no weapons" policy.

[WWhiskey]

As Starbuck's has posted signs forbidding guns to be carried on their premises, you should be concerned about the person who carries one onto the property, as that person has already demonstrated a disdain for the law.

Most businesses have properly posted signs which prohibit guns from being carried in their place of business.

If I see a person carrying a gun in any of those places, I will not hesitate to call the police.

I'm all for business and or property owners rights to not allow guns inside their establishments.

[FBKampfer]

If you were truly interested in thinking critically, you'd realize that baseball bats and hammers each kill more people than open carry weapons. You'd also realize that more people die to car wrecks every year in the US than are killed with firearms (both legally and illegally), and that knives result in more serious injuries than firearms. However, you have no fear of watching a baseball game (even though baseball bats are one of the most common murder weapons) and likely think little of carrying a pocket knife, all the while driving one of the top causes of death (a car) on the way to work.

Quite literally, guns are one of the least-used mechanisms for loss of life and limb in the US. If you're truly concerned about guns, you should start by removing the items from your life listed above.

Pred4tor is quite right - it's an irrational fear based on lack of exposure and a lack of true logical thinking.

Sure, if you want to just blatantly ignore usage rates for baseballs, hammers, automobiles (some spend almost a third of their life in a motorized vehicle of some kind), access to knives, and all kinds of mitigating factors.

Now I'm not at all saying per time/usage, guns are the most dangerous things ever. But they might be. I lack the data to say.

And in any case, your assertion that more guns means a safer country is, for lack of a better word, imbecilic. It flagrantly ignores any actual data, all holes in your logic, and evidence to the contrary, all in favor of this image of this magical land where bad guys are gunned down on the street corner before they can do anything.


And holy toejam, have you considered the race factor? The black community has been on edge already as of late. You know Golly-geen well there's some people out there that would take advantage of your wild west land to kill blacks for racially motivated reasons. Nevermind blatant racism, what if there's more Fergusons? And it's a lot more likely, considering it was a cop with real legal authority.


Besides that, you're arguing like preventable deaths are just part of life and nobody should lose and sleep over them. Sure cars are more dangerous overall (I personally feel we need to do something about that one too), but you've as much as said you want wider access to firearms on the grounds that any extra deaths are a drop in the bucket.

[PR3D4TOR]

That's actually not true. Most states allow for criminal prosecution (many times felony charges) and revoking of firearm carry and/or ownership rights for violating a "no weapons" policy.

Didn't know that, but then I'm usually not toting guns around, and I never drink coffee at Starbucks so...

[PR3D4TOR]

http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324492604579082352323346902

"Starbucks Declares Guns Unwelcome, but Doesn't Ban Them"

[FBKampfer]

I don't see how that's any of your business.

Shouldn't it be? Never mind legalities, or anything in the Constitution that may or may not say anything about this. What I'm asking is, shouldn't you be wondering why that guy is strolling down the street with an assault rifle?

I'd be wondering that if he were carrying a sword, or a bow and arrows, and I'd bet even money you would to. Just because it's a gun doesn't mean it's immune from criticism and questioning.

[Someguy63]

I don't see how that's any of your business.


So? I can do that with my car.

Do you own one? I have the impression. What would I do with an assault rifle in public? Use stray animals and people as target practice or just have it so I look scary?

Firstly, actual "assault rifles" were greatly restricted from ownership in 1968 and banned in 1986. The only "assault rifles" in private ownership now are those registered prior to 1986, and those are in the ballpark of $20,000-50,000, or more. So no, there is no such thing as a regular guy walking around with an "assault rifle."

The rifle you're referring to is literally no different than a hunting rifle - it just "looks" scary. Now that we're cleared up on that...

You could be killed instantly from a collision while driving. And according to statistics, you're much, much, much more likely to have that happen to you than you are to be killed while encountering 100 open carriers. Your fear is literally quite irrational.

That's actually not true. Most states allow for criminal prosecution (many times felony charges) and revoking of firearm carry and/or ownership rights for violating a "no weapons" policy.

The reason to carry a hunting rifle in public? And about car accidents, they are just accidents, least usually. When you hear of a shooting how often do you here the news anchors saying "There was a massive shooting accident today in XYZ, reports indicate 12 victims have been hospitalized"

Not much, now is it?

I have more reason to fear dying by someone's intention than my or someone else's mistake.
Would feel worse to be shot by some idiot who felt he wanted to take a hunting weapon to the town square.

[Skuzzy]

That's a different matter. Starbucks is well within their rights to deny service to anyone breaking their rules and dismissing them from their property. However, violating Starbucks rules is not violating the law. It's just rude.

Bring a gun into a store, and a customer isn't likely breaking the law. Ask someone with a gun to leave, and a business isn't likely violating anyone's rights. Refuse to leave when asked, then you could be breaking the law, gun or not.

Actually, in Texas, it is law.  If a business posts the specific poster prohibiting guns to be carried within their place of business, said person can be arrested for carrying in that place of business.

The Starbuck's at the corner, where I live, has that sign posted, as do most business establishments I venture into.

[Skyyr]

Do you own one? I have the impression. What would I do with an assault rifle in public? Use stray animals and people as target practice or just have it so I look scary?

The reason to carry a hunting rifle in public? And about car accidents, they are just accidents, least usually. When you hear of a shooting how often do you here the news anchors saying "There was a massive shooting accident today in XYZ, reports indicate 12 victims have been hospitalized"

Not much, now is it?

I have more reason to fear dying by someone's intention than my or someone else's mistake.
Would feel worse to be shot by some idiot who felt he wanted to take a hunting weapon to the town square.

Yet again, your arguments are all based on fear. A gun that is hidden is no different than a gun that is openly viewable; the only difference is you don't know it's there, which is honestly a fairly childish approach to life in general. Object permanence is something most children learn within the first two years of life - whether you can see a gun or not does not change what it is capable of.

Therefore, your argument really isn't about guns, it's about your fear of knowing there are things that can harm you.

Carrying guns openly is perfectly normal in the majority of the world - our Western idealization of society is the minority.

Guns save plenty of lives. The problem is the MSM tends to not showcase those stories as they don't fit into the "guns are scary and evil" agenda: http://www.gunssavelives.net

[PR3D4TOR]

Shouldn't it be? Never mind legalities, or anything in the Constitution that may or may not say anything about this. What I'm asking is, shouldn't you be wondering why that guy is strolling down the street with an assault rifle?

I'd be wondering that if he were carrying a sword, or a bow and arrows, and I'd bet even money you would to. Just because it's a gun doesn't mean it's immune from criticism and questioning.

Do you own one? I have the impression. What would I do with an assault rifle in public? Use stray animals and people as target practice or just have it so I look scary?

I'll answer both of you in one go as both your questions are related. No I haven't owned an assault rifle for some time now, and never in the States. I did some business in Syria a few years ago, before the whole place turned to sheit. Without going into too much detail, carrying guns there was perfectly normal and no one asked why you had an AK over your shoulder or a pistol visibly holstered. They rarely even took notice. It was normal. Everyone just assumed you had your reasons and a lot of people were visibly armed. The family I was staying with lived a couple of hours drive outside Damascus and every time they went into town they took an AK with them. Just in case... and they owed some people money lol.

So if I see someone walking down the street carrying an assault rifle, which I rarely do these days to be honest, I might take notice, but it wouldn't bother me. And it shouldn't scare anyone. There is no rational reason for it to be scary unless you've PO'ed some really bad people and know you're a target, or the person is otherwise behaving in a threatening manner.

[PR3D4TOR]

Why should this be scary to anyone?

[Skyyr]

A VERY common sight in Switzerland, which mandates its citizens own assault weapons.

[Someguy63]

Why should this be scary to anyone?

(Image removed from quote.)

Whoever took this did a good job at mitigating the idea of carrying this type of weapon in public. I mean look at it the guy has a smile on his face and Oreos in his hand, to make him look harmless.
You don't see how they use the friendly-looking guy to hide the dangerous potential of the weapon?

Now put an Arabic man in the pic with the gun how would your view change? If not you the general public? It's brilliant how people know how to attempt and work your interpretations of things.


@Skyyr
I looked it up and was surprised to see that Switzerland had the 3rd highest guns per capita in the world.

[Wiley]

Why should this be scary to anyone?

(Image removed from quote.)

Scary? Not particularly.  Does your local whole foods come under attack on a regular enough basis you feel you might need a rifle to defend yourself there?  Starting to think some peoples' shopping experiences vary widely from mine.

Wiley.