I'm sure most of you have seen the Facebook photo of the two
Add to that little drama, the events going on in Arlington where the city council recently passed a new ordinance preventing people from stepping into city streets to hand out literature. This ordinance was the result of a Tarrant County open carry group passing out copies of the Constitution at intersections while carrying rifles and shotguns to the apparent dismay of some if you believe the news reporting of the events. The open carry group is crying violation of their first amendment rights, and they promise civil disobedience when the ordinance takes effect at the end of the month.
And now there is this:
Little orange signs like this are popping up all over Granbury (southwest of Ft. Worth). When I asked the manager at Fuzzy's Tacos what gives, he advised that they were informed that an open carry group was coming to town Memorial Day weekend and wanted no part of that nonsense. So, essentially, what they have done since the sign does not comply with Texas section 30.06 signage requirements is create a reason for a simple trespassing charge. If someone entering the business with a gun is asked to leave and refuses, they can then be arrested for trespassing.
Frankly, I don't blame Fuzzy's for posting the sign. I don't blame Chipotle for their position either. Do I wish they had handled it differently? Yes. Then again, I wish the attention whores had stayed home to beg mommy for donut money or play video games too.
In the meantime, I will comply with the laws of the state of Texas while enjoying my burritos and tacos.
Daddy Hawk,
ReplyDeleteThis is an area where we may be in sharp disagreement. Nothing personal but I think your comments miss the mark.
should probably have been arrested for disturbing the peace or brandishing of some other related offense.
There is no brandishing statute in Texas. The closest that comes is disorderly conduct and that requires several actions on the part of the person -- knowingly or intentionally is the foremost.
Posing for pictures does not rise to that level. Especially since the people in Chipotle didn't seem to have a problem that day. No one called the cops. The store allowed them to eat their meal instead of asking them to leave. Section 42.01 of the Texas Penal Code is the applicable statute.
(8) displays a firearm or other deadly weapon in a public place in a manner calculated to alarm
Again if we make the argument that carrying a firearms in a public place meets this qualification; then any Open Carry of firearms is illegal. That is the same basic argument that the anti-rights cultists make about Open or Concealed Carry of firearms isn' it?
Add to that little drama, the events going on in Arlington where the city council recently passed a new ordinance preventing people from stepping into city streets to hand out literature
This is another area of contention with me; why focus on the Open Carry group instead of talking about how the city government is restricting free speech -- in the name of safety of course. But they apparently don't care about the safety of fire-fighters; they can still do the 'Fill the Boot Campaign'.
This ordinance was the result of a Tarrant County open carry group passing out copies of the Constitution at intersections while carrying rifles and shotguns to the apparent dismay of some if you believe the news reporting of the events.
According to the news reports I saw; one person complained at the City Council. Again this is an area where I don't see how we can change hearts and minds without hearing people complain. We want to show the public that Open Carrying of firearms is something that 'normal' people do but until people get used to it, some are going to be 'frightened'. So how do we get the average person to see Open Carry as normal if we don't do Open Carry?
Personally I think posing for pictures in the establishments is cheesy and counterproductive but I can understand why they are doing it. Hard to let people know that nothing happened with people Openly Carrying firearms if there is no evidence of people Openly Carrying firearms.
Then again, I wish the attention whores had stayed home to beg mommy for donut money or play video games too.
Really helpful there isn't it?
Bob S.
3 Boxes of BS
Bob, I appreciate your comments and don't take them personally at all. To be honest, my comments probably do miss the mark as I'm finding my thinking/researching/writing time is not as comprehensive as it once was. So, I freely own any "foot in mouth" moments in the post.
DeleteNow, to reply to your points. On the brandishing issue, I stand corrected. See my caveat above.
As for the limitations on free speech imposed by the Arlington City Council, you are correct that I should have commented on that as well. Truly, I meant to, got distracted by other squirrels and forgot about it.
Now, how to change hearts and minds is a topic for another post entirely. What are "normal" people? To someone who is frightened of guns, how do you get that person to see guns as normal? The best suggestion I've seen (after I wrote this) was to wear an empty holster or a stripped AR lower receiver. It gives you the opportunity to discuss the subject without being "in your face" when someone asks about it. I can see a non-shooter what that hunk of aluminum is hanging around your neck which would give the wearer an opportunity to discuss the reasons for carrying, etc. That same non-shooter is more likely to be turned off by the same person wearing a complete AR or other long gun never giving you the opportunity to win over the heart and mind.
Reasonable minds will differ on tactics and strategies, but one thing we cannot ignore is how the media will use what we do and say against us (guilty as charged) and how the general public will view all of it given current events. Carrying assault rifles into a restaurant in downtown Dallas just isn't smart in the wake of whichever the latest active shooter event still has the media's attention.
I have heard other suggestions regarding how better to change hearts and minds such as a trash pick up (OCT has done that), fishing events (like Florida Carry) and dinners at willing restaurants, etc.
DeleteI think those have a valid place and objective. I do think that Open Carry Walks/Events including stopping for meals is a valid concept and one that needs to be used. I think that getting permission before hand is vital. I also think NOT taking pictures there is a good choice.
The Empty Holster protest has been tried, Tarrant County College for example, and makes sense in a limited way. The problem with the Empty Holster is so few people actually notice.
I talked to someone who went by the Jack in the Box at Cooper/Division in Arlington the day Open Carry Tarrant County was there. He saw people there but did not see they were carrying firearms -- Rifles and Shotguns. The Stripped Lower Receiver also suffers from another aspect of the Empty holster; they simply are not firearms. People categorize things differently; Holsters/Receivers become "political" and not 'something that normal people can do' if that makes sense.
but one thing we cannot ignore is how the media will use what we do and say against us (guilty as charged) and how the general public will view all of it given current events.
This is the area where I believe we help the other side. Fort Worth Police Department apparently lied -- twice (who called and hiding in the freezer) and the media ran with that information non-stop. The gunny community jumped on the band wagon and criticized the Open Carry Group (despite photographic evidence contrary) about being jerks.
Look around some of the blogs if you haven't. Few people are talking about the police department lying. Almost no one is mentioning that Jack in the Box and Chipotle were dragged into this issue not by Open Carry but by Moms Demanding Attention.
Let's use the publicity generated to talk about the ridiculous laws in Texas, let's point out the fact that 43 other states allow Open Carry of handguns, lets point out that Moms Demanding Attention are the ones who are crying wolf over and over and over again. How many times did we hear the same issues but in regards to Concealed Carry?
Carrying assault rifles into a restaurant in downtown Dallas just isn't smart in the wake of whichever the latest active shooter event still has the media's attention.
This is the conundrum of the day; Active Shooters use "assault rifles" (really Daddy Hawk --select fire weapons?) so anyone carrying one must be a bad guy.....but we can't change that perception because anyone carrying a modern patrol rifle / modern sporting rifle / AR,AK platform is being an insensitive jerk just out to get attention.
We have to challenge that perception some how and having the gunny community support that view is counterproductive in my opinion.
Bob,
DeleteWhile I agree with the NOT taking pictures concept in general principle, pictures are going to happen whether we take them or the media or the opposition. We don't control two out of three. When we do control them, they need to absolutely put our best foot forward. No unaffiliated/unwilling employees in the background, weapons holstered or slung in a safe direction (no "low ready hand on the pistol grip" stuff), conservative dress (no obviously tactical stuff, offensive t-shirts, etc.), no tattoos showing, etc. Every photo released/posted on Facebook needs to have a second set of eyes look at it for the "what were they thinking?" factor.
If empty holster, etc. has been tried with limited to no success, let's put our heads together and look for alternatives. How about florescent t-shirts that say "ASK ME ABOUT OPEN CARRY"?
As for the jumping on the bandwagon, guilty as charged which, I hope you will agree, is unusual for me. I blame the aforementioned caveats and squirrels. Here is my offer to you in penance: option 1, you and I work up a joint post, interview or debate style, to correct the flies in the ointment with this post; or, option 2, you have the floor for a guest post here to rebut/challenge/clarify as you see fit; or, option 3, i will gladly link to a post of yours on your blog fulfilling the spirit of option 2.
As to the conundrum of the day, challenging perceptions is difficult because the goal of changing those perceptions is not unopposed. I can't even misuse the artificial term "assault rifles" (admittedly out of laziness rather than intent) without it going unchallenged or cheered. But the point remains the same which is that the opposition is actively maintaining the perception that pro-OC activists are insensitive jerks through its messaging in the media, and the pro-OC side will not change the hearts and minds of the opposition because the issue is polarized. The best we can hope for is to reach enough people in the moderate middle to tip the scales just enough to win. We don't do that with visuals like the Jack in the Box or Chipotle photos which is just as counterproductive as my half baked post. We do that by encouraging those in the middle to come see what our side is like at a range day or a sporting clays tournament or an IDPA match.
The floor is yours. Let me know what you want to do with it.
I completely agree with you! Could you email me when you get a chance?? I have a question for you -- thanks.
ReplyDeletejulieonpolitics AT gmail DOT com
Julie, email sent.
Delete