Add Chili's and Sonic to the list.

It's just about open carry - which annoys a lot of people.

Everyone here is in favor of free speech but if I was in a restaurant and somebody was yacking so loud on their cell phone next to me that I couldn't hear myself think, it would piss me off. Go exercise your free speech somewhere else. I'm trying to eat.

Also, what if you had a gay nextdoor neighbor? No big deal, live and let live. But if he mowed his lawn in a G-string and a cowboy hat, you might have a problem with that.

Same with open carry. It's about getting in your face. I think anybody that open carries basically wants attention and want people to think they're studs. Why do you need to open carry anyway? It just makes you the first target of a shooter. Stealth is always a better policy. If I was in a restaurant and some dildo walked in with a rifle over his shoulder, I'd probably leave too. I know he wants attention but I don't want to stick around to see what kind of attention he's looking for. If I chose to stay, I'd have both eyes glued on him the whole time. And that's basically what he wants. So, they want a reaction, they got their reaction.
 
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DMW said:
It's just about open carry - which annoys a lot of people.

Everyone here is in favor of free speech but if I was in a restaurant and somebody was yacking so loud on their cell phone next to me that I couldn't hear myself think, it would piss me off. Go exercise your free speech somewhere else. I'm trying to eat.

Same with open carry. I think anybody that open carries basically wants attention and want people to think they're studs. Why do you need to open carry anyway? It just makes you the first target of a shooter. Stealth is always a better policy. If I was in a restaurant and some dildo walked in with a rifle over his shoulder, I'd probably leave too. I know he wants attention but I don't want to stick around to see what kind of attention he's looking for. If I chose to stay, I'd have both eyes glued on him the whole time. And that's basically what he wants.
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Notwithstanding your very valid point about not making yourself the first target, simply having a firearm on you hip is not in the slightest rude or obnoxious and a number of regulars here do OC on a daily basis and have no problems.

But a crowd of people coming in with AK-15's and AR-47's on their shoulders and then prancing around for photo ops, yes, that is over the line and is causing (IMO) more harm than good.

Visit the same restaurant with your buddy, for lunch, and OC. Repeat a few times. Tip nicely and be polite, never mentioning the firearm. You've just created a positive impression on the owner / waitstaff and when some hen whispers to their waiter about that "man" with a gun, he'll just tell the hen, "That's just George. He's in here all the time." and just maybe the hen will realize we aren't all child murdering monsters.

If enough of us do that, guns are being seen out and about in society and no babies are dying. People will notice.

(the misnamed rifles were deliberate)
 
JWPaolilliJr said:
The issue that everyone keeps bringing up is that the sight of a firearm annoys people. I also realize that businesses have broad discretion on how to handle this.
But as far the annoying thing, that is why the Mass 1998 gun law had the requirement of the gun being cased and locked when walking down the road.
I have heard folks say how they shouldn't have to see those guns. Keep catering to those bleeding heart, weak kneed arsholes, and as a gun owner, you are seeing yourself as a pervert sneaking in and out of the adult bookstore.
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But is the best way to change that public perception, rubbing peoples faces in rifles? That would be a little like promoting 1A rights by 20 people walking into a library and having loud, obnoxious conversations on them in the reading area.

Who is sneaking? Just frigging go about your business on a daily basis with your firearms.
 
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I eat at Chili's about 3 times a month. Last night as a matter of fact. Their carnitas fajitas are great, their $2.29 draughts are great, and I've never seen a "no guns" sign. I CC everytime I eat there. Any jackass that walks into any establishment with an unslung AK or AR is a fool, and begging to have a CC patron pop them. Imagine sitting at a bar in an urban setting, two black guys walk in with say, a couple of AK Drako's at the ready.....what would happen????
 
namedpipes said:
But a crowd of people coming in with AK-15's and AR-47's on their shoulders and then prancing around for photo ops, yes, that is over the line and is causing (IMO) more harm than good.

Visit the same restaurant with your buddy, for lunch, and OC. Repeat a few times. Tip nicely and be polite, never mentioning the firearm. You've just created a positive impression on the owner / waitstaff and when some hen whispers to their waiter about that "man" with a gun, he'll just tell the hen, "That's just George. He's in here all the time." and just maybe the hen will realize we aren't all child murdering monsters.

If enough of us do that, guns are being seen out and about in society and no babies are dying. People will notice.

(the misnamed rifles were deliberate)
Click to expand...

Yep - I agree. I think the guys going into a restaurant with an AK-47 for a photo op are no different than the participants at the San Francisco Gay Day parade. And I probably went too far in what I said because, you're right, a responsible person with a holstered pistol is not going to be a problem to the majority of people. Most will just assume he's a cop anyway.
 
What I'd like to know is when the shift occurred in the public's mind. At one time everyone open carried if they were honorable. Now the perception in many states is only on-duty cops can OC. When did this shift happen? 1910's? 1920's? 1890's? I figure someone on here probably knows the answer.
 
mark056 said:
I think you missed my point and his point entirely. It's not about fighting a 2A war with Sonic, it's the fact that they even have a policy.
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most restaurants are private businesses. they can take (almost) whatever policy they want.
just avoid them if you don't agree w their policy.
i avoid these restaurants because i don't want manboobs.

at best, the statements/decisions of sonic and chilis should serve more as a litmus test of the general political climate in which we live.

as a 2A supporter, the best I can do is simply not take my $$ to these awful restaurants.
 
drgrant said:
I wouldn't read that far into it. These companies look at it this way... issue wishy washy statement saying that they would prefer that people not openly prance around with guns in their stores, a handful of people get annoyed, but then the entire problem pretty much goes away. It's not about "pandering" for them its just a means to an end, the path of least resistance. These people want to sell hamburgers or whatever the hell it is they do, not get drawn into the middle of a debate.

-Mike
Click to expand...

100% spot on!
 
DMW said:
It's just about open carry - which annoys a lot of people.

Everyone here is in favor of free speech but if I was in a restaurant and somebody was yacking so loud on their cell phone next to me that I couldn't hear myself think, it would piss me off. Go exercise your free speech somewhere else. I'm trying to eat.

Also, what if you had a gay nextdoor neighbor? No big deal, live and let live. But if he mowed his lawn in a G-string and a cowboy hat, you might have a problem with that.

Same with open carry. It's about getting in your face. I think anybody that open carries basically wants attention and want people to think they're studs. Why do you need to open carry anyway? It just makes you the first target of a shooter. Stealth is always a better policy. If I was in a restaurant and some dildo walked in with a rifle over his shoulder, I'd probably leave too. I know he wants attention but I don't want to stick around to see what kind of attention he's looking for. If I chose to stay, I'd have both eyes glued on him the whole time. And that's basically what he wants. So, they want a reaction, they got their reaction.
Click to expand...
1. I disagree that it is about getting attention. They think they are making a statement.
2.Also, you are not making a distinction between OC of handguns as a matter of course and carrying rifles en masse as part of an event.
3. Your fear of someone with a rifle slung as opposed to brandished is entirely misdirected and indicative of hoplophobia.
In the interest of being conciliatory I can, however, direct you to a gun forum where everything you stated above would be very well-received.
 
JWPaolilliJr said:
... Then we have our own saying how concealed is the way we should carry. Prior to the 1998 Mass Gun Law Many of those that I socialized with and myself open carried, I was told one day after that law passed that if I wanted open carry that my badge had to be displayed. Which was bullshit, But since my agency did not have Licensing Authority, I was subject to the whims of the town which I resided in. (Chelmsford)
Click to expand...

In Massachusetts, it is arguable that you could lose your license by OC'ing and I CC because of that. Sounds like that's what you did too, when you were here.

In other states, where OC is not an issue, I would encourage people to OC. I would encourage those in MA that choose to, also to OC. Many non LE people do, without issues.

My issue is with large, "in your face" demonstrations using venues that can and WILL create polices they never had and perhaps don't even want, because of it.

Chili's doesn't give a rat's ass about our 1A rights, our 2A rights or our 77A rights for that matter. They just want to sell man boob food.
 
mark056 said:
Mike,

I would have to say that overall while you have many fine points to make, you frequently underestimate the subtle paradigm shift that is going on in our society. I am not Chicken Little and I am not going around saying "the sky is falling, the sky is falling" in fact when I posted this, I said to myself: Mike will respond and pooh-pooh the idea.

Mike I think the issue lies in two main areas: I'm not a Yankee Doodle for one thing, I've lived in a lot of different places and my roots are in a different part of the country. It's taken me slightly more than 30 years of living here to realize than in a lot of ways I'm not like you folks here, actually never have been, and never will be. The other thing is I'm probably 20 or more years older than you and that doesn't make me any smarter or better but it allows me to see a much different America, America that has changed in so many major ways and it didn't change dramatically . It changed by baby steps, in subtle ways. People keep looking for the big change, but it is not the big change, it's like water drop by drop dripping on a stone .

Is it major that Sonic has a gun policy? No , is it significant? Maybe, maybe not, but it is an indicator and an indicator is frequently a tiny clue ( no it's not being overly analytical either, something else you label me with [wink]) and it is that we are losing a culture war. Charlton Heston got it right, it is about hearts and minds but people are always thinking macro not micro and that what strikes me. Sonic is bedrock solid American Red State and if they have a "gun policy" no matter how trivial you deem it, it does mean something.
Click to expand...

The Anti's do seem to be adjusting their strategy to use more of a drip drip drip method. If they can't pass the overriding legislation at a Federal level - then they'll just start chipping away at 2nd amendment rights a little here and a little there.

This is basically the communist strategy for taking over the world anyway - it's how so much socialism has crept into this country. It didn't happen overnight - it came in thru bits and pieces and a little here and a little there.

If the Open Carry people want to make a point - I think they'd be much better off putting a bunch of rifles in carry bags - slinging them over their shoulders - and walking into a restaurant. Having an "Uzi 58" slung over your shoulder at a ready position - and loaded with mags - is just sort of stupid IMHO. Yeah - I know - the gun is supposed to be there to defend you. But they were at a Chilis in Texas - not eating a kabob hut in Bagdad.
 
Chevy 2 65 said:
They both suck the food is awful. I will carry anywhere its legal conceal is concealed. ****'em
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Bingo.

The problem is that these open carry events motivate businesses to ban carry and, in the cases of places like TX, a sign can turn otherwise legal concealed carry into a criminal offense.

The open carry folks are not strategically thinking this out, and do not seem to be helping the cause.

If large crowds of players started carrying hockey sticks with them to dinner, and the presence of the sticks disrupted the ability to sell product, I would expect the stores to ban hockey sticks.
 
Rob Boudrie said:
Bingo.

The problem is that these open carry events motivate businesses to ban carry and, in the cases of places like TX, a sign can turn otherwise legal concealed carry into a criminal offense.

The open carry folks are not strategically thinking this out, and do not seem to be helping the cause.

If large crowds of players started carrying hockey sticks with them to dinner, and the presence of the sticks disrupted the ability to sell product, I would expect the stores to ban hockey sticks.
Click to expand...

Some cant think beyond their noses.
 
In honor of this I'll be distributing extra scary standard capacity magazines at a Chili's tomorrow.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
hunt4riches said:
Chili's was decent in 2002. By 2004 it completely sucked. The last time I was there I did get so drunk that I couldn't find my car when I got out, so I walked home. I woke up the next day to find the car right where I left it (in the driveway, so that I wouldn't DUI on the way home). My keys were also still in the front door and my wallet was in the kitchen sink (???).
Click to expand...

Meh. Get back to me when your woken up, by a cop, in the bed of your pickup with a plastic tarp for a blanket and a spare tire for a pillow. Only to then realize you are at a beach you have never been to before, don't remember driving to, and have no idea how to get home from. [laugh]

As it turns out I was at So Shore beach in little compton and I had been there before... [laugh]
 

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