Posted on 03/01/2010 6:16:36 AM PST by mikelets456
Buzz and bullets: Gun fans cheer Starbucks' policy Sunday, February 28, 2010 E-mail this story | Print Bookmark and Share
By GREG BLUESTEIN (AP) -- Dale Welch recently walked into a Starbucks in Virginia, handgun strapped to his waist, and ordered a banana Frappuccino with a cinnamon bun. He says the firearm drew a double-take from at least one customer,
Welch's foray into the coffeehouse was part of an effort by some gun owners to exercise and advertise their rights in states that allow people to openly carry firearms.
Even in some "open carry" states, businesses are allowed to ban guns in their stores. And some have, creating political confrontations with gun owners. But Starbucks, the largest chain targeted, has refused to take the bait, saying in a statement this month that it follows state and local laws and has its own safety measures in its stores.
"Starbucks is a special target because it's from the hippie West Coast, and a lot of dedicated consumers who pay $4 for coffee have expectations that Starbucks would ban guns. And here they aren't," said John Bruce, a political science professor at the University of Mississippi who is an expert in gun policy.
Welch, a 71-year-old retired property manager who lives in Richmond, Va., doesn't see any reason why he shouldn't bear arms while he gets caffeinated.
"I don't know of anybody who would provide me with defense other than myself, so I routinely as a way of life carry a weapon _ and that extends to my coffee shops," he said.
The fight for retailers heated up in early January when gun enthusiasts in northern California began walking into Starbucks and other businesses to test state laws that allow gun owners to carry weapons openly in public places.
(Excerpt) Read more at baynews9.com ...
Maybe I’ll stop by a Starbucks and “razz” a picketing liberal...
Why scare people. 95% of this is simply being a show off.
Tactically, it is idiocy. Why show a potential enemy you are armed? Surprise the one of the three most important tactical advantages. Why give it up. Open carry just alerts any bad guys to be prepared for you.
My Glock is always there in my front pocket, always ready as a surprise for any qualified idiot.
This is all about BS and showoff ego.
I think they call it Freedom or liberty which ever. Besides there unloaded.
There? Where?
Only a fool would go around carrying an empty gun in open carry. Only a fool would carry and empty gun.........there fixed it.
“Why scare people. 95% of this is simply being a show off.”
Why are they scared? Because everyone has made it seem as though guns will jump off the table and kill them.
Liberals have made guns go undercover and out of sight. In the days when guns were visibly seen all the time no one had issues with them; they were just a common sight.
If people see them everyday they won’t think twice about them, and when a liberal says guns kill people and are a horrible thing to have or even to see, people will laugh and say, “So, what? I see them everyday.”
Get the point?
Thank your public schools. My son and grandkids visited us when I was cleaning my Ruger-22-semi-auto-that-looks-like-an-AK47. My 11-year-old grand-daughter said, "Ooooh, a gun!" in the "it's evil" tone of voice.
I laid the gun on the floor and told her we'd watch it and see how long it would take to jump up and start shooting. She looked at me as if I was nuts and said, "But grampa, it's not alive!" (Out of the mouths of babes.) I told her to remember what she said, and that it isn't the gun, but what's in the mind of the person holding it.
At that meeting explain how outlaws have guns, innocent merchants are getting killed, and if you do not get satisfaction, you will begin a media campaign to educate voters about how this elected official is putting people in danger.
Make it private and polite, but if you get no satisfaction, bring 250 people to their next public meeting.
Even the most liberal Dem can count noses.
You got it. Gold star for the day.
I predict no crazed gunmen will slaughter people in Starbucks.
If a criminal is going to commit a robbery in the presence of an armed person, it is better for the armed person if the criminal not be aware of his armament.
On the other hand, most criminals have more sense than to knowingly commit a robbery in the presence of an armed person.
I guess a fair question would be whether it is better to carry concealed and have a criminal attempt his crime in one's presence, or to carry openly and have the criminal wait until one has left.
“Why scare people. 95% of this is simply being a show off.”
Simple. Myself and several others call it the “innoculation effect.”
People are taught by the schools and the media that guns are something to be feared. By carrying openly, folks are who would otherwise not be are being exposed to guns. While folks who don’t normally carry guns might be a little uncomfortable at first, by repeated exposure they tend to think of it as less of a problem. What is scary becomes unusual, and what is unusual just becomes part of the background. It makes it a lot harder for the Brady bunch to spread the canard that “blood will be running in the streets” when the public has is exposed to guns frequently and notices that it simply isn’t a problem.
For those of us who actually do open carry, what “thrill” there is in doing so is over rated and short lived. And you know what? The vast majority of people don’t notice. Those that do notice seem to assume that either you’re authorized to do so or are a cop.
This is all about BS and showoff ego.
This guy can't be serious. Are you serious? Yea, I'd hate to carry openly and be the target of a armed robber. Since that's what will happen, without a doubt. Yup.
Only in California, where it's required by law. I can assure you I don't open carry with an unloaded gun. I might as well have a brick in my pocket to throw at someone.
Perhaps, but I can't really fault gun owners who would rather have the robber get so bored waiting for a safe time to commit his crime (if enough people carry openly, that may be awhile) that he decides to take up knitting instead.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.