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Never, Ever Leave home without It.
Real Life | 8/21/2005 | CholeraJoe

Posted on 08/21/2005 6:02:36 AM PDT by CholeraJoe

"Never, ever leave home without it." No, not your American Express card, your sidearm.

This morning, I woke up about 4:15 and was hungry, so I decided to drive to the local 24-hour beanery. The only other customers were a table of 10, intoxicated 20-somethings making alot of noise.

There were 7 muscular young men and three loud-mouthed young women. After listening to their raucous laughter for 10 minutes, I politely asked the waitress to ask them to hold down the noise. All I wanted to do was eat my breakfast in relative peace.

Her request for quiet lasted about 45 seconds, then the noise and laughter resumed. At that point, I decided to do something.

Bear in mind that I am not an imposing figure. I'm 5'9", mid 50's, and slim. I walked over to the table, and walked completely around it twice. I said, "I'd like y'all to hold down the noise for a while, please." One of the young men started to give me trash-talk but within seconds was elbowed by the guy next to him, who whispered something in his ear. Then everyone at the table said, "Yes, sir, or OK."

What made the difference? Open carry. I was wearing a 9mm semi-auto on my right hip. I never touched it and I made no threats, but it was nevertheless visible.


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An armed society is a polite society.
1 posted on 08/21/2005 6:02:36 AM PDT by CholeraJoe
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To: CholeraJoe

There are neighborhoods in Denver where a few at the table might have shown you theirs.


2 posted on 08/21/2005 6:05:16 AM PDT by Sterco
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To: secret garden; xsmommy; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA; Argh; hobbes1; dubyaismypresident

ping


3 posted on 08/21/2005 6:05:18 AM PDT by CholeraJoe ("Cowboy the f*ck up!" LT Waters in "Tears of the Sun")
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To: CholeraJoe

Why would you expect peace and quiet at 430 am on a weekend? Maybe you should just scramble some eggs in the kitchen.


4 posted on 08/21/2005 6:05:32 AM PDT by Arkie2 (No, I never voted for Bill Clinton. I don't plan on voting Republican again!)
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To: CholeraJoe

This ought to be fun; the RKBA is based on the principle of self-defense. A public place, no threat of physical safety, no one breaking the law - just a person annoyed by loud noise. One can imagine that he could be arrested for threatening other customers.


5 posted on 08/21/2005 6:07:15 AM PDT by lemura
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To: Neil E. Wright; Alas Babylon!; dixie sass; Taxman; Jim Robinson

ping


6 posted on 08/21/2005 6:07:34 AM PDT by CholeraJoe ("Cowboy the f*ck up!" LT Waters in "Tears of the Sun")
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To: Arkie2

I was out of eggs. The restaurant was open and the grocery store was closed.


7 posted on 08/21/2005 6:09:02 AM PDT by CholeraJoe ("Cowboy the f*ck up!" LT Waters in "Tears of the Sun")
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To: CholeraJoe

nothing like fresh "STFU" for breakfast


8 posted on 08/21/2005 6:09:16 AM PDT by kendu
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To: CholeraJoe
I have had a CCW for about five years - and I have never "showed" to anyone.

What you did was wrong.

A bunch of drunk kids?

Leave them alone.

9 posted on 08/21/2005 6:10:01 AM PDT by patton ("Hard Drive Cemetary" - forthcoming best seller)
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To: CholeraJoe
Joe, I would have left. The tone and deportment in the restaurant is the owner's business. He might prefer ten raucous twenty-somethings to one dyspeptic fifty-something.

These kids were probably drunk, drunks do stupid things. At least they have an excuse.
10 posted on 08/21/2005 6:10:58 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Lonesome's First Law: Whenever anyone says it's not about the money, it's about the money.)
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To: CholeraJoe

Then you should be prepared for a little noise and exuberance. It's not your place to enforce anti noise laws. Open and concealed carry are meant for self defense, not open intimidation if someone offends your sensibilities.


11 posted on 08/21/2005 6:11:43 AM PDT by Arkie2 (No, I never voted for Bill Clinton. I don't plan on voting Republican again!)
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To: CholeraJoe

I think that was over the top. I don't believe the open carry laws were devised to enforce someone's version of good manners.

The threat was implied. What would you have done if they had continued to carry on? Shoot them? If not, what was the point?

P.S. I have a concealed carry permit


12 posted on 08/21/2005 6:12:52 AM PDT by T Minus Four (Some assembly required.)
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To: lemura
One can imagine that he could be arrested for threatening other customers.

I made no threats, nor touched my weapon. I simply asked them to keep the noise to a reasonable level. It was as unobtrusive as my balding head.

13 posted on 08/21/2005 6:13:15 AM PDT by CholeraJoe ("Cowboy the f*ck up!" LT Waters in "Tears of the Sun")
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Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

To: CholeraJoe

Excellent to hear!


15 posted on 08/21/2005 6:14:46 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: CholeraJoe

Been there too.

I'm 5'8" and chubby. Not threatening at all.

You can get a lot more with a kind word and a gun than a kind word.

There is no excuse, especially "kids being kids", for behaving like loud idiots in public.
Nothing ruins eating out like other people's inconsiderate behavior.


I'm glad you were able to finish your meal in peace.


16 posted on 08/21/2005 6:14:53 AM PDT by nerdwithamachinegun (All generalizations are wrong.)
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To: CholeraJoe

Would have been interesting if you came up against one of the drunks who also had a 9mm and told you to sit down and shut up. Would it have been the OK Corral?


17 posted on 08/21/2005 6:15:06 AM PDT by Bommer
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To: CholeraJoe

Billy Bad-ass? Chip on shoulder?...or both...


18 posted on 08/21/2005 6:15:29 AM PDT by dakine
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To: Sterco

yup , LOL!! , and nabes in NYC where the 1st thing you'd see would be the muzzle flash


19 posted on 08/21/2005 6:15:35 AM PDT by Dad yer funny
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To: CholeraJoe

"All I wanted to do was eat my breakfast in relative peace."

Certainly the bakery would wrap your breakfast for take-out!

Using your rights to step on the rights of others - seems like you were the rude one.


20 posted on 08/21/2005 6:16:39 AM PDT by Ludicrous (I support a woman's right to choose an effective contraception method)
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