NRA says Open Carry Texas demonstrations 'downright scary'

[BC1]

It's only downright scary for the anti's.

I believe it scares people who are gun-neutral too. Not anti-gunners but rather people who have no experience on the subject.
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Gotta say, I've negotiated a lot of contracts in my career. One thing I learned early-on is that when I tried to force someone to accept my terms it was a loser.

 

[Bikenut]

I believe it scares people who are gun-neutral too. Not anti-gunners but rather people who have no experience on the subject.
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Gotta say, I've negotiated a lot of contracts in my career. One thing I learned early-on is that when I tried to force someone to accept my terms it was a loser.

And one thing I've learned is when I walk into a negotiation willing to cave I've already given them what they wanted... and it was I who was the loser.

 

[BC1]

And one thing I've learned is when I walk into a negotiation willing to cave I've already given them what they wanted... and it was I who was the loser.

I always saw negotiations as two sided. Otherwise its an ultimatum. People who present ultimatums are usually handed their hat and pointed to the door. Negotiation is choice, a compromise. In business we can always arrive at an agreement that is beneficial to all parties. The key is in the diplomacy. You can tell them to go to hell yet make them look forward to the trip if done right. But I got a bad feeling about this one. Not my personal opinion, but as a student of life I see an ignorant society caving fully to the anti-gun crowd rather than have it pushed in their face. Just an observation.

 

[Oldgrunt]

Did you happen to notice that this was a posed picture? This was not how the guy was walking around the whole day I'm sure. Also, if it were under any other context people would be saying things like "see how his finger is indexed outside the trigger guard" if they said anything at all. If it was a candid photo, then I agree I might consider the guy a little iffy walking around like he's clearing a room. Rumor has it that it was one of the establishments employees that took the picture because they thought it was cool what the guys were doing.

It seems like I have become a "gun snob" as you put it in your other post and I will accept that but, just for the record, I am just as pro-2d Amendment as anyone on here. I may not fit the mold you are trying to define as being "one of the boys" because my opinion differs from that of others. I do advocate open carry and have attended open carry events before and will again. The thing I always try to do is leave a good impression whenever in public or at an event. No "in your face" activities nor bravado just because I am carrying a gun. To me that is just being civil and eliminates any friction with the "antis." The picture of the two fellows is good propaganda for those who don't want us to have weapons, posed or not. That picture, for good or bad, presents a negative example for any other than the gun crowd and will be circulated far and wide in an effort to stop carry of any sort. I had never thought of myself as a "gun snob" before but, if trying to present a positive image when out in public with my weapon makes me a snob, so be it. It is going to take a tremendous effort on the part of the gun community to combat the different anti-gun organizations that are being so vocal against us. The school shooting this morning is another incident that will be held against us so, rather than railing against presenting a positive image, we should be making every effort to give nothing less than positive images to the public and offer up good examples that show we are not the loonies they perceive us to be.

 

[whodat2710]

It seems like I have become a "gun snob" as you put it in your other post and I will accept that but, just for the record, I am just as pro-2d Amendment as anyone on here. I may not fit the mold you are trying to define as being "one of the boys" because my opinion differs from that of others. I do advocate open carry and have attended open carry events before and will again. The thing I always try to do is leave a good impression whenever in public or at an event. No "in your face" activities nor bravado just because I am carrying a gun. To me that is just being civil and eliminates any friction with the "antis." The picture of the two fellows is good propaganda for those who don't want us to have weapons, posed or not. That picture, for good or bad, presents a negative example for any other than the gun crowd and will be circulated far and wide in an effort to stop carry of any sort. I had never thought of myself as a "gun snob" before but, if trying to present a positive image when out in public with my weapon makes me a snob, so be it. It is going to take a tremendous effort on the part of the gun community to combat the different anti-gun organizations that are being so vocal against us. The school shooting this morning is another incident that will be held against us so, rather than railing against presenting a positive image, we should be making every effort to give nothing less than positive images to the public and offer up good examples that show we are not the loonies they perceive us to be.

I agree with you on most things on here, but on this we'll disagree.

No "in your face" activities nor bravado just because I am carrying a gun.

Again, they were OC'ing the only way they are legally allowed, and other than posing for a photo did nothing "in your face" other than carrying.

That picture, for good or bad, presents a negative example for any other than the gun crowd and will be circulated far and wide in an effort to stop carry of any sort

So posing for a picture is a bad example? Being overweight? Not wearing a business suit? Not to be mean, but I would be willing to bet it's hard for a guy that size to find something "spiffy" to wear.
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Lastly, the "gun snob" article was not written by me, just timely. If you can read it and understand what they mean by it, and are then comfortable identifying yourself as a "gun snob", I don't think that;s a good thing.

 

[telpinaro]

Hmm... Am I a snob if I don't necessarily agree with how they exercise their right, but will still support them anyway? It just seems rather... awkward... to have an AR in a restaurant. Though maybe that's just because I'm a bit klutzy... :smile:

Personally, I'd also avoid businesses unless invited (I do remember correctly that these guys had asked that Chipotle's if they could carry there, or something along those lines, right?), since I don't want to deal with the Mom's Demand "ladies" and therefore assume business managers do not want to as well. If it'll keep them allowing OC, I'll have a demonstration or whatever somewhere else with no problem.

I'd certainly NEVER suggest to anyone in Texas (or, well, anywhere) that they shouldn't OC a long gun. Not my cup of tea (I'd probably trip on something), so I don't technically "agree" but I have no issues and will be supportive of anyone who chooses to do so. Heck, maybe the petite girl going over and saying hi will make them seem less "super-duper scary!" My son would probably be itching for a closer look at the awesome-looking gun, anyway.

 

[Rhino]

It seems like I have become a "gun snob" as you put it in your other post and I will accept that but, just for the record, I am just as pro-2d Amendment as anyone on here. I may not fit the mold you are trying to define as being "one of the boys" because my opinion differs from that of others. I do advocate open carry and have attended open carry events before and will again. The thing I always try to do is leave a good impression whenever in public or at an event. No "in your face" activities nor bravado just because I am carrying a gun. To me that is just being civil and eliminates any friction with the "antis." The picture of the two fellows is good propaganda for those who don't want us to have weapons, posed or not. That picture, for good or bad, presents a negative example for any other than the gun crowd and will be circulated far and wide in an effort to stop carry of any sort. I had never thought of myself as a "gun snob" before but, if trying to present a positive image when out in public with my weapon makes me a snob, so be it. It is going to take a tremendous effort on the part of the gun community to combat the different anti-gun organizations that are being so vocal against us. The school shooting this morning is another incident that will be held against us so, rather than railing against presenting a positive image, we should be making every effort to give nothing less than positive images to the public and offer up good examples that show we are not the loonies they perceive us to be.

I'm really leaning toward this being a simple matter of unintended consequences. Since the picture of them in line at Chipotles showed them with the rifles slung over their backs with the muzzles down, I'm assuming that's the way they were carrying them until they were asked to pose for the picture the employee took, and that's the one that ended up causing the stir on Facebook. This is a matter being taken incredibly out of context, and in more ways than one. First, that picture doesn't represent their open carry walk at all. The one with their rifles sling over their backs should have represented it. The wacko Moms deliberately chose the other picture because they could exaggerate it completely out of context and present the situation for something it wasn't. Obviously they were highly successful at this. The other way this was taken out of context is in the debate we're waging right here and the same debate being waged in similar gun oriented venues across America, including at the NRA. We're allowing the nut-moms to frame our argument on what is or is not the proper image to portray to others, when the image that was being portrayed at Chipotle that day isn't the same image we're looking at now. What did these people look like when they weren't being posed? What was the true image they were presenting to the public?
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I don't know about you guys but I'm going to lose sleep worrying about those last two pictures. The HORROR!
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Why are we allowing the nut-moms to set the conditions of the debate with a picture that doesn't represent the true image these people were presenting to the public that day? If we're going to debate what image they were projecting, and what image we should be projecting, why aren't we using the true image they were projecting that day? How can we, the NRA and apparently all other pro-gun organizations be so naive as to allow the anti-gunners to set a playing field that is so heavily slanted against us before we even set foot on it? And it isn't even true. Any argument we have over what may or may not be a positive image is obviously going to be subjective and influenced by personal opinion. But whatever position we take, it should be based on the true image they presented that day, not on the overblown, hyped up image the nut-moms circulated and falsely claimed was the public image.
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Oldgrunt, I don't think you're a snob just for wanting to present a more positive image. If you insisted on everyone wearing suits that would be a different story, but that's not what you're doing. It would be best if such events were represented by a true cross section of society. For all we know, maybe it was. We don't know who else was there that day that didn't pose for pictures. Maybe somebody was wearing a suit. I'm not holding my breath, but I'm hoping just like you.

 

[Oldgrunt]

Rhino: This set of pictures are of the sort that I, and everyone else in the gun culture, like to see. All of the people pictured were carrying their weapons in similar manner to the Israelis and, in my opinion, promote an image that should not be offensive to anyone. I would have been tickled pink to have been a part of that outing. I feel that we, as a class of people, are just as dignified and caring as those who oppose us. Their opposition I feel is due to their ignorance of weapons and inability to see that a weapon is beneficial to possess for one's own safety and, on occasion, the safety of others. The Watts woman leading the Mothers Against whatever said that there has not been a recorded incidence of a gun being used to stop a crime or defend anyone. Obviously, she has her head where the sun doesn't shine and is content to spread lies to defend her stance. This is where we can defeat inane arguments posed by people who do not have a clue about who we are or what we represent. The pictures you presented show that gun owners can be, and are, responsible people that the anti-gun people do not have to run from and hide. That was the message I was trying to get across.

 

[whodat2710]

Hmm... Am I a snob if I don't necessarily agree with how they exercise their right, but will still support them anyway? It just seems rather... awkward... to have an AR in a restaurant. Though maybe that's just because I'm a bit klutzy... :smile:

Personally, I'd also avoid businesses unless invited (I do remember correctly that these guys had asked that Chipotle's if they could carry there, or something along those lines, right?), since I don't want to deal with the Mom's Demand "ladies" and therefore assume business managers do not want to as well. If it'll keep them allowing OC, I'll have a demonstration or whatever somewhere else with no problem.

I'd certainly NEVER suggest to anyone in Texas (or, well, anywhere) that they shouldn't OC a long gun. Not my cup of tea (I'd probably trip on something), so I don't technically "agree" but I have no issues and will be supportive of anyone who chooses to do so. Heck, maybe the petite girl going over and saying hi will make them seem less "super-duper scary!" My son would probably be itching for a closer look at the awesome-looking gun, anyway.

Based on what you say here I would say no, not a snob. The big difference IMHO is between "not my cup of tea" and "how dare they!". If you wouldn't, who cares? You are still aware that you have the right to if you choose or need to. At least you aren't bashing people that are trying to make a difference.

 

[Rhino]

...The pictures you presented show that gun owners can be, and are, responsible people that the anti-gun people do not have to run from and hide. That was the message I was trying to get across.

I know, and I have no problem with that sentiment. The people in those pictures are all the Texas open carry folks. Some of the pictures are from the same demonstration where the Chipotle 'incident' took place.

 

[Ringo]

And Then There's This...

Video Archive - Bill Maher destroys Open Carry Texas ?ammosexuals?​

 

[Rhino]

I couldn't care less what Bill Moron says.

 

[whodat2710]

I couldn't care less what Bill Moron says.

Neither could I, but you can see his point. All BM did was create a new cool term "ammosexuals" that will end up on memes, commercials, attack ads, or at a minimum you-tube. This is the kind of thing that might sway a fence-sitter.
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I just disagree with the "acceptable" way to combat this type of anti-gun propaganda. I say the NRA should put up Coloin Noir in a video slamming the anti's and showing the 99 other pictures they didn't try to take out of context. Maybe fighting humor with humor, attack add with attack ad will work a little better since we do have the facts on our side and they don't.

 

[Rhino]

Neither could I, but you can see his point.

Actually I can't. I never listen to a word he says. I didn't this time either.

 

[Firefighterchen]

Bill Maher is a textbook bully.

Sent from my HTCONE using USA Carry mobile app

 

[Ringo]

And this...

Neither could I, but you can see his point. All BM did was create a new cool term "ammosexuals" that will end up on memes, commercials, attack ads, or at a minimum you-tube. This is the kind of thing that might sway a fence-sitter.
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It's too easy to see their point, especially with a sense of humor. And considering that the MAJORITY of the people listen to people like Bill Maher and Jon Stewart, they are too easily swayed.

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[telpinaro]

Bill Maher is a textbook bully.

Sent from my HTCONE using USA Carry mobile app

No kidding. Even people who agree with him think he's a jack@ss.

 

[whodat2710]

OCT with Tea Party News.