The National Rifle Association condemned the “scary” actions of open carry activists in Texas, including some who were shown in a video harassing a Marine veteran on Memorial Day.
The NRA also addressed recent no-gun policies put in place by several restaurants including Chipotle, which said it created the rule because “the display of firearms in our restaurants has now created an environment that is potentially intimidating or uncomfortable for many of our customers.”
In a May 30 statement, the NRA applauded Texans for the “robust gun culture” in the Lone Star State, but said recent public showings of gun support “crossed the line” and were “downright weird” (emphasis NRA’s).
“Using guns merely to draw attention to yourself in public not only defies common sense, it shows a lack of consideration and manners,” the NRA statement said. “That’s not the Texas way. And that’s certainly not the NRA way.”
Finally! I was afraid there would never be gun activity that the NRA wouldn’t renounce. Most Americans oppose open carry in restaurants according to a huff post/yougov poll.
Once again, Some folks might think they are the good guys, but how does one tell with strangers? I am glad to see the NRA take a common sense approach by disavowing the practice of bringing long rifles into public eating places. Just because its legal doesn’t make it a good idea.
Given the number of guns in general circulation, and the public awareness that exists over gun crimes, it’s a wonder some of these idiots marching into public places with long guns haven’t caused firefights to break out. I don’t carry weapons around (with the exception of my cavalry sword, which I carry openly at all times except when trying to go through revolving doors), but if I had a concealed weapon on my person when someone marched into a public places with long guns exposed, I’d at least be thinking about whether I might need to be engaging a target right quick. This is absolutely nuts. The report you post indicates that even the NRA has its limits.
Damn Liberals is taking over the NRA.
Snicker! Must be!
The open carry, when it first started, was a quiet affair. Merely carry your rifle slung across your back and then ignore it.
Then the glory hounds started showing up.
This started because Texas has not joined the free states in allowing open carry of handguns. So, this is a political protest. Unfortunately, its failing.
Why should someone do that? There is nothing quiet about slinging a rifle across your back unless you are Davy Frigging Crockett.
A number of years ago my husband was in the grocery store in the evening and some dude came in armed to the teeth, long rifles and all. The cops were all over him in a few minutes.
There is just no reason to walk around like that.
Thanks so much NRA–you’re about a century and a half late. I wonder if you can walk into an NRA meeting with a gun strapped on or a long weapon over your shoulder.
“I wonder if you can walk into an NRA meeting with a gun strapped on or a long weapon over your shoulder.”
If the meeting is in a jurisdiction which permits open-carry, then the answer is “yes”. I happen to agree with the position the NRA is taking on this issue. Open-carry of long guns in a urban/suburban environment doesn’t advance the cause, it makes gun-owners appear anti-social.
Steve, I think a lot of this is about location location location. If you were somewhere how in the hills of Wyoming, just coming in off the ranch, no problem. You probably had to shoot a coyote or two on the way. That’s a lot different than Fairfax.
You are right, it absolutely doesn’t advance the cause. It makes people like me who are somewhat on your side turn rabid on the gun-huggers. <---- God, I love that expression!!!
@Steve Thomas
For nearly 150 years, the NRA mantra has been, Guns, guns, more guns”. Now all of a sudden, they’re saying, “Well we really didn’t mean that many guns.”
@ Steve: Why is it any more “anti social” to open carry long guns than it is to open carry sidearms or to conceal carry sidearms? If everyone who felt their lives were at risk anytime they go out of their houses (and defending one’s life – or the life of another – is the only legitimate use of deadly force) did so openly, at least the rest of us would know who these people are and could elect to keep our distance. I’m convinced that the popularity of concealed carry is in very large part related to the knowledge that carrying around deadly weapons in daily life in most of America is indeed a reflection of addled judgment. Concealed carry-ers want the pacifier effect of having their weapons on their persons, but don’t want others to know that they are so frightened by their surroundings that they feel that need. On balance, a requirement that everyone who wants to exercise his/her constitutional right to bear arms outside the residence, and who chooses a gun as the “arm” he wishes to bear, should do so openly makes much more sense in a society where large numbers of us question the necessity of having so much firepower in our midst than does giving people the ability to hide their decision to carry these weapons.
The thing that makes carrying long guns even barmier than carrying sidearms is that many long guns can’t be argued very effectively to be useful personal defense weapons (shotguns I put in a class by themselves). They are long-range weapons best used against unsuspecting prey. I think the NRA has drawn a line here because even they sense the fragility of their past positions and are concerned that one more dollop of hysteria might just be too much for the citizens at large.
@Scout
You should convince Texas then.
They prohibit open carry of sidearms. Its not the fault of the citizens that they are limited to long arms.
I don’t want to convince Texas. I see no reason to open carry sidearms unless you are out on your ranch or farm.
I see doing that as an in your face public comment or…that the person who does it is dangerous. One or the other or perha[ps both.
I grew up in the rural South and accompanied my father on a few rabbit hunting trips. I don’t remember seeing long arms ever carried around – only in a rack in the back of a truck or secured in the car on the way to a field. These recent demonstrations seem to have appeared around the same time as the rise of the Tea Party and employ the same bullying/scare tactics. I’m not so sure that it’s the second amendment that really drives this nonsense as it is the fear of change – culturally, ethnically, racially, economically.
I’ll admit to wanting to take a shotgun out of my house once upon a time (translation – 35 years ago). It was to skeet shoot, but macular edema put an end to that before it started.
I am from the south also and I never saw people walking around with rifles and shotguns except on farms and when hunting. It just isn’t done. In fact, it would have been considered really rednecky, even by rednecks where I grew up.
@Moon-howler
Its not usually done now by even the most ardent 2nd amendment supporters except for a purposeful protest.
@Cargo (comment #11). I agree that Texas has it backwards. They should require open carry and ban concealed (other than for law enforcement personnel on duty). They seem to have done it the other way around. I don’t think I’ll waste any time trying to convince them of it, however.
By the way, What the hell is a “robust gun culture” and why would it ever be “applauded” by anyone? As difficult as it is for me to imagine the concept of a society that is a “gun culture”, I have even more difficulty imagining why anyone would think it a good thing or would want to live in such a place. The whole thing stands on its head the famous Nazi remark (often incorrectly attributed to Hermann Goering) that “whenever I hear the word ‘Culture”, I reach for the safety on my pistol.” [“Wenn ich Kultur hore . . . entsichere ich mein Browning”].
@Scout
If you live in Virginia…you live in a state with a robust gun culture.
We support 2nd amendment rights.
Open and concealed carry is legal.
Gun safety and skills are respected and promoted.
Sorry to hear that, CS. Not particularly my idea of “culture”. We do need to work on getting rid of concealed carry. I hope you’ll join me in that. If everyone carries openly, I suppose we could say our “gun culture” would be even more robust.
By the way, while gun safety and skills may be respected (I certainly respect them), I see no indication that they are particularly “promoted”. Virtually anyone can get a concealed carry permit. Virtually anyone can buy a gun and carry openly. I’m sure that competence testing would be readily sustainable under the 2d Amendment, at least for those who take guns outside their residences. Then that “gun culture” might, in fact, be linked to skills and safety. I still think it a sad state of affairs that anyplace on the face of the earth would have a “gun culture.”
Agreed. There just has to be another way to say that. Tradition of gun ownership even sounds better.
I sure haven’t seen gun safety promoted by anyone but the Boy Scouts. Even that is sort of marginal.
@Scout
No…we do not need to get rid of concealed carry, thank you very much.
In fact, I would like Constitutional carry like Arizona, Vermont, and Alaska.
Competence testing? By the government? No thanks. Unless, you mean adding gun handling and safety to school curriculum.
The gun is the equalizer and harbinger of equality and civilization.
The gun is an “equalizer” only in the sense that it can strike anyone dead on the momentary decision of another. It does give the bearer God-like powers. Who would you nominate to be the ensurer that everyone who carries a gun knows how to use it, knows what the laws are the control its use, and has the mental, emotional and ethical qualities to use it only when a life is objectively at risk? I don’t particularly care if it’s the Government as long as we can achieve that level of competence and restraint.
By the way, what’s your objection to universal open-carry? I’m hard put to see any problem with that.
I don’t have a problem with universal open carry. Its part of Constitutional carry. I’m Pro-Choice in the matter. Open…concealed. The owner’s choice.
The gun is an equalizer because it helps place the weaker on a more level playing field with a stronger predator.
The gun allowed the peasant to be equal to the noble.
The gun allows the weak to fight the strong.
The gun allows the minority to defend itself.
The gun is civilization.
http://munchkinwrangler.wordpress.com/2007/03/23/why-the-gun-is-civilization/
I disagree strongly. Instant unilateral death without process isn’t the way we build civilization. If we build a Republic of laws, guns (death) are unnecessary in the interchanges between citizens.
Concealed has issues that Open does not. If we are indeed a “gun culture” (or robust gun culture), citizens need to know just how robust this is. There is no advantage to concealed that is not achieved through open carry. Conversely, concealed carry disguises from the citizens of a democratic republic how frightened we really are.
Excellent point.