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Fully Loaded
Would you feel comfortable walking into a restaurant where most of the staff were armed? That’s what you’ll find at Shooter’s Grill in Rifle (I’m not kidding), Colorado.
I appreciated this ABC video because I might not agree with those who had concerns about open carry, but I thought the video presented both sides of the argument for guns. All of the staff who do carry (most of them) are fully trained and Rifle, CO has a different culture than many towns in the US.
The video is just over seven minutes. Do you think, in spite of the video being produced by mainstream ABC television, it’s fair and balanced? What would you add, subtract or modify it to meet your views on guns?
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Published in Guns
I think the phenomena of school shootings has already attracted the irresponsible to guns, although I think a better term would be the maladjusted. It seems all these kids are misfits, or societal rejects.
However, it may not be the gun that attracts them to commit these atrocities. Sure, the gun represents the power of life and death (mostly death) in their hands, but the MSM gives them the attention they probably crave. I’m not saying end the coverage, end the carnage, but if the MSM broadcasters would refer to these shooters terms as “scumbag shooter” or “loser” to describe these individuals, maybe they wouldn’t feel like they were getting what they perceive as adulation . . .
I think we know what restaurant we’ll be eating at if someone decides to host a Ricochet Meetup in Rifle, Colorado. I wonder if they serve cheese curds? To answer your question, Susan, I would not be bothered at all seeing armed people in a restaurant.
We’re going to Colorado this September for my wife’s
50th40th30th. . . “Goddam Dear, stop hitting me!” Her high school reunion. Because we’re driving, we could head out to Rifle.If you or @randyweivoda go there, we expect a full report!
I already looked on Google Maps to see how far out of the way it would be to go there on my way to Layton, Utah, where I’ll be going for vacation next year. It would add about 4.33 hours onto the drive so I’ll have to pass.
Susan,
To answer your question, certainly ABC didn’t endorse the idea, however, they surprisingly managed not to inject their own negative opinion. They just let the situation and the people speak for themselves. The people, in this case, were great. Thus they won the day for the 2nd amendment. ABC just stood back and let it happen.
Isn’t it too bad that we don’t have more reporting like this? So much editorial opinion is injected into what is supposed to be a news story that you know it’s not worth watching, reading, or listening to. The type of reporting that ABC did use to be the norm. Now it is as scarce as hen’s teeth.
Regards,
Jim
Of course i would. I will be, why shouldn’t they be armed too?
You mean like our (Colorado) public libraries where they post signs on the front doors, “No Guns Allowed?” And, “Gun Free Zone?”
This kind of idiocy in a world where bad guys walk into schools and shoot up innocents. These sign posters must be mentally ill.
About the video — Can you imagine the type of person who would take time out of his day to write a hate letter or make a phone call (saying, “I would never patronize your restaurant.”) to a small-time business in small-town Rifle, Colorado? What is wrong with these people??
This is the Left for you. They will never leave us alone!
The problem with this is that the people who matter will remember them for the rest of their lives.
So very true.
This is something I don’t understand about social media pile-ons – people ranting at or about people they will never encounter in real life.
Interesting the comments about less-responsible people being drawn to “packing” for the cool factor. If you don’t think that’s already going on, you’re naive my friend. They’re not moved by what’s legal and what isn’t. It’s part of the same formula.
Very good point, @quietpi. I tend to agree that it’s already going on, but I also think that it’s possible that others will be drawn to it by the hype. Too bad, I guess.
I sometimes think the gun rights movement should launch a counter-offensive, highlighting the fact that these shooters are seeking fame (infamy), and that the media circus that surrounds these tragedies serves to encourage other such shooters. It could call for federal “common sense” press control limiting the content and reach of such reporting, prohibiting reporting on the shooter’s name more than once, and limiting the amount of coverage given to each shooting.
When the media start screeching about the First Amendment, we counter that, when the Constitution was written, no one could have envisioned today’s media technology and so the First Amendment freedom of the press is only applicable to 18th century style printing presses, not today’s “assault media”.
Of course, the problem with this idea is that, given the woeful state of Constitutional fealty, it might actually pass.
It’s possible, but that hype has been brought about by those who would restrict or eliminate firearms altogether. And the current open carry movement is being done in protest of draconian restrictions on concealed carry. Carrying a firearm, open or concealed, presents many challenges and inconveniences to the extent that people who are drawn to a fad will soon lose interest – things like necessary adjustments to your wardrobe, needing a stronger and more expensive belt to keep your pants up, etc.
And people who take being armed seriously are changed in a way. It’s a sobering thought to understand the capability and responsibility you have taken upon yourself, possessing at your fingertips a source of deadly force. Certainly not everybody who is armed makes the effort s/he should to be trained and competent, but in my experience, most do. I wish I remembered the source of the statistic that showed that legally armed individuals were far less likely to become involved in any sort of altercation. Having been in that situation myself, I can attest that when you understand the potential consequences of you getting involved in a violent situation, you are much more likely to avoid it altogether. And a statistic I’m reminded of often is one quoted by our Sheriff. 20 years ago there were something like a couple hundred CCW holders in our California county of half a million population. Today there are over 6,000 permit holders. And the number of violent incidents involving CCW holders? Zero.
There was a saying some years ago. “When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.” Before I viewed that rather flippantly. Now, after dealing extensively with those outlaws, I take it seriously. And the record shows clearly that this applies, not just at the national or community level, but at the store or theater just down the street as well. “Gun-free zones” are, well, stupid.
I think I can speak for my fellow male television professionals when I state any story that allows you to openly videotape attractive women’s rear ends is a story worth pursuing. That is all.
That’s true, presses like Benjamin Franklin operated could at the very best hit 200 sheets per hour. The founding fathers were good guys but they had no idea that we would one day have these high-capacity printing presses. Only the government should be able to possess printing presses that can print tens of thousands of sheets per hour.
All excellent points, @quietpi. A very thoughtful comment. Although I can’t help giggling at some 20-something walking around with his pants around his knees trying to wear his gun. He’ll probably hurt himself falling when his pants reach his ankles.
I loathe the TSA beyond words. Yet, one of my fondest memories is watching a young man with baggy, oversized jeans being told to take off his belt to put through the x-ray and then guided into the backscatter and told to place his arms above his head. Pure comedy gold.
Yes!!