Kroger Under Attack Again/Still

[Mike Irwin]

One last thing, Tom, take a GOOD look at the sides of that picture in the Enquirer...

There are people who are cut off. That means that there are people beyond the edges of the frame.

I can't tell you how many of the photographs I took of the hospital strike I covered that had random feet, hands, heads, bills of caps, etc., in them because I wasn't trying to take a group portrait of everyone at the protest.

Of course, the conspiracy theory mind will say that MDA did that on purpose so that the shot didn't look staged.

 

[JN01]

Here's video of the event from the local TV station: http://www.local12.com/news/feature...cy-protest-outside-kroger-meeting-19893.shtml. At the end of the report, they claimed that Moms Demand Action are only opposed to open carry, not concealed, which I find hard to believe. Also, the couple of counter-protesters they featured were less than stellar for our side.

 

[OuTcAsT]

I went on my usual Kroger-ing jaunt this morning, as usual. Spent about 45 minutes ( and way too much money ) as usual. OC'd my 1911, as usual, without incident.

 

[davem]

I think those opposed to open carry are pretty well organized. If open carry is going to survive then some type of organization is required. I think what is happening right now is a handful of unorganized people are deciding that in order to preserve open carry they need to, on occasion at least, open carry. There is a story about the city park in downtown Boston, the Boston Common. It was given to the city provided they allowed grazing, so....one day a year the city drags a cow into the common to munch on the grass- otherwise the land goes to the heirs of the guy that gave it to the city. In any event, even with concealed carry....although I have my license I don't carry every day- too much weight for to packing around all the time. I'll conceal carry if it is late at night, etc. I'm thinking some of the open carry folks are trying to make a statement, "Hey I have a right to open carry and I want folks to know it". Maybe it would be better to have an "Open carry day" July 4th? On that day folks open carry to remind others of the right.

 

[carguychris]

I think those opposed to open carry are pretty well organized. If open carry is going to survive then some type of organization is required.

The irony of this statement is that, in my perception at least, OC previously wasn't widely opposed in most areas where it's lawful and commonly practiced, notably in the Midwest and Deep South.

I believe that the OC protesters poked the proverbial sleeping bear.

I think what is happening right now is a handful of unorganized people are deciding that in order to preserve open carry they need to, on occasion at least, open carry.

Remember that this whole mess started with the intent to prompt the State of TX to legalize open handgun carry, which has been illegal in TX for many decades, and is ironically one of the few aspects in which TX has relatively stringent gun control laws.

These efforts have managed to tar advocates of continued open handgun carry in other states with the same broad brush.

 

[davem]

I was born in Denver. I think Colorado is open carry but the city of Denver restricts it. Still, rarely do you see someone open carrying anywhere in the state. One time I absent mindedly went to visit the state Capitol and had a SMALL little pocket knife I had to check and pick up on the way out. Everyone seemed pretty nice. Normally if you do see open carry it is a handgun in a holster, not a rifle slung over the shoulder. I think a lot of people might take notice but little else. I always personally thought....."Geez that guy is right in front of me in line, I could just reach out and grab that thing" I myself have a CHL and if I carry that's the way I do it. I would just as soon not advertise I have a firearm on me.
If open carry is legal in a State then it seems to me a business that is open to the public ought to be open to those practicing their legal rights. If you are in a rural area and there is some guy in a Stetson, cowboy boots, and a holstered handgun- then that seems okay. The slung rifles over your shoulder in a suburban area grocery stores-seems sort of out of place.
I think the NRA is trying to be non-committal on this one. If I lived in Texas along the Rio Grande, the idea of illegal drug people is a reality. You may need a firearm and you may need it right quick- I can see open carry in that case. If you live in an area ravaged by a hurricane, there is no law and order and folks are out of control. You meanwhile have to go buy ice and food- I can see open carry. Difficult issue. I think maybe the best answer is not to push it in people's faces and make a big issue out of it.