# A Bunch of nervous Nellies who don't feel safe eating in a Sonic where they can't carry guns. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 28, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423 "2014-05-28T01:27:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/61 "2014-05-28T13:16:27Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I do follow several military related blogs and pages. Typically this pages are very pro 2nd amendment and pretty right wing. The large majority of posters on these sites seem to think that OCT is filled with asshats that are damaging the cause. So it seems they are fringe even in the 2A movement. Do these people offer any ideas about what to do about this “fringe” element? Or is simple denunciation on an Internet board sufficient? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/62 "2014-05-28T13:23:35Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Do these people offer any ideas about what to do about this “fringe” element? Or is simple denunciation on an Internet board sufficient? These are private citizens from all over the country voicing their opinions on the internet. Similar to here. What do you suggest they do? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/63 "2014-05-28T13:24:57Z")
Come up with a practical solution to the problem they’ve identified - which is what anyone who sincerely believes a problem exists and should be addressed _does_. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/64 "2014-05-28T13:27:47Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Come up with a practical solution to the problem they’ve identified - which is what anyone who sincerely believes a problem exists and should be addressed _does_. Convince the populace that people who are openly carrying aren’t a threat, then get open carry passed for handguns. They’re having problems with that first part. In _Texas._ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/65 "2014-05-28T13:31:59Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > The only people armed walking around Ft. Hood would be military police, civilian security, and any visiting civilian law enforcement. even a soldier who has a concealed carry permit and routinely carries a personally-owned weapon off duty is not permitted to carry that weapon on-duty. What an odd choice by the military. You’d think they’d realize that military bases would be far safer if everyone was walking around heavily armed at all times. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/66 "2014-05-28T13:33:13Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Come up with a practical solution to the problem they’ve identified - which is what anyone who sincerely believes a problem exists and should be addressed _does_. So what is your solution? I’m waiting. OCT is not breaking any laws. They are so far being very careful not to. Having those who should generally be on their side telling them that their actions are being counterproductive seems to be a prudent measure. In fact it seems to be [working](http://opencarrytexas.wordpress.com/2014/05/23/joint-statement-on-oc-of-long-arms/). > [@](#): > > Whereas, our mission is to get open carry of handguns passed in Texas, we must once again adjust in a way that shines a positive light on our efforts, our members, and our respective organizations. We have decided the prudent path, to further our goals, is to immediately cease taking long guns into corporate businesses unless invited. They are adjusting their tactics to now open carry black powder weapons. Not too many people with be intimidated by an unloaded flintlock and it still gets their point across. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/67 "2014-05-28T13:38:15Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > They are adjusting their tactics to now open carry black powder weapons. Not too many people with be intimidated by an unloaded flintlock and it still gets their point across. That depends… they’re talking about open carry of black powder revolvers, which most people can’t tell, from a distance, from the usual kind. And, still six-shooters, so a half-dozen guys with black powder revolvers are still going to get pretty much the same reaction, I’d wager. > [@](#): > > Black Powder revolvers have proven to be very effective and align with our goal of legalizing open carry with a handgun. We do understand that not everyone will be able to afford one, but if you can, we are requesting you do so. Almost every leader has gone to Black powder for a reason. It works. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/68 "2014-05-28T13:40:56Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > So what is your solution? I’m waiting. Please. If your and your guys have nothing, just say so, okay? But I’ll tell you - the link between the presence of guns and people being killed with them should be pretty obvious. So, since you’re not going to change the problem of people being human, and of sometimes getting angry, or scared, or being drunk, or being assholes, or realistically even being crazy, then you need to address the problem of their being able to kill when those things occur, right? So let’s ban carry, open or otherwise, and save some lives. Why would we not? > [@](#): > > They are adjusting their tactics to now open carry black powder weapons. Not too many people with be intimidated by an unloaded flintlock and it still gets their point across. It does? What point is that? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/69 "2014-05-28T13:41:54Z")
> [@MostlyUseless](#): > > I am a big supporter of gun rights, have a CCW and sometimes carry. Usually, I just have a handgun in the car. At the same time, this is no better a stunt than what PETA does. Going absurdly overboard in making a point makes no point at all other than to announce that you are an ass clown. These fools have the right to carry open rifles until the management throws them out, but at the same time, where do they show respect to the other patrons before management throws them out? Pure idiocy. Agree! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/70 "2014-05-28T13:41:58Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > What an odd choice by the military. You’d think they’d realize that military bases would be far safer if everyone was walking around heavily armed at all times. If you can’t find “a good guy with a gun” _there_, where can you? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/71 "2014-05-28T14:01:24Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > The only people armed walking around Ft. Hood would be military police, civilian security, and any visiting civilian law enforcement. This is not complete. For example there are armed guards walking a post, for example guarding an armory. These sentries are not in any of the categories you describe. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/72 "2014-05-28T14:05:38Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Let’s not pretend that cars/drivers have never killed anyone. Let’s not forget the intentional deaths caused by drivers ramming their cars into a crowd, too. Just about anything can be a weapon. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/73 "2014-05-28T14:20:05Z")
But very few things have almost no use \*but \*as weapons. And very few things are carried with no intent other than that they \*be \*used as weapons. And very few things are used as weapons when objects \*intended \*to be weapons are available instead. Or are as effective in causing death when they \*are \*used as weapons. IOW, your point, please? ---
**Author:** ![Bouncer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bouncer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouncer)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/74 "2014-05-28T14:25:07Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I would eat where the manager allows me to open carry and politely tell the other place why they lost my business. Versus the lost business of every other person in there who had children with them. Because most parents are not going to allow their kids to be around some unknown individual sporting a pistol or long gun. It’s a basic safety issue. They don’t know what your intentions are, and simply cannot take the chance. And they’re not going to come back as long as you and other unknowns are allowed to wander around armed. So your burger and fries and coke versus say, twenty burgers and fries and cokes. It’s a pretty easy decision for anyone who wants their business to remain profitable. Regards, -Bouncer- ---
**Author:** ![Bouncer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bouncer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouncer)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/75 "2014-05-28T14:27:17Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > It does? What point is that? They’re training to be pirates! Arrr!!! OR they want to work in Colonial Williamsburg. Regards, -Bouncer- ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/76 "2014-05-28T14:44:30Z")
> [@Bouncer](#): > > Versus the lost business of every other person in there who had children with them. Because most parents are not going to allow their kids to be around some unknown individual sporting a pistol or long gun. It’s a basic safety issue. They don’t know what your intentions are, and simply cannot take the chance. And they’re not going to come back as long as you and other unknowns are allowed to wander around armed. > > So your burger and fries and coke versus say, twenty burgers and fries and cokes. It’s a pretty easy decision for anyone who wants their business to remain profitable. > > Regards, > -Bouncer- That’s true. But it also illustrates the value in making open carry commonplace. If most parents see open carry being exercised every day, by different people who are simply going about their business, it loses the shock value. In Virginia, open carry of handguns is perfectly legal – no license or permit needed. And yet it’s so unusual that Fairfax County police officers charged two people with a crime, and confiscated their guns, after being called to a Starbucks by alarmed patrons. The next day the officer realized that there was no actual violation of the law, returned the guns, apologized, and voided the summonses. So it’s so rare to see it done, at least in Northern Virginia, that a police officer was not aware it’s actually legal. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/77 "2014-05-28T14:46:14Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > But it also illustrates the value in making open carry commonplace. If most parents see open carry being exercised every day, by different people who are simply going about their business, it loses the shock value. And that’s a good thing how? :dubious: If it even happens that it “loses the shock value”, and you offer no evidence that it does. In fact, your sole example suggests the opposite to be true. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/78 "2014-05-28T15:05:22Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > That’s true. > > But it also illustrates the value in making open carry commonplace. If most parents see open carry being exercised every day, by different people who are simply going about their business, it loses the shock value. I don’t think it does, though. Threat assessment is an activity humans do both consciously and sub-consciously. Just walking down the street, your mind is constantly profiling the other pedestrians and triangulating vehicle trajectories in an attempt to detect potential danger. I don’t think you could get people to the point where an armed person doesn’t raise their threat value. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/79 "2014-05-28T15:08:46Z")
Where’s Wyatt Earp when you need him to round up some armed hooligans? Rather than losing shock value, our own history indicates the opposite. People tend to want more restrictions on open carry. As noted above, even the majority of Texans comes down on that side of the fence. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423/80 "2014-05-28T15:15:56Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > We are actually being told by **Damuri** , who claims to represent an entire movement, that the regular occurrence of gun murders in our society is something to be accepted as \*normal \*- that even to suggest that it’s a problem that needs to be addressed is a disorder requiring “therapy”. > > There are no sufficient words. No where in his post did he say that. Way to read shit tons of crap into his post just to try to make you point of “I’m a big giant pussy who if I even see a gun on tv I crawl into the corner and cry like a baby because I’m a big giant pussy.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-nervous-nellies-who-dont-feel-safe-eating-in-a-sonic-where-they-cant-carry-guns/689423.md?page=5)