# Another public display of weapons for no reason whatsoever **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 19, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715 "2013-01-19T16:36:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/61 "2013-01-22T01:30:00Z")
> [@Sevencl](#): > > Well, thankfully, what you want doesn’t matter. Of course it matters. Anger enough people with stunts like this and you can end up with openly carrying guns being made illegal, like just happened in California. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/62 "2013-01-22T01:32:44Z")
> [@Sevencl](#): > > Well, thankfully, what you want doesn’t matter. More correctly, since you’re not a US Citizen, what _you_ want doesn’t matter. **davidm** gets a vote. ---
**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/63 "2013-01-22T01:33:44Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Of course it matters. Anger enough people with stunts like this and you can end up with openly carrying guns being made illegal, like just happened in California. And this is why I think more people should follow this guy’s example. If everyone who owned a gun in the US wore them openly, maybe anti-gun morons would realise that you don’t have to be paranoid, fearful or crazy to own one, that perfectly normal people can and do own weapons, and maybe stop trying to force their idiot notions on gun owners. And how the fuck is carrying a gun “bullying”? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/64 "2013-01-22T01:36:50Z")
> [@Sevencl](#): > > Well, thankfully, what you want doesn’t matter. It does if enough people agree with me. I don’t want my shopping trips to be like a trip to the DeadEye Saloon where everyone is carrying and everyone is nervously fingering their weapons and anxiously eyeing their fellow shoppers wondering if someone is going to make a move and if they do, will I be able to respond faster? I can see all kinds of good things coming from that kind of atmosphere. If enough people start doing what this guy is doing, what will happen is not that people will get used to it, what will happen is that people will start demanding that their representatives change the law, because most of us are more worried about protecting our children than about protecting our guns. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/65 "2013-01-22T01:37:08Z")
> [@Sevencl](#): > > And this is why I think more people should follow this guy’s example. If everyone who owned a gun in the US wore them openly, maybe anti-gun morons would realise that you don’t have to be paranoid, fearful or crazy to own one, that perfectly normal people can and do own weapons, and maybe stop trying to force their idiot notions on gun owners. Or maybe the gun fetishists could stop getting people killed for their fetish,and stop pretending that they are noble heroes and we should like them for getting so many of the rest of us killed on a regular basis. I do not want to be around some scumball with a gun. And I’m sick of the attitude that he has the right to endanger everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/66 "2013-01-22T01:38:20Z")
> [@Sevencl](#): > > And how the fuck is carrying a gun “bullying”? It’s an implicit death threat. That’s why scum like him carry them, to terrorize people. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/67 "2013-01-22T01:41:33Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > More correctly, since you’re not a US Citizen, what _you_ want doesn’t matter. **davidm** gets a vote. Wait, what? **Sevencl** isn’t even a U.S. citizen? And he’s lecturing me on gun rights? And telling me that my opinion doesn’t matter? **Sevencl** , This is my fucking country buddy, so my opinion counts a lot more than yours does. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/68 "2013-01-22T01:43:46Z")
Why don’t you ever find guys like this patrolling the streets of places like the southside Chicago inside of quiet suburban malls? Then I’d actually believe they were more interested in saving innocents from evil-doers than dick-waving in front of bunch of armed and dangerous old ladies. But of course, you’ll never find them in truly dangerous places where they may actually _do_ something. That’s what, you know, cops are for. They actually do stuff, the poor saps. ---
**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/69 "2013-01-22T01:44:58Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I do not want to be around some scumball with a gun. And I’m sick of the attitude that he has the right to endanger everyone else. What you want doesn’t matter. A person’s right to defend themselves supersedes whatever fantasy right you’re thinking of where you get to stop people doing shit just because you don’t like it. He’s endangering no one by what he was doing. He’s going about his business just like everyone else, except with a gun he has every moral and legal right to carry. People don’t carry guns to terrorise. People carry guns for many, many reasons. Protecting themselves, their families, even strangers is usually the #1 reason. How is that terrorism? And how the fuck is merely owning or carrying a gun a death threat to anyone? > [@davidm](#): > > Wait, what? **Sevencl** isn’t even a U.S. citizen? And he’s lecturing me on gun rights? And telling me that my opinion doesn’t matter? > > **Sevencl** , This is my fucking country buddy, so my opinion counts a lot more than yours does. No, it doesn’t, because your opinion is incorrect and contrary to what your country has stood for for centuries. Your rant about not wanting this and not wanting that is completely fucking irrelevant. **What you want does not matter**. The fact you’re willing to rely on police to protect you is fine, no one’s forcing you to carry a gun, but people for whom the hope that they’ll be able to call the cops at all, let alone that the cops will arrive in time, want guns, and should always have the right to carry them. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/70 "2013-01-22T01:45:17Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Why don’t you ever find guys like this patrolling the streets of places like the southside Chicago inside of quiet suburban malls? Then I’d actually believe they were more interested in saving innocents from evil-doers than dick-waving in front of bunch of armed and dangerous old ladies. > > But of course, you’ll never find them in truly dangerous places where they may actually _do_ something. That’s what, you know, cops are for. They actually do stuff, the poor saps. Excellent point! I may steal it. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/71 "2013-01-22T01:53:28Z")
You know, when I read **Sevencl’s** posts, I have to think that this is exactly the type of person that I don’t want carrying guns, and ironically, exactly the type of person who is most likely to do so. That says it all, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/72 "2013-01-22T01:53:36Z")
> [@Sevencl](#): > > What you want doesn’t matter. Of course it does. I’m an American citizen. > [@Sevencl](#): > > He’s endangering no one by what he was doing. Wrong. He’s carrying around a dangerous device designed to kill people, and carrying it openly which has a significant chance of resulting in violence. Such as for example some other gun fetishist deciding that this guy is an Evil Criminal Terrorist and opening fire. > [@Sevencl](#): > > People don’t carry guns to terrorise. Yes they do. This guy is a bully and scum. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/73 "2013-01-22T01:56:10Z")
Aren’t guns pretty much illegal in Chicago? That might be one reason. Only the criminals have guns there. D&R ---
**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/74 "2013-01-22T02:01:28Z")
Carrying a gun isn’t endangering anyone. If as you say someone had attacked him for carrying the gun, the fault would have been with that person, not this guy, who was courteous and careful and causing no trouble to anyone, merely exercising his right to be prepared to defend himself if necessary. And once again, how the fuck is opting for the ability to defend yourself bullying? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/75 "2013-01-22T02:07:22Z")
> [@Sevencl](#): > > Carrying a gun isn’t endangering anyone. Yes it is. A gun is a dangerous device optimized for killing people. When guns are around, people are more likely to be killed; both by accident and on purpose, because that’s what guns are good at. > [@Sevencl](#): > > And once again, how the fuck is opting for the ability to defend yourself bullying? He was threatening them for his own amusement, not defending himself. ---
**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/76 "2013-01-22T02:09:28Z")
Edited because I’m not allowed to tell people that. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/77 "2013-01-22T02:12:35Z")
And just why does this big strong man need to defend himself in a J. C. Penny? This is a place where gray haired senior citizens wander unafraid, and this macho he-man feels the need to protect himself? ---
**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/78 "2013-01-22T02:13:45Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > And just why does this big strong man need to defend himself in a J. C. Penny? This is a place where gray haired senior citizens wander unafraid, and this macho he-man feels the need to protect himself? Same as a fire extinguisher: you don’t expect to need it, and hope you won’t need it, but you’ll be glad you have it if you ever do need it. EDIT: also, he doesn’t go patrolling whatever place you’re talking about because it’s not his job. He’s not replacing the police. He just carries a gun while going about the business he would do if he didn’t own a gun, in case he encounters a reason to use it. No it’s not likely such an event will occur at JCP, but it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/79 "2013-01-22T02:19:48Z")
Oh, of course. I see people carrying fire extinguishers on their backs all of the time. Now it makes sense! :rolleyes: To get serious - yes, the stores have fire extinguishers. How many fires are there each year compared to incidents of drug cartels storming J. C. Penny? You’re not properly assessing relative risks. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715/80 "2013-01-22T02:19:55Z")
He better bring along his chain saw, then, in case he finds a street blocked by a fallen tree. That’d go over well in a department store. Maybe a flamethrower, too, in case somebody finds a beehive that needs eradicating. He’ll also be needing a cattle prod and lasso in case there’s a stampede. The list goes on… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-public-display-of-weapons-for-no-reason-whatsoever/647715.md?page=5)