# Gun free zones; which eatery do you pick? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 5, 2014, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861 "2014-08-05T13:29:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/1 "2014-08-05T13:29:42Z")
Say you’re driving across the U.S. While going through a small town you realise you are absolutely ravenous; you pull up and to your delight spot two delicatessen type sandwich places, mom’n’pop type establishments - not big franchises. They both look about the same, same level of custom, same look, same menu. \*A’s Sandwich Shop \*has [this sign](http://cdn.frontpagemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Gun-FreeZone259184012_std.259192439_std.gif) next to the door proclaiming that firearms are prohibited. On \*B’s Sandwich Shop \*across the road you spot [this “firearms welcome”](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cVFLeU-cMkU/UNU-FspEdiI/AAAAAAAAJ68/M868F4jENS8/s400/firearms+welcome.jpg) sign next to the door. You’re totally famished and haven’t got time to mess about. Which one gets your custom? Assume you are not packing a piece. (Inspired by **Quartz** ’s thread on an armed store and **grude** ’s on the Second Amendment) ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/2 "2014-08-05T13:38:04Z")
Is this parody? I don’t think I would read or care about any of the signs. Shop A because my most hated teacher’s name started with a B. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/3 "2014-08-05T13:39:03Z")
Everything being equal the firearms welcome shop. Why be a willing victim? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/4 "2014-08-05T13:47:20Z")
Pretty sure I’ve never been mugged by a Reuben. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/5 "2014-08-05T13:48:37Z")
I’d pick B. “Gun-Free Zone” means only bangers and thugs are likely to have guns. I’d rather be in a store where a conscientious legal-carry gun might be present. Even if you dismiss the miniscule chance that any violence would occur in either deli, I’d rather give my money to a store owner who supports gun rights. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/6 "2014-08-05T13:50:49Z")
I’m ambivalent to slightly-pro on guns rights, but I would feel safer in A. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/7 "2014-08-05T14:00:15Z")
I chose B because I usually carry a concealed pistol. If the shops are in a state that honors my Ohio CCW permit, I would most likely have a pistol in my waistband or my pocket. If I’m in state that doesn’t honor my permit, my gun would be in a safe in my car, but I would prefer to patronize the store that allows weapons. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/8 "2014-08-05T14:03:50Z")
A. I get so damn tired of picking spent bullets out of my food. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/9 "2014-08-05T14:13:15Z")
A, mainly because I prefer to be around people who pick A than B. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/10 "2014-08-05T14:46:36Z")
I’d choose B since I’d have one on me anyways. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2014, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/11 "2014-08-05T14:47:29Z")
A. Who’s going to rob a deli next to one where everybody’s armed? Plus, if somebody in deli B has an accident, the wall between the stores will probably stop the bullet. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Pretty sure I’ve never been mugged by a Reuben. You lucky, lucky person. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/12 "2014-08-05T14:50:33Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > A, mainly because I prefer to be around people who pick A than B. This. But after i voted I thought of a caveat. If B meant the there was less chance of children being there I might go there. I wish more restaurants had “child-free” signs, I’d go there. And don’t get on my case about being anti child, please. I just would like to have a break from them. Forget the gun debate! ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/13 "2014-08-05T15:24:37Z")
I don’t carry a firearm, so I’d pick the deli where the people would be most like me. My brother would not be allowed in deli A, so if he was in the party it would have to be B. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/14 "2014-08-05T15:28:38Z")
I picked B, but it’s not really a big deal to me. Not sure if there is any correlation between firearms and good sandwiches. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/15 "2014-08-05T15:36:03Z")
B - I’m not a fan of open carry, but I am in favor of concealed carry. If A had only stated no open carry instead of trying to prohibit concealed carry guns, it probably would have been a tie and I would have gone to whichever one looked like I would get served first. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/16 "2014-08-05T15:44:56Z")
> [@FordTaurusSHO94](#): > > I’d choose B since I’d have one on me anyways. See, in your situation, I’d like my chances much better in shop A. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/17 "2014-08-05T16:03:03Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > See, in your situation, I’d like my chances much better in shop A. That makes no sense. If a robber is looking at the two stores, which one is he more apt to try to rob? A, where he will likely receive little or no armed resistance, or B, where there will likely be several people who might send him to an early grave? The whole idea of “gun-free” zones is a completely idiotic and illogical fantasy. You can persuade many law-abiding citizens to comply, and you can make air-headed twits feel safer, but you are not convincing robbers and homicidal maniacs to go elsewhere. Quite the opposite, in fact. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/18 "2014-08-05T16:11:55Z")
I will go to the place that has the best sandwiches. In the event of a tie, the placethat has big-titted waitress/cashier eye candy gets the nod. I will do as I please WRT my handgun, regardless. ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/19 "2014-08-05T16:20:35Z")
The guns signs wouldn’t be a factor in my decision. Can’t vote. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/20 "2014-08-05T16:22:35Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > That makes no sense. If a robber is looking at the two stores, which one is he more apt to try to rob? How often does _any_ restaurant get robbed during business hours? Also, the problem with establishment B is that you don’t know you have a robber in there until he actually starts firing his gun. Whereas in establishment A, if I do see someone walk in with a gun, I at least have a chance to walk away and call the police. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861.md?page=2)