# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/41 "2014-08-05T22:33:37Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > They are welcome, their gun is not. > > That being said, both signs are saying that some people are not welcome. A doesn’t want those that carry a gun at all times, B doesn’t want people that choose not to be around guns whenever possible. Just because _you_ choose not to patronize “B” doesn’t mean _you_ aren’t welcome into “B,” gun or no-gun. It’s only _your_ values judgement that’s making _you_ feel unwelcome at “B.” “A” clearly says weapons (esp guns), and the people who carry them, are _not_ welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/42 "2014-08-05T22:37:36Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > Just because _you_ choose not to patronize “B” doesn’t mean _you_ aren’t welcome into “B,” gun or no-gun. It’s only _your_ values judgement that’s making _you_ feel unwelcome at “B.” > > “A” clearly says weapons (esp guns), and the people who carry them, are _not_ welcome. Choosing to always carry a gun, even to lunch, is also a value judgement. I’m pretty anti-gun, but even I can see both sides. Sorry that you can’t. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/43 "2014-08-05T22:53:23Z")
Since I’m famished, I’m going to choose the one that looks less busy/is easier to pull in or pull out of/also has signs advertising a special I could be hungry for. Whether or not they welcome armed patrons would be irrelevant. I’m not a gun owner and don’t have a dog in this fight but I know plenty of rabid anti-gun folks as well as plenty of gun owners (some of whom carry) so I realise that making blanket stereotypes about either group is dumb and lazy thinking. No poll option for me. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/44 "2014-08-05T22:54:57Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > You do realize that you can just as easily flip that statement 180… You DO realize that’s precisely what DCnDC did in post #32 to GusNSpot’s post #30, right? And yet you (seemed to) criticize DCnDC but not GusNSpot? I stifle my hunger and continue driving until I find either the next neighborhood or the next roadside strip or the next state where **that** political issue is not (quite so) visibly contended. –G! As for my stance on the issue, many have seen me express it in this sig-line area before. ---
**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, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/45 "2014-08-05T23:05:31Z")
> [@kk\_fusion](#): > > 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. Admittedly it is a ridiculous scenario, but then that’s never stopped us before. > [@El\_Kabong](#): > > A. I get so damn tired of picking spent bullets out of my food. Spent casing, surely? Unless some maniac is actually shooting into your food. > [@Scumpup](#): > > 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. They both employ siblings of the same identical sextuplet family, so no help there. You’ll have to flip a coin. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/46 "2014-08-05T23:32:58Z")
the owner of sandwich shop A has a perfect right to post the “No Firearms Allowed sign.” I respect this right do do business as his conscience dictates. As it is likely that I would be carrying a firearm, I would honor the owner of sandwich shop A’s rights by not patronizing his establishment against his wishes. If I were not carrying my handgun, I would still choose sandwich shop B. His general business practice is not geared towards preventing me from patronizing his business… ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/47 "2014-08-05T23:48:46Z")
> [@Grestarian](#): > > You DO realize that’s precisely what DCnDC did in post #32 to GusNSpot’s post #30, right? > > And yet you (seemed to) criticize DCnDC but not GusNSpot? :o Actually, no, I didn’t; I didn’t read the entire thread before responding, and only scrolled up a couple of posts, looking at a couple of responses. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/48 "2014-08-06T00:37:49Z")
I’m going to eat at whichever place I think is likely to have the better sandwich. Don’t care whether they allow guns or not, since the OP says I’m not carrying. ---
**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 6, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/49 "2014-08-06T01:29:44Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’m going to eat at whichever place I think is likely to have the better sandwich. Don’t care whether they allow guns or not, since the OP says I’m not carrying. Well, that could be either, but your best bet would be B), since the sandwiches apparently are at least good enough that the customers aren’t shooting up the place. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/50 "2014-08-06T05:54:07Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Well, that could be either, but your best bet would be B), since the sandwiches apparently are at least good enough that the customers aren’t shooting up the place. So now you pick sides??? 😛 That is playing dirty… :rolleyes: Go to your room. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/51 "2014-08-06T06:18:45Z")
2nd amendment bores are more likely to frequent B, therefore I choose A. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/52 "2014-08-06T10:35:12Z")
As a supporter of responsible firearms ownership, I’d probably pick the one that had the best parking available. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2014, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/53 "2014-08-06T11:28:11Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Well, that could be either, but your best bet would be B), since the sandwiches apparently are at least good enough that the customers aren’t shooting up the place. Or it’s because the rat problem is so bad that patrons need to go armed. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/54 "2014-08-06T13:56:31Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > :o Actually, no, I didn’t; I didn’t read the entire thread before responding, and only scrolled up a couple of posts, looking at a couple of responses. :smack: To be fair to everyone, I honestly don’t give a shit, I’m sure I wouldn’t even notice the gun thing either way, I was just trying to stir up some shit. Mission accomplished. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/55 "2014-08-06T15:03:01Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > To be fair to everyone, I honestly don’t give a shit, I’m sure I wouldn’t even notice the gun thing either way, I was just trying to stir up some shit. Mission accomplished. 🙂 And fair’s fair; you were responding to someone else who was trying to stir up some shit. The old adage holds true: preview is your (my) friend. I took the OP’s premise to mean that both places were of equal quality/price, and the only diff was the gun signage. My original answer stands; I hate making left turns to get out of a store/parking lot and back onto a road/highway. Avoid 'em where I can. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/56 "2014-08-06T15:37:21Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > I chose A. > > B is tantamount to putting up a sign that reads “We are just _lousy_ at risk assessment! Try our Egg Salad!” Yep. Also “our patrons tend to be lousy at risk assessment - their judgment is questionable, but they may be armed.” That’s always the clientele I look for when dining. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/57 "2014-08-06T15:42:09Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > 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! On the other hand, loaded weapons and a child running around a restaurant vaguely supervised sounds like it could be a really fun time! ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/58 "2014-08-06T16:04:18Z")
One advantage of going to B is that restaurant A might demand to inspect a cell phone or large wallet in your pocket, thinking it’s a gun. It would be a nuisance. ---
**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 6, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/59 "2014-08-06T16:06:13Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > On the other hand, loaded weapons and a child running around a restaurant vaguely supervised sounds like it could be a really fun time! Nothing like a moving target to sharpen your shootin’ skills. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861/60 "2014-08-06T16:22:32Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Nothing like a moving target to sharpen your shootin’ skills. Yeah, I’ve never felt road rage, but I have felt child rage when someone ELSE’S child shrieks at the top of their lungs while throwing food…I’d think there are TWO dangers to children, an eating establishment and loaded weapons - one that not all gun owners have proven to be responsible and keep control over their weapons at all times - the second is that not all parents have proven to be responsible and to keep control (or at least TRY so that you feel pity rather than rage) of their children at all times. Eventually, either a child gets a weapon, or someone simply looses it - because that isn’t hard to do around misbehaving children. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-free-zones-which-eatery-do-you-pick/694861.md?page=4)