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HOUSTON (AP) -- Companies, customers and others critical of Texas gun rights advocates who have brought military-style assault rifles into businesses as part of demonstrations supporting "open carry" gun rights now have a surprising ally: the National Rifle Association.
The advocates' actions in restaurants and other public places — part of a push for less restrictive gun laws, including legalizing the open carry of handguns — have prompted public criticism.
The NRA has long been a zealous advocate for gun owners' rights. But the group's lobbying arm, the Institute for Legislative Action, has called the demonstrations counterproductive to promoting gun rights, scary and "downright weird."
The NRA said the demonstrations have "crossed the line from enthusiasm to downright foolishness."
"Using guns merely to draw attention to yourself in public not only defies common sense, it shows a lack of consideration and manners. That's not the Texas way. And that's certainly not the NRA way," the NRA said in a statement posted on its website Friday.
The president and vice president of Open Carry Texas, one of the groups behind the recent demonstrations, did not return emails seeking comment late Monday.
But in a statement posted on its Facebook page, Open Carry Texas criticized the NRA, saying if the group doesn't retract its comments, Open Carry will have to withdraw its full support for the NRA.
"It is unfortunate that an organization that claims to be dedicated to the preservation of gun rights would attack another organization fighting so hard for those rights in Texas," Open Carry Texas said. "The more the NRA continues to divide its members by attacking some aspects of gun rights instead of supporting all gun rights, the more support it will lose."
Texas has some of the least restrictive gun laws in the country, but openly carrying handguns remains illegal. Long guns like rifles can be carried openly but must be done so in a way that does not cause alarm. But gun holders can be charged with disorderly conduct if anyone around them feels threatened.
The activists' demonstrations, while peaceful, have upset some witnesses.
The Chipotle restaurant chain asked customers last month not to bring firearms into its stores after members of Open Carry Texas brought military-style assault rifles into one of its restaurants in the Dallas area.
When things have gone so far the NRA has to start acting like the adult in the room...
“We may observe that the government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in a barbarous one; and when we say that one government is more expensive than another, it is the same as if we said that that one country is farther advanced in improvement than another. To say that the government is expensive and the people not oppressed is to say that the people are rich.”
Adam Smith, who must have been some kind of leftie or something.
The funny thing is, nowhere in there does the NRA state an intention to support legislation to deny the right to open carry.... Merely that these idiots carrying "ARs" into public venues are rude, and fething stupid.... And we all know that being rude is reason enough to draw the ire of Hannibal Lector
I doubt the NRA opposes open carry of long arms. Rather, they've decided that these open carry rallies are counter productive to their cause and want them to stop.
Has the NRA ever been particularly extremist? It's a bit of leap going from reasonable people have a right to own firearms to lets be donkey-caves and carry our AR-15s everywhere to scare the feth out of people.
The only way we can ever solve anything is to look in the mirror and find no enemy
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It's one thing to be allowed to carry opening, another entirely to flaunt a firearm in a public space, especially in this cold dark age of mass shootings and what not.
The other threads gonna get locked, but even if it's legal to carry a loaded AR or AK with you into Walmart or Taco Bell or Arbys, it's an enormous douche move, like, a 26 out of 10 on the doucheometer.
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trexmeyer wrote: Has the NRA ever been particularly extremist? It's a bit of leap going from reasonable people have a right to own firearms to lets be donkey-caves and carry our AR-15s everywhere to scare the feth out of people.
Some members have been rather publicly extremist. And the group certainly gives money to some extremist politicians to say and do extremist things.
You'd think people would learn from the alienation caused by those "Starbucks Appreciation Day" events that got held on a nearly weekly basis. Being a pest does not help the cause.
They've certainly been very combative for the last few decades. Other gun control groups have commented that the NRA is far more interested in fighting than in winning.
“We may observe that the government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in a barbarous one; and when we say that one government is more expensive than another, it is the same as if we said that that one country is farther advanced in improvement than another. To say that the government is expensive and the people not oppressed is to say that the people are rich.”
Adam Smith, who must have been some kind of leftie or something.
Remember the petition I posted about people wanting NRA be considered a extremist group?
Proud Member of the Infidels of OIF/OEF
No longer defending the US Military or US Gov't. Just going to ""**feed into your fears**"" with Duffel Blog Did not fight my way up on top the food chain to become a Vegan...
Warning: Stupid Allergy
Once you pull the pin, Mr. Grenade is no longer your friend
DE 6700
Harlequin 2500
RIP Muhammad Ali.
Jihadin, Scorched Earth 791. Leader of the Pork Eating Crusader. Alpha
Part of the gun-rights battle is a PR battle. If you act like an ass people are going to think gun owners are asses and they will drop their support for them.
HOUSTON (AP) — The National Rifle Association has rolled back an earlier statement criticizing "open carry" rallies in Texas in which gun rights advocates have brought military-style assault rifles into public places.
Chris Cox, the executive director of the group's lobbying arm, said in an interview Tuesday on an NRA-hosted radio show that the statement was "a mistake" and that it was written by a staffer who was expressing his personal opinion.
"The truth is, an alert went out that referred to this type of behavior as 'weird' or somehow not normal, and that was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened," said Cox, who added that the group "unequivocally" supports open carry laws.
The open carry rallies in restaurants and other businesses — part of a push for less restrictive gun laws, including legalizing the open carry of handguns — have prompted public criticism, and the NRA appeared to join in last week.
The statement appeared on the website of the group's lobbying arm, the Institute for Legislative Action, saying that the demonstrations were counterproductive, scary and "downright weird."
"Using guns merely to draw attention to yourself in public not only defies common sense, it shows a lack of consideration and manners. That's not the Texas way. And that's certainly not the NRA way," the unsigned statement said. It remained on the NRA's website early Wednesday.
Open Carry Texas, one of the groups behind the recent demonstrations, had said if the NRA didn't retract the statement, Open Carry would withdraw its full support for the NRA.
Tov Henderson, an Open Carry member, told WFAA-TV in Dallas that the group's clarification was refreshing.
"Getting the clarification from them that it wasn't an official stance and that it was just a low-level employee ... it makes sense," Henderson said.
Texas has some of the least restrictive gun laws in the country, but openly carrying handguns remains illegal. Long guns like rifles can be carried openly but must be done so in a way that does not cause alarm. But gun holders can be charged with disorderly conduct if anyone around them feels threatened.
The open carry demonstrations, while peaceful, have upset some witnesses.
The Chipotle restaurant chain asked customers last month not to bring firearms into its stores after members of Open Carry Texas brought military-style assault rifles into one of its restaurants in the Dallas area.
lord_blackfang wrote: Respect to the guy who subscribed just to post a massive ASCII dong in the chat and immediately get banned.
Flinty wrote: The benefit of slate is that its.actually a.rock with rock like properties. The downside is that it's a rock
Shame that the NRA back pedaled on this. I fully support people exercising their Second Amendment rights, but walking around with a long gun on a sling when buying a burrito is just going to alienate people and give those in favour of gun control more metaphorical ammunition
Shame they changed their mind on this. Even if you support the right to keep firearms (and I broadly do) I would have thought that the only reason for a weapon to be ‘drawn’ was if you where planning to use it, or at least threatening to do so. It’s a hostile act and the authorities should have every reason to treat it as such.
This can only lose them support.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/06/04 10:55:35
"And if we've learnt anything over the past 1000 mile retreat it's that Russian agriculture is in dire need of mechanisation!"
trexmeyer wrote: Has the NRA ever been particularly extremist? It's a bit of leap going from reasonable people have a right to own firearms to lets be donkey-caves and carry our AR-15s everywhere to scare the feth out of people.
Its only extremist in the eyes of lefty tree huggers and evil forenners who are secretly agents of Hydra.
But man the amount of junk mail they send you is...impressive.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Ouze wrote: The other threads gonna get locked, but even if it's legal to carry a loaded AR or AK with you into Walmart or Taco Bell or Arbys, it's an enormous douche move, like, a 26 out of 10 on the doucheometer.
Its the selfie crowd on Youtube who finally found a way to get maximize the number of hits they get. Watching the CHilis and Sonic videos they made, its clear that theya re absolute morons who are just seeking attention.
There is a lot of discussion on Texas threads that they might be plants from the antigunners. Their antics are that stupid and strangely timed at the same time that OC of pistols had a real chance of passage in the Texas legislature this year.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
LuciusAR wrote: Shame they changed their mind on this. Even if you support the right to keep firearms (and I broadly do) I would have thought that the only reason for a weapon to be ‘drawn’ was if you where planning to use it, or at least threatening to do so. It’s a hostile act and the authorities should have every reason to treat it as such.
This can only lose them support.
They didn't change their mind. Both the TSRA and NRA have disavowed these groups (comprising all of about ten people it seems).
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2014/06/04 11:43:14
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
If the NRA is backpedaling from this then it seems like a clear case of "money talks"...
As for "possible plants": I can name 4 people on my shift that would be dumb enough to act that way and who support people like that. So I don't think you need fakes to do the job these idiots are doing.
Overall I think that certain gun-owners and pro-gun folks are doing a greater job demonizing guns than the anti-gun crowd could wish for.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/06/04 12:41:10
d-usa wrote: If the NRA is backpedaling from this then it seems like a clear case of "money talks"...
As for "possible plants": I can name 4 people on my shift that would be dumb enough to act that way and who support people like that. So I don't think you need fakes to do the job these idiots are doing.
Overall I think that certain gun-owners and pro-gun folks are doing a greater job demonizing guns than the anti-gun crowd could wish for.
The crazed OCers are about 12 people in total, so no I don't think its a case of "Money walks"
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
d-usa wrote: Part of the gun-rights battle is a PR battle. If you act like an ass people are going to think gun owners are asses and they will drop their support for them.
The NRA recognizes that.
This. This exactly. The NRA wants the debate to be more "polished" and less "bat gak crazy".
d-usa wrote: If the NRA is backpedaling from this then it seems like a clear case of "money talks"...
As for "possible plants": I can name 4 people on my shift that would be dumb enough to act that way and who support people like that. So I don't think you need fakes to do the job these idiots are doing.
Overall I think that certain gun-owners and pro-gun folks are doing a greater job demonizing guns than the anti-gun crowd could wish for.
The crazed OCers are about 12 people in total, so no I don't think its a case of "Money walks"
And how many people are supporting them?
If it is just a fraction of the people that are pissed at restaurants that just recently banned OC in their establishment it would mean it's a sizable number.
Why is the NRA backpedaling then?
d-usa wrote: And how many people are supporting them?
For the gun blogs I frequent, very few. It s just that the few are vocal
d-usa wrote: If it is just a fraction of the people that are pissed at restaurants that just recently banned OC in their establishment it would mean it's a sizable number.
People are pissed with restaurants not allowing open carry because (a) many restaurants have bowed to pressure from Bloomberg's $50-million-bought-grass-roots-campaign, (b) because the restaurants forbade all firearms and not just long guns
My guess would be the vocal minority causing trouble and saying that the NRA is not supporting their right to bear arms. Also calling your supporters "weird" has a tendency to alienate them
If a business can request that someone wear a shirt and shoes, it can request that someone not bring a gun onto their property, unless the crazy "they're going to take our gusn away" conspiracy, now includes the typical business owner.
If this is a vocal minority, and people agree that it's distasteful to walk into a business and start flashing a firearm, maybe the minority should be the target of your ire, since they're the reason you can't bring a gun to Chipotle anymore. The NRA is making the right call for the cause*. These idiots make guns rights advocates look crazy, something that guns rights advocates have to contend with enough as it is. The NRA shouldn't care about splitting them and their supporters from its base as they're being counter productive to the NRA's mission and the mission of guns rights.
Saying "we have to put up with these fethers because we don't want to split the base" is nonsense. Keeping them around is going to turn the middle ground against you because while that middle ground can get behind the idea of open carry in general, the idea of seeing people walking around in public with rifles all the time just cause scares the gak out of them and it should. That's some rather bizarre and weird behavior for a person to be engaging in. Who goes out for Friday night diner at TGIF and thinks "better bring my hunting rifle with me."
EDIT: You should cull the crazy from your base. They're not helping. Who cares if they withdraw their support? Everyone else thinks they're crazy and a minority.
*And that's what I get for not catching up on the topic since I first read about it. And here I was hoping the NRA was finally going to grow some balls and say enough is enough XD
This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2014/06/04 14:06:03
d-usa wrote: If the NRA is backpedaling from this then it seems like a clear case of "money talks"...
As for "possible plants": I can name 4 people on my shift that would be dumb enough to act that way and who support people like that. So I don't think you need fakes to do the job these idiots are doing.
Overall I think that certain gun-owners and pro-gun folks are doing a greater job demonizing guns than the anti-gun crowd could wish for.
The crazed OCers are about 12 people in total, so no I don't think its a case of "Money walks"
And how many people are supporting them?
If it is just a fraction of the people that are pissed at restaurants that just recently banned OC in their establishment it would mean it's a sizable number.
Why is the NRA backpedaling then?
One director was backpedalling.
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
So I'll post the video here.
