Gun Activists Carry Long Guns and Assault Weapons To Stores Throughout Houston To Show Their Power

Global Perspectives has been following gun issues and gun control  politics for years. Now the  gun activists  have  become so bold that even their own NRA  scolds them for their attention grabbing gun displays in public places, stores and cafe's, intimidating  consumers and infuriating business owners by walking in with guns in hand while wearing graphic clothing .  The Media  including CBS, NPR, New York Times,  Houston Chronicle, and the Fort Worth Star Telegram  all  reacted and reported this "show of force"  with  uniformly negative response.  American citizens are not favorably impressed by these gun owners determined to prove that they can  walk anywhere they wish with a gun in hand in Houston.

Someone should teach them appropriate behavior, and social graces.  I recall a politician who stood up at a restaurant and fired off a shot while saying "Vote for me!".   He was roundly scolded by the manager and told never to bring a gun in that place again. The politician apologized and realized what a stupid stunt it was.  Well, that was years ago, and this generation of politically motivated gun activists are about on that politicians level on the judgement charts.  To us at Global Perspectives it looked like the uncivilized Wild West or a third world country.  What an embarrassment for Houston, to embellish an already altered image of Texas as a land of reactionaries. Some newspapers have reported that in Texas a majority of the people driving  on freeways carry a gun in the car. No wonder Texas has so many arbitrary shootings and deaths because of bad driving or personal arguments. 

We have always defended the rights of  responsible and sane people to own guns, do sportsmanlike hunting, target practice and collect firearms. It is part of our history and culture.  But to flaunt weapons in ice cream parlors, coffee shops, home improvement stores,  where children and elderly people can be intimidated or frightened is poor judgement and frankly asking for trouble. Our credit for most of this  article goes to Lindsey Boema of CBS  news.  Our call is for Americans to use  judgement. Our call to the gun crazies is 'Come on you guys who think your are impressing people. What are you thinking?  Use a little wisdom and common sense.'

These antics remind me of incidents in Germany 75 years ago which divided Germany, or more recent events from radical crazies in the Middle East.  The majority of enlightened Americans  must think wisely about the security and harmony of our nation and our culture.  Something about having macho gun toters in a restaurant while I am eating with my grandchildren or when my wife and I are shopping at Home Depot raises questions about their stability and judgement.  

I think of Gregory Peck in To Kill A Mockingbird, for the ideal gun owner attitude . He was quiet, dignified and proficient. But when needed he surprised the entire town by using his gun to protect his people to stop a mad dog.  He handled himself with a certain quiet assurance, was not boastful,  not macho, not out to show off.  Indeed he quietly showed his strength by his decency and humility. 

 

Following by: Lindsey Boerma CBC  NEWS.  June  2, 2014

NRA: Open-carry gun activists' behavior "downright weird"

Houston, TX - On May 570,000 people attended the NRA's 3-day annual meeting that featured nearly 550 exhibitors, a gun trade show and a political rally. 

NRA says brazen gun owner acts cross the line, into foolishness!

Gun-rights advocates who've recently stormed Texas businesses wielding assault rifles in a brazen show of support for the state's open-carry laws have "crossed the line from enthusiasm to downright foolishness," the National Rifle Association's lobbying arm said Friday in a statement - the upshot of a reality check that intimidation measures aren't likely to harvest much support for gun rights causes or pro-firearm candidates come November's midterm elections.

Last month, pro-gun rights demonstrators patronized Sonic and Chili's restaurants while toting AK-47s and other semi-automatics, prompting the establishments to request their customers to not bring guns in their stores, or at least conceal the weapons while inside; Saturday, pro-Second Amendment advocates rallied with their long guns in a Home Depot parking lot. Texas law permits unlicensed rifles, though not handguns, to be carried openly in public.

NRA Scolds bad behavior of gun owners 

Though the NRA in its statement lauded the Lone Star State for being "second to none for its robust gun culture," the powerhouse organization added that it's "a rare sight to see someone sidled up next to you in line for lunch with a 7.62 rifle slug across his chest, much less a whole gaggle of folks descending on the same public venue with similar arms." To ostentatiously brandish a semi-automatic weapon in a public place is not only "rare," the group continued, "it's downright weird and certainly not a practical way to go normally about your business while being prepared to defend yourself."

"To those who are not acquainted with the dubious practice of using public displays of firearms as a means to draw attention to oneself or one's cause, it can be downright scary," the statement said. "It makes folks who might normally be perfectly open-minded about firearms feel uncomfortable and question the motives of pro-gun advocates."

Should the "attention-hungry few" gun owners continue their apparent campaign tactic of instilling fear to promote their beliefs, the consequences could be "lasting and consequential," the NRA cautioned, "such as turning an undecided voter into an antigun voter because of causing that person fear or offense. ...We owe it to each other to act as checks on our bad behavior before the legal system steps in and does it for us."