Each of us has dominion over ourselves and how we conduct ourselves, beyond that nothing. The "gun community" as a whole can not legitimately be held accountable for the actions of a few people who do not represent anyone except themselves. SB's could have targeted those specific individuals who they deemed unfavorable but they instead chose to take a broad brush to a small 'problem'.
Open carry is a fringe of the greater gun community and those among us who choose to OC long guns are a fringe of our general OC fringe. That is why I earlier stated that this is so miniscule of a issue that its not even newsworthy nor is it productive to piss and moan about people who choose to OC long guns. Within every type of group is 'that guy', the ones you wish was on the other side but sadly their antics are part of your camp. And if they weren't in your camp then rest assured someone would false flag an asinine display in order to advance an agenda. This is why I wont waste my time worrying about crap like this or buy into the bunk of how its all our fault. It isn't and the blame doesn't lie even on those who's presentation was brash.
However lets entertain the thought process that casts the blame on all of us, as a whole. What are we to do in order to avoid a repeat? How about a CCW holder who commits a *gasp* crime? Because we all know based on this Starbucks event that if anyone with a CCW commits a crime then we should all be chastised. I'd go so far as to wager that the percentage of CCW holders who have been convicted of a crime are about par to the percent of people who went over the top in these 'appreciation days'. Have I made my point? I will not second guess my position based on the whims of starbuck's stockholders.
Open carry is a fringe of the greater gun community and those among us who choose to OC long guns are a fringe of our general OC fringe. That is why I earlier stated that this is so miniscule of a issue that its not even newsworthy nor is it productive to piss and moan about people who choose to OC long guns. Within every type of group is 'that guy', the ones you wish was on the other side but sadly their antics are part of your camp. And if they weren't in your camp then rest assured someone would false flag an asinine display in order to advance an agenda. This is why I wont waste my time worrying about crap like this or buy into the bunk of how its all our fault. It isn't and the blame doesn't lie even on those who's presentation was brash.
However lets entertain the thought process that casts the blame on all of us, as a whole. What are we to do in order to avoid a repeat? How about a CCW holder who commits a *gasp* crime? Because we all know based on this Starbucks event that if anyone with a CCW commits a crime then we should all be chastised. I'd go so far as to wager that the percentage of CCW holders who have been convicted of a crime are about par to the percent of people who went over the top in these 'appreciation days'. Have I made my point? I will not second guess my position based on the whims of starbuck's stockholders.
All the reasons which make the initiation of physical force an evil, make the retaliatory use of physical force a moral imperative. -Ayn Rand