Experiment in open carry in restaurants shows little concern by rational diners
The Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) held a public experiment of sorts recently when several of their members and other citizens visited several restaurants in Fairfax County and ordered dinner while carrying their sidearms openly. The reporter (an AP guy who must have choked on his words) wrote that Bruce Jackson of VCDL stood up in Champps in Reston and announced to everyone there that he and several others were armed and got as a reaction… pretty much nothing.
The armed customers stood up in unison, showing off their holstered pistols and revolvers. Jackson said a word or two about the rights of gun owners to carry firearms in Virginia, then thanked everyone for their attention and sat down.
The diners returned to their burgers and Budweisers.
The Virginia Citizens Defense League organized the gathering at Champps to prove a point: that the presence of armed customers in northern Virginia restaurants would elicit little more than shrugs.
And, based on this report, their point was proven. Don’t worry, Mr. AP found the requisite “what do they need guns in a restaurant for” people to quote. By and large, however, the point about carrying guns was well proven. It’s not a danger to society and innocent children and pets don’t die 3 seconds after a weapon in carried into their presence. As we’ve said all along: it’s the crook, not the gun.
I’m a resident of northern Virginia, near Washington, DC. By profession, I’m a network engineer for a very, very large company in the IT field. I work with several federal agencies in my job. Politically, I lean conservative on most issues dealing with matters of law, finance, national security, and personal responsibility. I’m more moderate in the social arena but don’t confuse that with the so-called “liberal” stance. You’ll get the picture.
“Laws that forbid the carrying of arms… disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes… Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.” — Thomas Jefferson’s “Commonplace Book,”
“A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.” — George Washington
“The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that… it is their right and duty to be at all times armed;…” Thomas Jefferson letter to Justice John Cartwright, June 5, 1824. 1824. ME 16:45.
“Laws that forbid the carrying of arms… disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes… Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.” — Thomas Jefferson’s “Commonplace Book,”
“A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.” — George Washington
“The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that… it is their right and duty to be at all times armed;…” Thomas Jefferson letter to Justice John Cartwright, June 5, 1824. 1824. ME 16:45.
The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them.” Zachariah Johnson, 3 Elliot, Debates at 646 (June 25, 1788).
George Mason: “To disarm the people is the most effectual way to enslave them.” (3 Elliot,
Debates at 380)