Hurt and dissapointed... but very proud. Cabelas open carry.

[thirtydaZe]

i second that! 

[AWick]

I couldn't believe the negative reaction I got when open carrying. After all, I had all the DD stamps I needed for the explosives I wired onto my vest, and yet everyone looked at me like I was crazy. I don't get it.

I really hope this isn't a version of the anti-gunners attack along the lines of "What, does the 2nd Amendment give you the right to have nukes, bazookas, and to roll up in your Panzer!?"

We haven't even gotten a full description of events and how conversations went. No cops were called. No panic was incited. No negative evening news story was run. Yet people on here assumed that he just started running around dress in a trenchcoat and tactical vest scaring the bejesus out of folks. Do I agree with his approach, not necessarily, but I think people need facts before they lash out and burn bridges with people who are obviously enthusiastic of about 2A rights and are willing to take action. Sure there action is controversial, as we see here, but let's not jump to irrational conclusions and remarks like those whom we fight against in other battles.

I too would like to know JTH's analysis, he always breaks things down and comes to conclusions based on good logic... and then backs that up.

[landon410]

the loaded unloaded quesiton has more to do with the intent

if he took his long gun in there unloaded than it was simply for show and provided to personal defense ability, other than it becomes and awkward blunt object.
This, serves no point.

I support open carry, however I don't always want people to know I have my sidearm, so I conceal carry. I would encourage people to go take the conceal carry class  and get the permit because people look at those numbers to see how many gun owners do it, if you open carry in la vista what impact are you really making? I'd be majority households in La Vista has a firearm

[Mudinyeri]

Simply put, Cabela's is private property.  They have a policy related to unconcealed firearms that is legally enforceable on that property.  By entering their property, you agree to abide by that policy.  If you enter their store and flagrantly violate their policy, you should expect to be treated in a way similar to how you have treated them - with disrespect. 

My rights end where yours begin ... or better stated, the OP and his friends' rights ended where Cabela's rights began.  It is both ironic and unfortunate that an individual seeking respect for his own rights violates the rights of others.

[Husker_Fan]

I really hope this isn't a version of the anti-gunners attack along the lines of "What, does the 2nd Amendment give you the right to have nukes, bazookas, and to roll up in your Panzer!?"

We haven't even gotten a full description of events and how conversations went. No cops were called. No panic was incited. No negative evening news story was run. Yet people on here assumed that he just started running around dress in a trenchcoat and tactical vest scaring the bejesus out of folks. Do I agree with his approach, not necessarily, but I think people need facts before they lash out and burn bridges with people who are obviously enthusiastic of about 2A rights and are willing to take action. Sure there action is controversial, as we see here, but let's not jump to irrational conclusions and remarks like those whom we fight against in other battles.

I too would like to know JTH's analysis, he always breaks things down and comes to conclusions based on good logic... and then backs that up.

No, I didn't intend to make a slippery-slope argument. Rather, I was going to the extreme situation to show that open carrying can create a lot of different responses. I would imagine we all fall on a spectrum somewhere.

For example, I likely wouldn't think twice of a person open carrying a holstered pistol. Have that guy carrying an AK in a place of business and I would probably steer clear of him.

[bkoenig]

Simply put, Cabela's is private property.  They have a policy related to unconcealed firearms that is legally enforceable on that property.  By entering their property, you agree to abide by that policy.  If you enter their store and flagrantly violate their policy, you should expect to be treated in a way similar to how you have treated them - with disrespect. 

My rights end where yours begin ... or better stated, the OP and his friends' rights ended where Cabela's rights began.  It is both ironic and unfortunate that an individual seeking respect for his own rights violates the rights of others.

/thread

[RedDot]

Simply put, Cabela's is private property.  They have a policy related to unconcealed firearms that is legally enforceable on that property.  By entering their property, you agree to abide by that policy.  If you enter their store and flagrantly violate their policy, you should expect to be treated in a way similar to how you have treated them - with disrespect. 

My rights end where yours begin ... or better stated, the OP and his friends' rights ended where Cabela's rights began.  It is both ironic and unfortunate that an individual seeking respect for his own rights violates the rights of others.

+1

[bullit]

Interesting that OP has gone silent.....  True story or Troll?  Hmmmmm

[abbafandr]

I carry for protection.  I carry concealed because I prefer to not have everybody know I am packing.  I don't have any problem with open carry but my personal danger signal would be sounding loudly if I saw someone toting a rifle or shotgun.

[AWick]

Interesting that OP has gone silent.....  True story or Troll?  Hmmmmm

I'm sure, as he stated earlier in this thread before, that he was quite surprised by the whiplash response to this post. He's a self admitted huge open carrier supporter and was sure that he would find more like minded folks here. Instead , he got a bunch of people hounding him about things that they didn't know anything about. People filled in the blanks with worst case scenarios and he didn't like the "jump to conclusion" negativity. I'm not saying that I agree with his approach and I 100% agree with Cabela's and their right to have store policies that work for them. They have my full support, both ideologically and financially.

I'm a new member, been here for 7 months and started donating right away and continually since. I know the position he is in with a lot of enthusiasm but not sure of the direction that he should take and I'm sure there are a lot more members like him. I'm also new to the forum world as I've never really been exposed to forum decorum and have learned as I go. The thing with the internet is that you can find yourself on the wrong side of an argument in a hurry with battle lines shifting quickly and no way to explain yourself because you have 30 typing witty comebacks and retorts that you aren't even prepared for. I guess I'm cautioning people out there to take a step back and maybe let one guy do the explaining on what seems like an organizational consensus on the does and don'ts of 2A advocacy.

 To refresh everyone's memory, this is how this member was exposed to the NFOA

22
New Members / Re: Welcome ragedefined
« on: November 17, 2013, 04:24:32 PM »
my table at chills today was gifted a dessert from someone who saw me open carrying. i approached him just before he left, we talked a little gun talk and he asked if i was a member of nfoa. told him i would check it out and thats the first thing i did when i got home.

Im a HUGE open carrier. i have my open carry permit for omaha and i also have my conceal carry permit.

the member that directed me to your site was NENick
ReplyQuoteNotify
23
Carry Issues / Re: Open Carrier at Chilis - 84th st.
« on: November 17, 2013, 04:17:24 PM »
Took your advice and joined nfoa lol. thanks again for the dessert! my family was really taken back by your actions today. I can't thank you enough for supporting my passion. your small but very large actions today opened a few more eyes to our passion. Names Nick by the way, looks like you too lol. keep in contact!

So gestures like this are now meaningless because of a number of different factors that lead to burned bridges. It's not all our fault but it's not all his either... again, do I agree with him, no, but I can understand him being disappointed with relaying back his experience and instead of what he expected as a receptive audience, he got ridiculed and shamed.

I still really enjoy the NFOA and will be searching for avenues myself to get more involved, but I feel like at this point we could do more to help and guide the member for advocating and advancing our 2A right.

With respect,
AWick

[Mudinyeri]

So gestures like this are now meaningless because of a number of different factors that lead to burned bridges.

With respect,
AWick

I'm not sure that I would agree that such gestures are meaningless.  Just because you disagree with someone doesn't mean you dislike them ... or that you shouldn't reach out to them.  I can disapprove of someone's actions without hating them or even disliking them.  Moreover, if someone is unwilling to accept criticism of their actions, posting about them on a public forum is unwise.  A mature individual will take such criticisms with a grain of salt, do a bit of soul-searching to decide whether or not there is something to be learned from the criticism and carry on with their life.  An immature individual will "take their ball and go home".

Finally, owning a gun (even legally) doesn't necessarily make you a good person nor does it always make you right.  There are times (and I'm not saying this was or was not one of those times) when it is better to disassociate one's self with an individual even if you share some common beliefs.

[farmerbob]

As you grow up we find that, just because you can do something doesn't mean you do it. This absolutely is a violation of Cabela's rules posted at the front door and does nothing but hurt our cause. GROW UP!

[Bucket]

I have no problem with open carry, as long as folks know they are likely to encounter issues in public.  In this case, the OP came into the forum looking for a bunch of back slapping and high fiving.  What he got was an earful for his stupid behavior and showmanship in a store that his clearly posted rules against just that sort of thing.  What makes it worse is that Cabela's is a supporter of sportman and shooters in all varieties and didn't go soft like Dicks during the last bit of hysteria. 

I don't think its the OC that got people upset (beyond the normal CC/OC debate) as much as the guy's lack of respect and "in your face" attitude toward a business that is supportive of shooters all over the country.

[bkoenig]

I agree with Bucket.  I have no problem with open carry.  But I do have a problem with the way it was done.  Cabela's is fine with concealed carry, but as someone else said they have plenty of long guns just sitting out on the rack, and the store has no way of knowing if that shotgun you're toting around is off that rack or is something you own.  Ignoring their sign was extremely disrespectful.

Situations like this are what give open carry a bad name, just like the people who ruined open carry at Starbucks with their confrontational attitude.  If you want to open carry and get the public used to seeing responsible gun owners bearing arms then be respectful about it.  Anything else is counterproductive.

[DanClrk51]

While Cabela's policy should be respected I don't think that open carry of any firearms at this establishment would give open carry a bad name. After all ....IT'S A GUN STORE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! People go in and out of there with guns. I don't think that Cabela's is worried about that aspect of it but rather what others have pointed out: lots of used guns on their racks for all to pick up and they wouldn't know the difference between someone carrying a rifle around the store or someone stealing their used rifles.

Ragedefined stated that he had open carried with his pistol on his hip in Cabelas on multiple occasions with no problems.

Here's an example of what I mean: I bought a used long gun from Cabelas (SKS) and they escorted me to the door with the rifle then handed it to me (without any package covering it). So here I am carrying an SKS without a sling across the parking lot in public.

Did anyone freak out? NO. Did anyone call the cops? NO
Did Cabelas think it a problem for me to open carry an unslinged rifle with my bare hands across their parking lot (obviously not since they put me in that position)

Having said that I think some of the posts on this topic had a very nasty tone towards ragedefined which were very unbecoming of our organization. Instead of tearing a new member down, resorting to name calling, and judging the situation with our own presumptions of the exchange with the store associate we could have offered constructive criticism, but he was chased away because the impression was given that he was not welcome in our organization........sigh

If some wonder why our organization is not growing faster, this could be one of the factors...

[farmerbob]

Gun owners and gun groups, like the NRA, are under assault like never before. The anti-gun masses try to paint us all into a corner of irresponsibility and stupidity.

We must hold ourselves to a higher level, for every time we pick up a firearm, we are representing all gun owners. We can't afford too many black eyes.

What next, a group of guys exercising their open carry rights at the mall with AKs and shotguns? Legal, yes. SWAT Teams and helicopters, probably. Or maybe, taking your AR-15 to the bank to make a withdrawal? Legal, I think so. Making the front page of the paper, probably. I have been to several gun shows that were posted at the door, no guns with a picture of a handgun with a circle around it and a line through it.  I didn't just throw up my hands and say it's a gun show, for crying out loud. No, I returned to my vehicle, and secured my Glock before entering, because I am not just representing myself, but all gun owners.

I personally don't have anything against open carry, but I am not willing to try a stunt that could jeopardize my gun rights or yours.

Carry on, carry safely, and carry smart!

[ILoveCats]

Gun owners and gun groups, like the NRA, are under assault like never before. The anti-gun masses try to paint us all into a corner of irresponsibility and stupidity.

We must hold ourselves to a higher level, for every time we pick up a firearm, we are representing all gun owners. We can't afford too many black eyes.

What next, a group of guys exercising their open carry rights at the mall with AKs and shotguns? Legal, yes. SWAT Teams and helicopters, probably. Or maybe, taking your AR-15 to the bank to make a withdrawal? Legal, I think so. Making the front page of the paper, probably. I have been to several gun shows that were posted at the door, no guns with a picture of a handgun with a circle around it and a line through it.  I didn't just throw up my hands and say it's a gun show, for crying out loud. No, I returned to my vehicle, and secured my Glock before entering, because I am not just representing myself, but all gun owners.

I personally don't have anything against open carry, but I am not willing to try a stunt that could jeopardize my gun rights or yours.

Carry on, carry safely, and carry smart!

Good points.

[patrickdm]

Some good points by farmerbob. Along with the rights and responsibilities of carrying, common sense needs to be there too. With the attacks from the liberal media and every Feinstein, Obama and Pelosi looking for any excuse to take our guns away we have to be smart when we choose to exercise our rights. Walking into Cabela's or any public place for that matter with a gun on your hip and two friends both carrying long guns over their shoulders is inviting what will most likely be a negative response. I do applaud the OP and his friends for wanting to exercise their rights and inform the public but timing is also important.

Speaking for myself if I had witnessed two individuals walking into Cabela's with a shotgun and an AK strapped on their back I would have went to orange immediately and probably contacted Cabela's staff if they hadn't already noticed.

[unfy]

All the talk of folks getting nervous at Cabela's by open carry... I'll assume none of you have actually went over to the firearms section and seen what the customers do when handed a firearm ?  *shivers*

[jestermx6]

All the talk of folks getting nervous at Cabela's by open carry... I'll assume none of you have actually went over to the firearms section and seen what the customers do when handed a firearm ?  *shivers*

i usually make a point to stay clear of that section if the store is even slightly busy for that very reason. same with Scheels.