BlackFive

There is plenty of anti-gun nonsense going on these days but that doesn't mean that the pro-gun side should try to trump it with truly boneheaded moves like this.

On Monday, burrito chain Chipotle issued a statement asking customers who aren’t law enforcement officers to leave their weapons at home because “the display of firearms in our restaurants has now created an environment that is potentially intimidating or uncomfortable for many of our customers.”

It all started last weekend when gun-rights activists affiliated with Open Carry Texas brought military-style assault rifles into a Dallas-area Chipotle, scaring some customers.

Open Carry Texas founder C.J. Grisham told Forbes that the armed trip to Chipotle was not a demonstration, but simply a meal following an event. “We don’t go there just to carry guns into a restaurant,” he said. “We always let the manager know we’re coming. We try very hard to make people feel comfortable.”

OK that is complete BS and even if the part about just heading out for some chow after a peaceful day sporting your sporting rifles around town is true, how in the hell does bringing those guns into Chipotle make anyone comfortable? I know CJ and, to be perfectly frank, at this point I have near zero use for him. He has beclowned himself and now is busy leading a clown car full of armed buffoons around making sure that anyone on the fence about guns gets a good look at some of the folks least likely to make anyone feel "comfortable".

And what is with the combat slings? You are in Chipotle not Fallujah FFS. If you want to make people feel comfortable at all, then sling the thing across your shoulder. Don't walk around with your hand on the pistol grip and your meat hooks way too close to the trigger. And speaking of comfortable. a rifle combat slung across your front is far from comfortable to wear or carry. So they are obviously willing to accept that discomfort for the purpose of being extra-menacing. The little fella looks like he is going to trip over his barrel. Let me suggest an MP-5 or better yet something in the Nerf line for you. As for Jabba the Gun Nut, well, I just hope he was there for a veggie burrito. Well done you pinheads, you have taken all the momentum of some very important Supreme Court rulings in our favor and open carried away the good will they won us. 

You would be hard-pressed to find someone more pro-gun than me. I have carried concealed and openly all over the planet, on planes, trains and automobiles. The whole point was to safely make sure I had a weapon handy if the shit hit the fan. It didn't mean ostentatiously poking everyone I ran into with my right to bear arms. If the goal is to gain support for gun laws more in line with the Constitution, you all are an epic fail. You are costing supporters and credibility every time you remind people that gun and nut are not always mutually exclusive.

Rights you are unable to exercise are rights you do not have. I get it. But committing the crime of felonious jackassery (h/t Kevin Williamson) while exercising said rights just does not help. So knock it off and act like responsible adults not over-armed adolescents.

Jonn Lilyea was on this yesterday and on point as always.