Firearms in store

[blodgetter]

For the past 3 years I have been a customer in this store. At time frequent, and others less often. I have attended a great many events, tournaments, and made countless stops for purchases or conversation. Over the course of this time I cannot recall a single time when I wasn't armed. No harm has come to the store, it's employees, nor customers because of this, or because of me.

I was I formed today that the store has decided that my firearm is not welcomed. It would seem that someone has decided that the sight of such makes them uncomfortable. This is extremely unfortunate. It does however force me to abstain from going into the store for so long as such a policy exists.

People's being uncomfortable with something is simply part of life. I haven't petitioned for the extermination of all spiders in spite of my aversion to them. I also feel extremely uncomfortable around people who reek of BO, yet I haven't petitioned the store to enact a hygiene policy.

I would like to add that regardless of if you are pro or anti gun, the store is legally within its rights to ask anyone to leave at any time for any reason. The discrimination issue not withstanding, that quite simply is the Law. The same laws which protect my right to carry.

[Monster Rain]

As someone who is rather pro-Second Amendment myself, I think that if something you are doing is making others uncomfortable, and they ask you to address it, they aren't being unreasonable. Not everyone is as comfortable around firearms as we are. I was threatened with a chair at triple play once, and I never felt the need to carry a firearm when I'm playing Warhams. I mean, the K-Bar is never far from my side, but I prefer the element of surprise.

I guess the point is that just because you are entitled to do something doesn't mean that you should still do it if friends ask you not to do it around them.

[robertdd]

Hi Mark, I am sorry to hear you say that you won't come anymore, because I've always enjoyed talking to you and hanging out.

The reason for the issue to come up now and not in the past is because we were not aware that you brought fire-arms into the store, because you only recently started to wear your gun openly.
Just to be clear, it is just as big of an issue to bring a concealed weapon into the store as it is to bring an openly carried weapon into the store, but it's hard to act on something you don't know is going on.

Here are my personal reasons for not wanting guns in the store:
1. Carrying a gun dramatically increases the chance of getting shot and killed. The risk increases for bystanders as well. (This has been found in research done by the University of Pennsylvania in 2009)
2. We play competitive games and sometimes we have seen heated arguments and worse. We don't want people with guns getting as angry as I have seen some people get.
3. We have kids in the store. Guns and people who don't know the dangers of guns and don't know how to handle guns but may be fascinated with the subject is a potentially dangerous combo.

So when you talk about discomfort, I think you are underestimating the issue a bit. I don't feel safe, because research shows that being around guns is more dangerous than being around bad BO.

I am not sure that your right to carry a gun outweighs my right to be safe in the game store.

I hope you will consider the fact that a game store may not be an ideal environment to bring a gun into and choose to come in and have fun playing games again, and leave your weapon in a locked vehicle or at home.

[blodgetter]

After a careful amount of consideration, and a fair bit of research, here is what I've concluded.

You quote a 2009 study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania. This study was conducted in the city of Philadelphia where it is unlawful for citizens to carry a firearm openly or concealed on a public Street or in a public building. Obviously if you ever read the study you know that most of the people they referenced were actually armed criminals whom were shot and killed. Go figure, if your breaking the law, are armed, and theres shooting, someone is likely to get killed. That's common sense. So all this really says is that if there was a gun involved, and someone was shot and killed, there was a gun involved. It's redundant it's like me saying that every time there's a car accident, there is an automobile involved. Think about it. If this study was so conclusive, and properly done, we would be hearing about it in every speech Obumer gave as he attacks out 2nd amendment rights.

You go on to say that you're afraid for children in the store. I was five years old when that I started shooting. I learned to handle them safely. I learned not to be afraid of it irrationally. A firearm is simply a tool, and when handled properly is of no more danger then any other tool. Not everyone was so lucky however, and If asked, I'd be more then happy to educate. I'd hope you'll agree, education is a far better answer then discrimination.

You also make note of how intense gaming is. If you truly believe I would get so angry over a game as to commit murder, then clearly you have a very low opinion of me. Has never and would never happen. Frankly I'm insulted that you even think to mention it, as it says a lot about what you think of your customers.

Ultimately however, much as i hate to have to say it: You're "right" to FEEL safe is a relative CONCEPT. My RIGHT to carry a firearm is constitutionally protected. So yes. I firmly believe that a persons Constitutional rights FAR outweigh anyone's feelings. If anyone disagree's with that, I'd welcome them to go live in a socialist country, and let me know how that works out for you.

[doctorclockwork]

Apr 29, 2013 10:02:33 GMT -5 blodgetter said:

Frankly I'm insulted that you even think to mention it, as it says a lot about what you think of your customers.

Robert is not a representative of the store. He is one of our customers. I just want to make that clear.

Edit: And while this thread was perfectly fine being left alone as Mark's statement, if it becomes a problem I will trample your First Amendment rights and close it.

[robertdd]

Hi Mark,

Tony is right: I am not a representative of the store, just another customer with an opinion. I thought you knew.

I was trying to offer some perspective on the issue, explain the why. I did not mean to offend (quite the opposite, in fact). Please understand that none of the concerns I brought up against guns in the store were specifically aimed at you. They apply equally to anyone bringing a gun in the store. I certainly can't predict who will and who won't blow up during a game, but I can tell you I've seen it happen. I don't think it's going to be you, if that's of any help.

You may well be right about the Philly studies on fire-arms being inconclusive. I have not done the additional reading on it that you say you have done, so I'm going to have to take your word on that. However, I did find the following links on carrying guns in Philly that seem to contradict your statements on that subject:
www.pafoa.org/law
reference.pafoa.org/statutes/PA/18/II/G/61/A/6108/carrying-firearms-on-public-streets-or-public-property-in-philadelphia/

You also point out that it is common sense that there is a better chance of getting shot if there is shooting. I fully agree, but am not sure why this would invalidate the research. I think it's also common sense that there's also a far better chance of shooting if someone has a gun, and that is actually the point I am trying to make.

[James]

I'd like to voice my support for the store's decision.

OP, I trust that you are an educated and responsible gun owner. Even so, I'm glad you will not be bringing your gun into the store. Thank you for complying with the store's request.