Dragonfighter wrote:It's been a long time since I have read and posted on this board and it is late. I will try my best to sound coherent. First let me state that because of numerous food allergies my family cannot safely eat out anywhere. Before we knew this, Whataburger was a favorite. So I simply do not have a dog in this particular fight. But I do have an opinion.
First, open carry. I am ecstatic that Texas finally has open carry for several reasons. The biggie for me is taking away the power of an anti LEO trying to make a case if you accidently expose your weapon. Then there is the comfort while doing things like yard work. Sure that is in my own yard but who among us can do their entire yard without stepping into the street to turn the mower around or edge along the curb? And there is convenience. I OC'd in VA last Spring because I had forgotten to pack something and needed to run to a store AFTER I had downgraded my dress. It was nice not to have to dress around the weapon and just clip it on and go. FWIW, no one seemed to notice or care. And finally, OC will allow all of the picnic guns to be displayed without fear of an errant complaint ruining it. So yes, OC is a good thing but not one I will likely employ...at least very often. It just doesn't make good tactical sense to me as a general rule.
Second, private property rights. I am one who believes whole heartedly that there is a difference between private property with limited access and private property open to the general public AND lacking access control. If you allow anyone unfettered access to your property, the ONLY people that are being turned around are the law abiding, trained and licensed. Without access control measures your business is vulnerable to mayhem; the more so if you advertise that no sheep dogs are allowed. So then the argument is, "They don't want your money, go somewhere else." What if there is no where else? As I already said, my family is replete with numerous food allergies and sensitivities. There is simply no way for us to get what we need without having to cross the threshold of a prohibited place at some point. I guess I go unprotected. After all, "their property their rules." Does this have anything to do with Whataburger? Not directly, but since it has been brought up here...
So what about Whataburger? Whataburger has been pressured into declaring some kind policy regarding OC and have done so (Given the antics of OCT & Co. I am a bit surprised we even got OC in Texas). What Whataburger did, as has been hammered to death on this thread, is say they will not welcome open carry in their store. The procedures outlined in the "memo" are not confrontational and more importantly they are NOT forbidding carry. They just don't want us scaring the sheep. Out of sight, out of mind. I believe they have walked the tight rope of compromise very skillfully. I cannot eat there, but if I could I would.
