Ain't that America?
Georgetown, KY, December 2009
I did a double-take after coming across this on the way into a McDonald's restaurant. Not the kind of message usually associated with the land of Happy Meals and shakes (not milk shakes, mind you. Just shakes.)
I guess my BlackBerry's camera didn't qualify as a concealed or deadly weapon. Maybe it should.
Your turn: What was your first thought when you initially saw this red, white (see here for TP) and black sign? (Mine: What if I'm waving it out in the open? The sign doesn't explicitly ban that, right?)
I shake my head knowing that the people with concealed weapons don't care what the sign says. It's concealed, how will anyone know??
ReplyDeleteWell, I would have immediately returned to my vehicle and left my weapon there...
ReplyDeleteSadly, I see these signs all over the place. I suppose it gives the managers of these establishments some sense of control, but I wonder what they honestly expect to come of having the signs posted...
I always think back to ... I think it was Jeff Foxworthy who did a bit on signs wherein he posited that if there's a sign telling you not to do it, it means that somebody did -- at some point -- do it, reasoning "I don't see no sign...".
ReplyDeleteIn the case of McDonalds, this is sadly true. I forget now where it was, but several years ago some head case shot up a McD's and killed a bunch of people. Do you suppose this sign would have made him reconsider? I'm guessing not.
Oh, and in Georgetown... no, pretty much anywhere Kentucky... yeah, if it was strapped to your hip in plain view, most likely nobody'd care. I can pretty well tell you that in Texas you wouldn't get a second glance. Probably some other places too. America's gun culture is pretty scary.
Mine was "Is this in Canada?"
ReplyDeleteand I got sad :(
Breeze
Along the same lines as Mojo, I wanted to say that in many states in the US it is harder to legally carry a concealed weapon than it is to have a hip holster out in the open.
ReplyDeleteAt a community college where I taught for a while, in the classroom next to mine one of the ladies' husband taught conceal and carry classes so that folks could get certified for it. That was Arkansas.
my first response is "define 'deadly'"....
ReplyDeleteFirst thought...
ReplyDeleteOMG!!!! You're going into a MacDonald's!?!?!!!!
*chuckle*
What a world we've created.
My first thought was, "but a weapon in plain sight is okay?"
ReplyDeleteScary world...
My first thought - OMG. McD's?! I'm offended by the sign, the need for the sign, the sight of the sign, the image of the gun on the sign. Little kids frequent McDs. Do I want them to see this sign? NO! Do I want to have a discussion with my little ones about why McDs feels this sign is necessary? NO! Do I want to confront the McDs management about this sign? NO! Do I want to just rip the sign down? YES!
ReplyDeleteI agree with several other commenters about the state of Americans' affair with the gun, BUT, here in my very rural neck of the woods, I've never seen a sign anything like this. Everyone here owns guns, but mostly rifles & shotguns for hunting, not handguns. Long guns are not easily concealed.
Sobering yet silly!
ReplyDeleteAloha, Carmi
Comfort Spiral
my first thought why would somebody be carrying a Luger? It clearly belongs in a museum.
ReplyDeleteAnd I would be more concerned about the condition of what Maccy D's sell, that's surely more dangerous isn't it?
But, do I still have to wear a shirt and shoes?
ReplyDeleteI think the sign should spell it out and continue, "... and that includes hand guns (see photo), long rifles, Uzzies, knives, razor wire, (etc.)" but I guess the sign would get to be quite the size.
ReplyDeleteGAH
well.. it's the weapons that don't stay concealed that I'm worry me.
ReplyDeleteScary.
ReplyDelete