Open-carry rally scheduled Saturday at Home Depot

[Windwalker]

Hope they don't screw this up- IMHO it is a right, however the In-your-face tactics used are over done at times.
A better venue would be at a sporting goods store or somewhere where vendors can set up booths.

Open-carry rally scheduled Saturday at Home Depot in North Richland Hills

http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2014/05/open-carry-rally-scheduled-saturday-at-home-depot-in-north-richland-hills.html/

https://www.facebook.com/events/218560535021280/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular&source=1

Open Carry Tarrant County is planning a rally Saturday in North Richland Hills, billed as the “greatest” the county has ever seen.

Starting at 11:30 a.m. supporters will fill the back of the parking lot at the Home Depot on Precinct Line Road to listen to speakers, have an open-carry education session and hold a raffle. Prizes include revolvers, an AR 15 rifle, over 1,500 rounds of ammunition and Rangers tickets, according to the group’s Facebook page.

Rally organizer Kory Watkins, 30, wants to make it clear that Saturday’s event is not a protest.

“Protesters are angry; and we are not angry people. If you come up to us, you will see we are smiling and friendly,” he said. “We are demonstrating, demonstrating our rights and demonstrating how the law lets you carry a long gun, but you can’t open carry a pistol.”

The rally comes days after a testy Memorial Day exchange between an open-carry group and a Marine veteran in Fort Worth (see the video below) and a week after Chipotle and other restaurants made headlines by prohibiting guns following an incident in Dallas’ West End.

Watkins said his group has been meeting at the Home Depot for almost a year, and unlike other businesses and cities like Arlington who have clashed with the group, the home improvement giant has “stayed neutral.”

“They respect the rights of the people and we realize that,” Watkins said. “Their parking lost are always huge so we can park in the back and not bother nobody.”

A representative for the North Richland Hills Home Depot said he had no information about the rally.

“That’s not something Home Depot sponsors,” said the man, who declined to give his name. “They are not going to on the Home Depot property.”

Stephen Holmes, Home Depot’s corporate communications director, told Forbes, “Our feeling is that, ultimately, the voters direct the laws on gun carry issues, so we defer to the prevailing ordinances in states and communities.”

Since learning of the rally several critics have spoken out against Home Depot on their Facebook page. While some praised the store for allowing the rally, others said they will no longer shop there because they wouldn’t feel safe.

“I do not spend my money in any establishment that does not consider the safety of my family and my community in establishing its policies,” one commenter said.

But according to Watkins, the North Richland Hills police have been helpful with the planned rally.

“The police department has been notified and is coordinating with us,” he said. “Everything is legal, as always.”

[bradslam]

Of course they will screw it up.  I'm a gun owner and carry concealed, but I'm sorry, these guys just end up sending the wrong message and piss off everybody else which harms all gun owners in the end.

[timberghost72]

Of course they will screw it up.  I'm a gun owner and carry concealed, but I'm sorry, these guys just end up sending the wrong message and piss off everybody else which harms all gun owners in the end.

 

Dumbazz's carrying long guns/shotguns etc.. into resturants are causing actions like this, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/30/chilis-sonic-gun_n_5419942.html, and is hurting us more and more.

[Jason]

Of course they will screw it up.  I'm a gun owner and carry concealed, but I'm sorry, these guys just end up sending the wrong message and piss off everybody else which harms all gun owners in the end.

exactly why Starbucks put an end to carrying in their stores.

[RadSav]

Of course they will screw it up.  I'm a gun owner and carry concealed, but I'm sorry, these guys just end up sending the wrong message and piss off everybody else which harms all gun owners in the end.

exactly why Starbucks put an end to carrying in their stores.

Chili's and Sonic did the same according to the Bing Ticker yesterday.  They mentioned a few others too.  I think it was Wendy's, Jack In The Box, and Applebees but I didn't pay much attention so could be wrong on those ones.  All reacted after the open carry rally's!

[jrebel]

Why wouldn't the Anti's schedule and conduct "Open Carry Rallies" to promote their agenda.  It is a very smart way to sabotage the opposition by acting like idiots and carrying long guns and open carry carry in public places to scare the general public???   

I GUESS THEY DON'T HAVE TO SABOTAGE A BUNCH OF GUN TOTING IDIOTS TO MAKE THEIR AGENDA....WE DO IT FOR THEM!!!

[GEARHEAD]

Frankly i think some of these groups may be under cover democrat antigun advocates ( ) , because their actions reflect poorly on me and mine, and serve only to benefit the Anti Gun Groups. keeping it in your pants can have more than one meaning. nothing worse than retarded looking punks and weird fat guys in camo walking around with long guns acting provocative and then crying victim if a Cop talks to them. just my 2 pennies!

[smittyJ]

Of course they will screw it up.  I'm a gun owner and carry concealed, but I'm sorry, these guys just end up sending the wrong message and piss off everybody else which harms all gun owners in the end.

exactly why Starbucks put an end to carrying in their stores.

Chili's and Sonic did the same according to the Bing Ticker yesterday.  They mentioned a few others too.  I think it was Wendy's, Jack In The Box, and Applebees but I didn't pay much attention so could be wrong on those ones.  All reacted after the open carry rally's!

Totally agree!

[smittyJ]

Frankly i think some of these groups may be under cover democrat antigun advocates ( ) , because their actions reflect poorly on me and mine, and serve only to benefit the Anti Gun Groups. keeping it in your pants can have more than one meaning. nothing worse than retarded looking punks and weird fat guys in camo walking around with long guns acting provocative and then crying victim if a Cop talks to them. just my 2 pennies!

Seems to be working quite well!

[turkeyfeather]

Of course they will screw it up.  I'm a gun owner and carry concealed, but I'm sorry, these guys just end up sending the wrong message and piss off everybody else which harms all gun owners in the end.

Yup

[pianoman9701]

The NRA came out and called these people nuts last week. Not this specific group, but anyone who carries a long gun into a private business or an organized gathering. I agree. Everyone knows what our rights are. We don't need to shove them down people's throats so far that it makes them nervous. If I were in a restaurant and someone came in with an MSR, I'd be very alert immediately. And, sooner or later something's going to happen at one of these and it will work to change our open carry rights down the road.

[ghosthunter]

Well I support open carry and do open carry when it suits my situation and I have been to Open Carry BQs.

But I would not carry a long gun around in the city.

Regardless how you feel drawing attention in this way is just going to get bad press. And I can tell you Home Depot will go the same way as Starbucks if forced. With in the Open Carry organization I think most would not carry long guns.

However I would be against anything that infringed on their right to do it.

[h2ofowlr]

This is starting to become an EPIC FAIL.  They are forcing these gun friendly businesses to change there stance on guns due to the public outcry.  The social media backlash is what the open carry guys are loosing to.  If they were smart they would do it in an open area and not put a place of business in the spotlight where they are forced to make a decision.   

[Old Man Yager]

We don't need to carry them open just because we can. I don't know what the organizer thinks he is going to accomplish by having this rally. Too bad the guy can't think of something positive to do, like going to a gun range and letting kids experience shooting a 22 or shoot trap or skeet. 

[pianoman9701]

Well I support open carry and do open carry when it suits my situation and I have been to Open Carry BQs.

But I would not carry a long gun around in the city.

Regardless how you feel drawing attention in this way is just going to get bad press. And I can tell you Home Depot will go the same way as Starbucks if forced. With in the Open Carry organization I think most would not carry long guns.

However I would be against anything that infringed on their right to do it.

I agree but think the long gun guys will be the ones causing any infringement at this point. I'm glad the NRA came out against this display.