Open Carry Radio

The Contra Costa Times ran this editorial yesterday “Message to Open Carry members: It’s time to put the guns away“, all time referring to “we”. Wouldn’t an editorial be written by an author e.g. “I”? After all it is an opinion piece, if you’re going to use “we” you should state who “we” is. Here’s an excerpt from that article.

IT APPEARS some Bay Area residents feel that simply having a right to bear arms is not enough. They also feel they must exercise that right in a public display that conjures visions of a modern-day Wild West.

The term is known as open carry or open display, which is allowed by a provision of the California Penal Code. Open carry is a shorthand term for openly carrying a firearm in public view as opposed to concealing it, which is illegal in California in most circumstances.

Recently a group called Open Carry orchestrated a number of displays during which gun owners showed up at suburban coffee shops and a restaurant toting their unloaded handguns in belt holsters. Ammunition for the weapons also was conveniently situated on the belts.

More than anything else, we surmise, this display is meant as a not-so-subtle political statement. But we hope those carrying the weapons are more judicious with their firearms than they are with fashioning political statements. This one misses the target. Instead of some grand public lesson, this action is seen by many Bay Area residents as childish machismo.

Needless to say, many customers of the coffee shops and restaurant — who had chosen not to exercise their right to bear arms — were taken aback by such displays. Some patrons left immediately, while others summoned police officers.

One commenter simply substituted “Open Carry” with “Gay Public Displays of Affection” in the editorial and came up with this.

IT APPEARS some Bay Area residents feel that simply having a right to same-sex relationships is not enough. They also feel they must exercise that right in a public display that conjures visions of a modern-day Greek orgy.

The term is known as public display of affection (PDA), which is allowed by a provision of the California Penal Code. PDA is a shorthand term for openly flaunting your sexuality in public view as opposed to concealing it, which is illegal in California in most circumstances.

Recently a group called GLBSF orchestrated a number of displays during which gays showed up at suburban coffee shops and a restaurant toting their same-sex partners in drag. Paraphernalia for the costumes also was conveniently situated on the belts.

More than anything else, we surmise, this display is meant as a not-so-subtle political statement. But we hope those flaunting the homosexuality are more judicious with their privates than they are with fashioning political statements. This one misses the target. Instead of some grand public lesson, this action is seen by many Bay Area residents as disgusting perversion.

Needless to say, many customers of the coffee shops and restaurant — who had chosen not to exercise their right to same-sex relationships — were taken aback by such displays. Some patrons left immediately, while others summoned police officers…