"All of this is allegedly being done to protect our freedoms. But it’s
only the “freedom” of the person wearing a firearm that matters. Those
parents who want their kids to feel safe in a public park aren’t free to
tell a man waving a gun around to leave them alone, are they? Patrons
and employees of Starbucks aren’t free to express their opinion of open
carry laws when one of these demonstrations are taking place in the
store. Those Jack in the Box employees aren’t free to refuse service to
armed customers. Sure, they are all theoretically free to do
those things. It’s their constitutional right just like it’s the
constitutional right of these people to carry a gun. But in the real
world, sane people do not confront armed men and women. They don’t argue
with them over politics. They certainly do not put their kids in harm’s
way in order to make a point. So when it comes right down to it, when
you are in the presence of one of these armed citizens, you don’t really
have any rights at all.
You can see why they think that’s freedom. It is. For them. The rest of
us just have to be very polite, keep our voices down and back away very
slowly, saying, “Yes sir, whatever you say, sir,” and let them have
their way." Heather Digby Parton
