I’m going to Starbucks to support gun rights!

Starbucks logoFeb. 22, 2013

By John Seiler

When my work is done today, I’m heading off to Starbucks to patronize their fine coffee. Three of their ships are half a mile of where I live.

That’s because today is the day gun-rights advocates are saying “Thank you!” to Starbucks for not buckling before immense pressure from Second Amendment fanatics. The fanatics demanded that Starbucks ban all guns from their shops.

Feb. 22 was chosen because it often is written 2-22 — the 2’s standing for the Second Amendment “right to keep and bear arms,” the foundation of all our sacred American liberties. If you can’t defend yourself against tyranny, what good are all the other rights, such as for speech, religion, assembly, etc.?

Starbucks’ position is simple: It follows local gun laws.

So in Arizona, a civilized place where any law-abiding citizen can carry a concealed weapon without even getting a permit from the state, Starbucks says it’s OK to bring your gun into their store. That also means the stores are safer, especially today, because any potential terrorist or robber knows he immediately would be aerated by the patrons.

California cronyism

Things are different in the California autocracy. Last year, “open carry” of firearms, which are displayed for all to see, was banned by the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown. The state keeps sliding toward a North Korean level of abuse of citizens’ liberties.

“Conceal-carry” — where the gun is hidden — long has been allowed only by permit. And permits in most places are give out only to the sheriff’s cronies and campaign donors. The L.A. Weekly just reported:

“The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department is known in gun-rights circles for being stingy with concealed-weapons permits. Sheriff Lee Baca has total discretion over who is allowed to get a permit, and he hasn’t given out many.

“As of May 2012, only 341 people had been granted them, according to sheriff’s records. Compare that with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, which had 1,754 permit holders in 2011, despite a population of just 2 million people to L.A.’s 10 million. The Kern County Sheriff granted even more, with 3,564 permit holders in a population of 800,000 people.

“In L.A. County, records show, most of the permits go to judges and reserve deputies. But there is another group that seems to have better luck than most in obtaining permits: friends of Lee Baca. Those who’ve given the sheriff gifts or donated to his campaign are disproportionately represented on the roster of permit holders.

“Chuck Michel, a gun-rights attorney who has pushed for greater access to concealed-weapons permits, says practices in many ‘anti-gun’ jurisdictions are ‘corrupted by favoritism and cronyism.'”

That pretty much sums up California government in most respects: “favoritism and cronyism.”

But a least today I will strike a blow for honesty and freedom by sipping a coffee (Tall, black) at Starbucks.

7 comments

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  1. jimmydeeoc
    jimmydeeoc 22 February, 2013, 13:42

    “…….aerated by the patrons.”

    Laff o’ the day. Right up there with one of my favorites from White Heat. (This is Oscar weekend, after all.)

    Cody Jarrett: [while eating a chicken leg, Jarrett speaks to Parker in the trunk of the sedan] How ya doin’, Parker?
    Roy Parker: It’s stuffy in here, I need some air.
    Cody Jarrett: Oh, stuffy, huh? I’ll give ya a little air.

    Reply this comment
  2. Sean Morham
    Sean Morham 22 February, 2013, 15:51

    Sheriff Lee Baca is a CORRUPT, piece of s*&T. Where there is smoke, there is fire.

    Reply this comment
  3. Rye
    Rye 22 February, 2013, 18:20

    One law for the rulers, another law for the ruled. This is what it all boils down to for those in “power”.

    Reply this comment
  4. eck
    eck 22 February, 2013, 19:02

    Pardon if I’m wrong, but I think in in Arizona OPEN carrying of a firearm doesn’t need a permit. Concealed does.

    Reply this comment
  5. Douglas
    Douglas 23 February, 2013, 07:18

    As of July, 2010, Arizona residents at least 21 years old can carry a concealed weapon without a permit.

    Alaska and Vermont also allow concealed carry without permit.

    Reply this comment
  6. Dyspeptic
    Dyspeptic 23 February, 2013, 10:54

    “Second Amendment fanatics.”

    John, shouldn’t that read “anti Second Amendment fanatics”?

    “Last year, “open carry” of firearms, which are displayed for all to see, was banned by the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown”

    They banned unloaded open carry of firearms in incorporated areas. Loaded open carry was banned by that Republican icon Ronald Reagan. This is actually a tolerable constraint so long as it is limited to urban areas and the alternative is Shall Issue Concealed Carry. HOWEVER, the State of California is now in violation of the U.S. Constitution because only the elites get concealed carry licenses here. For ordinary law abiding citizens there is no way to legally carry a loaded firearm for self defense outside the home in this state. This is blatantly unconstitutional and will hopefully be rectified via the judicial system at some point in the near future.

    Especially in a place like Crazyfornia responsible people should be able to bear arms for self defense outside the home. It’s getting crazier here all the time. My wife just missed meeting up with the Crazy Shotgun Killer of Orange County by a few minutes. She and her car pool buddies drove right by the vehicle of one of the victims on the way to work. My brother had his tires slashed by gang members once, while he was in the car! Nothing scary about that huh. I myself have been harassed by gang members while camping in the local mountains and it is a memorable and unpleasant experience. This state needs shall issue concealed carry and fewer crook Sheriffs.

    Reply this comment
  7. a frequent reader
    a frequent reader 25 February, 2013, 12:05

    Well said Dyseptic. The 2nd Amend. didn’t say “only in your homes” can we bare arms. It’s going to take the effort of the people collectively to change what is rightfully ours to partake of. I personally made a choice to join the gun owners of California. Hopefully they can represent the citizens and convince Gov. Brown to veto the current push to force legal, law abiding gun owners from purchasing insurance. Even long guns are now banned from open carry thanks to Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Canada-Flintridge)

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