I had my first experience with conceal and carry yesterday.
I took my sons out for lunch before heading to the Museum of Life and Science, a family favorite since the boys were babies. We were indulging in some unhealthy fare to carry on our celebration of a lazy, unscheduled summer. As we sat at our table, two feet away at the next table, sat three men. All donned the expected male business uniform of pleated khaki pants and golf shirts. They were well groomed and mild mannered, not unlike most of the men I see in my professional life or in Mac Daddy’s office. They were unremarkable in every way.
And then they started talking about concealing and carrying, as in, they were at that very minute. My heart jumped a beat. I’m not accustomed to guns, and the entire culture of guns along every stop on the continuum is foreign to me. I must have mimed cleaning my ears with a Q-tip to clear my head in an etch-a-sketch shake to ensure I had heard them correctly. Sure enough, they carried on talking about “packing.”
“Psst…do you hear what they’re talking about, Mommy?” said Deal, with equal parts awe and fear in his eyes.
“Yes, honey. I hear them. It makes me a little uncomfortable.”
It’s been screen-free week at our house so the presence of multiple televisions in the restaurant was unusually welcome. Bird was oblivious to the conversation since he was engrossed in ESPN and wasn’t directly next to the men. In a very unIlina-like move, I encouraged Deal to watch TV. I tried my best to distract the boys with conversation and silly jokes. We people watched through the large front window, and I tried to make up stories about the people we saw.
The men kept talking.
The conversation turned grossly testosteroney. They spoke of open carry and were plotting the places they wanted to go. I don’t even know if open carry is allowed anywhere in North Carolina. They wanted to open carry into some upcoming festival or concert or something. They talked about conceal and carry in parks and playgrounds. Apparently in Raleigh you can have a weapon at a playground but not a dog. Is this for real?! And then they talked about ammo and types of guns. I’m not well versed on this topic so the details were lost on me. I don’t know about gun sizes or types of bullets. I don’t know about what sorts of guns are used for different activities. But I do know the mark of a man is not marked by the size of his gun. These men weren’t talking about sporting or hunting. They were on a vigilante bend. Their tenor remained calm and composed but their conversation turned fierce.
“A man of any age should be packing.”
“Some 26 year old has nothing on me. I’d like to see him try something.”
“I’d shoot the hell out of someone who broke into my house.”
“No guy would have a shot against me.” (as he tapped his gut)
Deal’s eyes grew wide. I spoke loudly and kept trying to distract my sons. My conversation was inane as I tried to hold my shit together.
Meanwhile, these men had no regard for the children seated next to them. This was a crowded restaurant at peak lunch time. Kids were all around. And they kept at it, talking conceal and carry as they verbally fist bumped each other and validated their masculinity.
I’m not naive. I realize someone is likely packing at every turn. I’ve just never seen people so blatant about it. It was frightening. It seemed like these men had something to prove and were looking for the opportunity to be heroes. I won’t be patronizing this restaurant again, despite the good it does for our community, unless it takes the lead of Players Retreat and bans guns from its premises. The policy isn’t a sure thing to prevent people like these guys from concealing and carrying unbeknownst to patrons, but it’s a start for my own peace of mind.
Is this life in North Carolina?
My understanding is that it is pretty much allowed almost anywhere unless notice is posted otherwise. Creeps me out. I’m not a gun person either and I don’t think carrying one makes someone any safer. I’m of the belief our society needs less weapons – not more.
i am very creeped out by this. {{shudder}}
Disclaimer: I’m not a gun owner or enthusiast. I’ve fired them from time to time, in the military and recreationally.
“Meanwhile, these men had no regard for the children seated next to them. This was a crowded restaurant at peak lunch time. Kids were all around. And they kept at it, talking conceal and carry as they verbally fist bumped each other and validated their masculinity.”
I don’t think they see anything wrong with their discussing this–I mean, if it’s OK to **carry** a firearm in a restaurant with children, certainly it’s OK to *talk* about it, right? And–again, I’m making an assumption–they seem to think we should *want* them doing this, since they could protect us from “bad guys with guns” and there’s certainly nothing wrong with exposing our kids to these conversations.
Personally, I think they’re delusional on several levels.
Wow…you really need to get out more. Like you said…we’re normal people with normal lives doing normal activities. Educate yourself and get rid of that stigma.