I had read about Moms Demanding Action’s shrill demands for a boycott of Kroger over their dislike of the exercise of the Second Amendment. I also noted the new media’s urging to show support for Kroger’s polite reply that the MDA’s should mind their own business. Of course, political manipulation is MDA’s stock in trade…and that runs exactly contrary to the limits on government that allow for toleration of others . . .
So I stopped at a local Fry’s (which is owned by Kroger) and topped off the tank. I was open carrying, as I usually am in Arizona, especially at this time of year. Opening day of dove season reached 112 degrees. I and a young friend had shot some doves and I needed to pick up some potatoes, garlic, onions, and carrots to go with the birds I was going to cook. I shop at Fry’s on a semi-regular basis and have never had any problem open carrying there.
This time I decided to take a picture to help enlighten those who aren’t fortunate enough to live in a place like Arizona. I believe the temperature was 106 when I walked in the door.
I asked the first passerby, a lady, to take my picture and to be sure that the Fry’s sign on the ice machine was visible in the background. She was happy to help out and I gave her a card and told her that I wrote a blog.
The clerk, bagger, and I talked for a few minutes about the weather, dove hunting, and the relatively low number of birds that most hunters were seeing, in spite of increased bag limits. Both of them regretted that they hadn’t been able to get out to the field yet. I gave them a card as well. Neither Joe nor I had gotten close to a bag limit, but we didn’t worry about it.
Open carry has come a long way since we intensified the push to exercise our rights in the late 80’s and 90’s. I suspect that trajectory will be followed in other states as well.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.