Be careful my friends, assholes walk among us and...

[Hotler]

they have conceal carry or, just carry anyway. Things are going to get ugly in the stores. Some of us don't back down from a fight but, it might be wise to stop and take a second before we open our mouth to reply to some asshole. They may have a gun.
Be safe, be well and wash your hands.

[Rorey]

1. That's one of my biggest fears

Crazy people will get even more crazy as this thing goes on.

[Swede]

2. Remember: an armed society is a polite society.

Said no thinking person ever.

[librechik]

3. armed and infectious. That's a bad combo.

[Shermann]

4. If they adhere to their CCW training you have nothing to fear

And the vast majority have no desire to lose their permits forever and in fact do.

[Squinch]

5. Yeah. All the gun nuts are paragons of responsibility.

[Mister Ed]

6. That's a big if.

Across this nation, there are countless incidents every day in which tempers flare and fists fly. Bar fights, road rage incidents, etc. etc. In those moments, people lose their self-control.

When people are packing a gun and not just a fist, those momentary losses of control may be deadly. I'd much rather people follow the OP's advice for avoiding confrontation than trust their lives to a stranger's desire to retain his permit.

[Shermann]

7. This is a kind of false dichotomy

You can avoid confrontation while at the same time not have irrational fear of CCW holders.

[Mister Ed]

10. The OP did not propose irrational fear.

The OP proposed caution.

[Shermann]

15. I'm going to make a prediction!

The number of instances of unjustified deadly force being used by CCW holders as a direct result of this pandemic in the US:

ZERO

[Mr.Bill]

16. The OP is not only talking about

CCW holders.

[Shermann]

40. Yeah they were just sort of lumped in, weren't they?

It's called an association fallacy. nt

[Mister Ed]

26. With a bit of luck, you'll probably be right.

If I had to bet, I'd bet that no one, as a direct result of this pandemic, and in the US, will meet the fate of Trayvon Martin.

Or of other notable victims, like that young husband and father who was shot a couple of years ago in a movie theater, in an argument stemming from his use of a cell phone to text his five-year-old daughter. Or the middle-aged dad who was shot awhile back in front of his young son in a convenience store parking lot, in an argument about the use of a handicapped parking space.

These are extremely isolated incidents. The truth is that concealed-carry permit holders almost never shoot you for arguing with them, and that very, very few of them go out in public looking for an excuse to use their weapon. But to pretend (and assume) that every permit holder is a steely-eyed paragon of reserve and restraint is as absurd as pretending that they're all dangerously-unhinged homicidal maniacs.

I'll continue to endorse the OP's advice to exercise caution, rather than place blind trust in the restraint and good judgement of strangers that one meets. At the link below, you can find extensive statistics and details on about a thousand permit holders who proved unworthy of such blind trust:

http://concealedcarrykillers.org/

This is clearly an organization with an ax to grind, and with a stance that runs counter to your own. For that reason, you may find it galling, and I apologize in advance for that. It is not my intention to antagonize, but to inform - and the case information presented on the website is accurate and factual.

[Hoyt]

12. BS. What kind of person straps on a gun or two to go to store?

?x49645

[greenjar_01]

31. ...

[Chainfire]

8. Don't go thinking all people who own guns are right wing nuts

I live in the second most violent country, in the second most violent state in the Union. I live here because I live on land that has been in the family for generations and I love the ground. My county is also the second poorest county in the state. Because of that, we have second class law enforcement; It is all the people can afford. I live twelve miles from the nearest town, it can take the Sheriff's department two hours to respond to an emergency call if they are tied up on another emergency on the other side of the county. In the last 20 years there have been two drug related murders within 1000 yards of my house. That is a hell of a lot of murders in a rural area. Like many poor Southern rural areas meth use is an epidemic and a booming business. Meth users can be very violent and very unpredictable.

I am a card holding Die-hard Democrat, from and old family of Yellow Dog Democrats. I am politically and socially liberal to the core. I haven't had a physical altercation since I was about 12 years old. (an angry wrestling match with my best friend) I would rather cut my hand off than to send the NRA a penny.

I carry a concealed weapon, because I consider it prudent to protect myself and my family. I am well trained and well practiced and I hope that I can finish the rest of my long life without ever having anyone know that there is a gun under my shirt. Sometimes you have to make a decision as to whether you prefer to be a hammer or a nail. I am neither proud of or ashamed of carrying a firearm.

Liberals, above all people should know better than to try to paint all people with the same brush.

[Hoyt]

13. All gunners say that right before pulling the trigger or intimidating someone.

?crop=1290%2C1290%2C0%2C158&resize=1290%2C1290&order=crop%2Cresize

[erlewyne]

21. You ever walk into a store with a concealed shotgun?

It makes walking difficult.

[Chainfire]

24. Not yet

Should I?

[Hoyt]

25. Like 92% of populace, never felt need to walk in a store, on city streets, etc., with any gun.

But, yeah, a concealed shotgun would make one look like Chester from Gun Smoke.

[Chainfire]

32. Good for you

[erlewyne]

34. Oh, that is funny.

And a helleva lot better point than I was trying to make.

That's a keeper!

[Chainfire]

30. Using the term "All"

To equate my explanation with the people in the photo only shows that you are as bad as those jokers are. Radicalism on either end of a spectrum is ignorant and dangerous.

[Hoyt]

36. Have known lots of gun-strokers. They all say they are well trained, more polite when toting, etc.

I'm sorry, but ALL I've met were pretty sick individuals.

[Chainfire]

35. Tell me

Tell me how carrying a concealed weapon is intended to intimidate. Do you not understand the term "concealed?" Do you think that the people in your photo are carrying those weapons concealed?

[Hoyt]

38. Chainfire, my experience leads me to believe that anyone who routinely straps on a gun or two

to walk out the door, has a problem(s) and would be better off just staying home surrounded by their gunz.

There may be a few exceptions, but doesn't sound like you qualify for those.

[Kali]

39. OMG

weird optical illusion with that bozo's arm and the blue shirt woman's leg

of course now that I see it is his arm, I can't make it go back to whatever the fuck I was looking at

[Shermann]

14. Well said

The practice of singling out innocent groups and making unsubstantiated generalizations for the purpose of fear mongering is best left to the right wingers. It is not befitting for the left.

[lambchopp59]

22. Fiream restrictions and proposed laws land very far from your situation.

Remote western U.S. desert living also mandates the need for armed protection as well as hunting. I seriously doubt most of the ex-military and fellow rural Democrats here or elsewhere have any totalitarian ideas about disarming citizens. I do, however worry about drug gangs easy access to entire arsenals of assault weapons. I also worry about a particular subset of Trumpers: and I'll tell the story:
One day in a rural western community there were 15 or so dog owners who brought their pups out for play and doggie socialization on a nice spring day. So nice out everyone was taking their time enjoying the weather while it held. It all went sour quickly when someone all too decked in cowboy drag brought his dog in, packing bilateral pistols. Loudmouth cowboy had the park emptied and all to himself and his pup in about 5 minutes:
Interrupting and dominating all other conversation at the main picnic table area, paraphrased: "Ah carry two papers with me whereever I go" (pulls a mini-bible and a worn, folded paper from his front pocket) " the Byble and the constitootion. And it's mah sworn duty to make sure everyone in this country is a patriot and not a damn, worthless, piece of shit liberal. I swore an oath when I was in the Ah-mee to defend this nation against all enemies, fer-enn and domestic"
Nearly everyone hearing Loudmouth here started gathering their pups. I had no aspersions to discuss anything with this Yosemite Sam myself, and called over my Yellow Lab to go.
So not only was the WTF is this Yahoo think he's defending? Going to shoot someone else's pup? It got worse, as he started questioning individuals whether or not they voted for Trump.
Within 5 minutes he had the whole park to himself. I wonder about those who actually go to shop in stores packing heat. Or ignoring the signs at the front entrance of our hospital to please disarm yourself and leave firearms in your vehicle in this sanctuary of life.
There are the majority of citizens who have no issues with 2nd amendment rights, within reason. And then there are the nitwit gun nuts like loudmouth cowboy. He didn't do support of the 2nd amendment any favors that day.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

9. I can't wait for the first Toilet Paper Shooting!

You know it's coming! Give me that Charmin or I'll blow you away!

[BusyBeingBest]

11. How about assholes who show up to work

and cough all day long alongside their colleagues because they don't want to use their PTO for "just a cough" and don't want to pay the deductible to get checked out by a doctor? Speaking of assholes I may or may not know of...

[Magoo48]

17. Yes, it appears the Pendejo Virus is pandemic among those yet unaffected by Coronavirus.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

18. Deplorables have concealed carry of Covid-19 and are happy to spread it. . . . nt

[Initech]

20. The assholes think it's a free vacation.

I've been seeing this talking point going around. Well when they get sick and die from this, it will be their funeral too.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

27. They might not, but their mother might or their boss might or their parole officer might. . . . nt

[Initech]

19. Yeah this is fucking scary.

And I see things are only going to get worse before they get better.

[totodeinhere]

23. I sure hope it doesn't come to that. But...

even before this pandemic we had to worry about some right wing extremist getting a gun and mowing down a bunch of innocent people. But you are right. Now it could get even worse.

[redstatebluegirl]

28. Especially in this state, they keep making it easier and easier to carry here.

Plus I have never seen so many pissed off white guys running around.

[lindysalsagal]

29. You know it's going to happen: People die in stores on thanksgiving, what, every year?

And there's certainly no threat of reduced merchandise....

[ooky]

33. Yep. Controlling one's mouth is always a good piece of advice.

Especially in a gun humping society.

But anywhere, why can't we all just get along?

[lpbk2713]

37. And many of them vote.

Now that's scary.