Now, we can all feel a bit crabby before our morning coffee...
This morning, I actually popped into a Starbucks on the way to work. With my pre-coffee brain whirring away, I remember being irritated for two reasons: the ludicrous price of a skinny muffin and the size of the line. But if I had looked up to see that the guy in front of me had an assault rifle slung across his back, I wouldn't have been irritated; I would have been scared. Why am I telling you this? Because an old photo of a guy casually wearing an assault rifle in a Starbucks branch has resurfaced on Twitter this week.
There is never a cease-fire on the conversation about gun control and with the shootings that happened in Ohio and Texas last weekend, the debate as to why regular civilians are allowed to buy guns, and are allowed to walk into a Starbucks with a gun on their backs, battles on.
The reason that this conversation is in a stalemate is that people just don't agree.
I can hold my hands up and say that I would feel safer if guns were banned. Saying that, I know that there are people out there who feel safer having guns. So what can you do?
Well, I mean, really, all we can do right now is fire out our divisive opinions on Twitter. Many people have done this, and I have collated a thread of some of the best, some of the worst, and some of the downright ludicrous responses to the resurfaced pic that I came across.
Let's have a look, shall we...
"What do you mean you don't have any caramel syrup?!"
Charlie Sykes asked the question: How would you feel?
Charlie Sykes, a political commentator, made a political comment (hehe) on Twitter when he raised the question of gun control. Taking an old picture of a guy standing in a Starbucks with an assault rifle, he asked his followers what they would do if they saw such a thing. Would it make them feel safer, or less safe? Theresa makes a good point. Surely you're safer away from a gun than near one, right?It's just fashion baby!
@NerdPyle @SykesCharlie It is being worn as a fashion statement, nothing more. He would have to completely unslin… https://t.co/0xriNdX7lM— Berzerker said it was a coup... BUT NOOOOOO! (@Berzerker said it was a coup... BUT NOOOOOO!)1565202822.0
You, sir, are such a stereotype...
Why is it always chubby pale white dudes getting photographed ordering a Frappuccino at Starbucks with an assault r… https://t.co/lZ6nrjDFdt— Thornton McEnery (@Thornton McEnery)1565281092.0
So it's America's fault?
Well done, America. That this guy feels he needs an assault rifle/killing machine is one thing. That he feels he ha… https://t.co/CF47VCNnTg— Andy Campbell (@Andy Campbell)1565269634.0
That's the point though isn't it, how are we supposed to know that he isn't a threat?
I'm sorry to say - dead kids is the price we are currently paying for white men with insecurities and ego problems… https://t.co/ybNVEAOyEA— The Hummingbird 🐦 (@The Hummingbird 🐦)1565049071.0
A picture of privilege.
@SaysHummingbird Can you imagine if that was a woman in a hijab carrying a rifle over her shoulder? This is a picture of privilege.— Douglas ☀️ (@Douglas ☀️)1565050586.0
Don't believe that white men have privilege?
@davidfrum If he were a person of color, the police would’ve taken him down because someone would’ve called them.… https://t.co/8k9u9RcS1u— Mattison (@Mattison)1565228960.0
Many questioned why the assault rifle was necessary...
@davidfrum @CathleenKucz You’d think men with small equipment would be a little less obvious about their shortcomings...— Erin Gardiner (@Erin Gardiner)1565214017.0
The bigger the gun...
@ErinGardiner4 @davidfrum https://t.co/Q8KIx9sYiY— Cathleen Kucz (@Cathleen Kucz)1565217693.0
Some people don't think that there's anything wrong with taking an assault rifle to Starbucks.
Derek Schwartz doesn't think that the man was doing anything wrong and accuses anyone who would be scared in this situation of being racist. From the discussions, it seems like there is a distinct difference in opinions between those that own, and/or have used, guns and those that don't. Schwartz is ex-Navy and has probably seen plenty of assault rifles in his time; he might even own one himself. I guess that's the trouble with politics. If you ask rich people to pay a lot of tax, they won't be on your side. If you ask a gun owner to get rid of his gun, he won't back you.What a time to be alive!
being scared of a white man carrying a loaded assault rifle on his back in a Starbucks makes you racist. what a tim… https://t.co/ifdsapIf8A— abby uzumaki 🍥 (@abby uzumaki 🍥)1565241829.0
Growing up in Texas.
@SykesCharlie I grew up in Texas with and have actually seen this back home. Doesn’t bother me but I am used to sma… https://t.co/QW9nT29sJV— Kambree (@Kambree)1565192204.0
A British woman called Lizzy claimed that seeing anyone with a gun scares her.
@cousto @TonnaLeeTudor @YNB @SykesCharlie Er yeah I know. Point was I am not used to seeing guns ever. Thanks for t… https://t.co/IfIleYYoHI— LizzyF101 (@LizzyF101)1565259632.0
Proof that gun control works?
@giorgioaiello @hautanagirl @P_M_McAuliffe @lailolai11 @cricrila70 @robbystarbuck @JenBriney @SykesCharlie NYC is t… https://t.co/0rrxSwqo0E— N I C 🌨 L E (@N I C 🌨 L E)1565307908.0
Not that everyone agrees...
@giorgioaiello @hautanagirl @P_M_McAuliffe @lailolai11 @cricrila70 @robbystarbuck @JenBriney @SykesCharlie Yes? We… https://t.co/a6x3SCEYnR— N I C 🌨 L E (@N I C 🌨 L E)1565308961.0
Maybe he was going hunting?
@bildabongwrkshp @editor_wp @CelesteHerget @KamVTV @SykesCharlie Yes. Mountain lions are known to hunt in Starbucks.— RAIDERS (8-8) FIRE GRUDEN (@RAIDERS (8-8) FIRE GRUDEN)1565337220.0