Carried Away

If there's one thing Open Carry Texas knows, it's that you have to be vigilant. Threats to freedom are lurking everywhere. Lift up the edge of an Avocado Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Quesadilla, and – bam – there's a communist sympathizer.

From the department of chrissakes comes an action last weekend pitting four members of Moms Demand Action against 40 gun-toting Tea Party "activists." The pro-gun-control group's informal membership meeting at an Arlington* Blue Mesa Grill somehow caught the eye of Open Carry Texas, who decided to hold a meeting of their own. Armed with semi-automatic rifles and sandblasted dad jeans, the gun group lurked outside the restaurant to do some Second Amendment cheerleading.

Moms Demand Action quickly posted a photo of the demonstration on their Facebook page, writing, "WHAT ARE THESE MEN DOING? No, they're not military defending our country or police responding to a mass shooting. They're members of Open Carry Texas and they showed up earlier today to protest a membership meeting being held by four members of Moms Demand Action inside a restaurant in Dallas. These men, armed with semi-automatic rifles, terrified customers and passersby."

A spokesperson for MDA told Think Progress that members of Open Carry Texas waited in the parking lot for the MDA members to come out. The Blue Mesa Grill manager was reportedly afraid to call 911 for fear of confrontation. After approximately two hours, the group packed up for Hooters to recharge their masculinity. Nothing says freedom like nude pantyhose.

Despite social media outrage, OCT remain unrepentant for their intimidation tactics. Hours after the gun show, the group taunted MDA with a Facebook invitation to debate.

Hey Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, here's your chance to get your ideas out in public. The president of Open Carry Texas, CJ Grisham, is issuing an open invite and challenge to MDA President Shannon Watts to debate the issue of "gun sense" (gun control) versus gun rights (supporting the constitution). Since we are issuing the challenge, Shannon may pick anywhere in the State of Texas to hold the event and OCT will pay for the venue.

We will also accept the Texas Chapter President of MDA if Shannon doesn't feel intelligent or confident enough to handle an open debate. OCT will NOT be open carry at the event so MDA can feel safe and secure in its ignorance and false sense of safety. Shannon may email her response CJ directly from her official email to cj@opencarrytexas.org. The ball is in your court.

Meanwhile, the pro-gun group ran a counterintelligence campaign, posting an "undoctored" version of the photo posted on MDA's page. To be fair, it seems the initial reports of the action may have misleading. While there was indeed a preponderance of dad denim at the event, it seems at least one member was wearing Dockers.

*The Moms Demand Action Facebook page reported the location of the incident as being the Blue Mesa Grill in Dallas. The incident actually occurred in the Lincoln Square strip mall in Arlington.