Target Shooting

You probably won't be able to find a well-regulated militia at your local Target store, even if you have a coupon. That's not because of the inherent irony of a store called "Target" selling nothing more powerful than a Nerf dart gun, but mostly because the folks at one of this nation's largest retailers is "respectfully requesting" that their customers leave their guns at home. From their corporate web site: "...starting today we will also respectfully request that guests not bring firearms to Target – even in communities where it is permitted by law." What sort of world are we living in when a discount store has to tell its customers that they don't need to pack heat when they stop by to pick up some new lawn chairs or charcoal briquettes before the next barbecue? The sort of world where citizens feel the need to exert their constitutional rights in increasingly bizarre ways. The number of armed incidents inside Target stores isn't necessarily on the uptick but those who feat that their Constitutional rights are being infringed want us to know that they need to be able to defend themselves at all times, even while shopping in the Health and Beauty aisle. 
Or even when they're taking the family out for a soft taco at their nearest Chipotle Mexican Grill. The powers that be at this chain has also made a respectful request of their patrons, since "the display of firearms in our restaurants has now created an environment that is potentially intimidating or uncomfortable for many of our customers." Not just handguns, by the way. Assault rifles. Loaded. "Just to prove a point." So here's the crazy part, to me anyway: Neither store is making a rule against bringing guns into their stores. They're asking nicely. Probably because they know the storm that would be stirred by making that kind of demand. Next thing you know, they'll be insisting that you can't yell "Fire" in a crowded Starbucks, mostly because somebody with an itchy trigger finger might pop off a couple rounds before flames caught up to their grande mocha latte. 
That's okay, since there's still a place where you can go where people know your name and the Second Amendment: Rifle, Colorado. There is a tavern called "Shooter's Grill" where patrons are encouraged to bring their shootin' irons. Their special includes a gun training course in addition to the baby back ribs. Of course, this makes mountains more sense in a town called "Rifle" in a restaurant called "Shooters." I guess Target just missed their marketing opportunity.