Post by marriedfilingjoint on Dec 16, 2015 14:47:52 GMT -5
How many acronyms can I use in a title?
A few months ago, DH, DD and I went out to eat with inlaws, sister-in-law, and her family for her birthday. In total we had 4 children under 5 years of age with us at a Japanese steakhouse where they cook the food in front of you and you're kind of sharing seating with others. Our party took up a whole table but because of the open seating I could see that the woman at the table directly across from us had a gun in a holster on her hip. It made me uncomfortable and I said something to my husband. It was right around the time some idiot accidentally shot someone in a Cracker Barrel restaurant and no charges could be filed because he wasn't doing anything illegal.
I hadn't noticed if there was a "no weapons" sign on the door, but I probably should have spoken to a manager. I didn't want to cause a scene, or piss her off and get shot. And my inlaws don't like me and they are ultra right wing gun nuts so bringing it up to anyone other than my husband would have gone over like a fart in church (though in hindsight, who cares). What would you have done?
This happened in NC where open carry is unrestricted.
That's a good question. I've always assumed if I saw someone in, like, Costco with an AR-15, I'd call the cops. I don't know if I live in an open carry state (I should really look into this more), but it's definitely not something that I've ever seen in my more-liberal and less-rural area of this state. A hand gun in a holster? I'd be really uncomfortable. I'd also assume that the staff and other patrons had noticed and not done anything. That said, it's possible that they would do something if other patrons were complaining.
Re: the restaurant. Would you have been more okay with it if it was more of a traditional seating arrangement and not communal tables with a lot of commotion?
Post by onomatopoeia on Dec 16, 2015 14:57:13 GMT -5
I would not have said anything, nor would I have felt the need to. Unless it was not properly secured in the holster, or she was drunk and waving it around or something. She could have been a police officer, or in the military. Or she could have been some gun-loving yahoo, but she wasn't breaking the law, wasn't acting in a threatening way, wasn't being irresponsible (I assume).
What would you have expected the manager to do? Not being snarky, just curious.
Post by downtoearth on Dec 16, 2015 14:58:28 GMT -5
If I was confronted with that like you were - already seated with a big group and then noticing, I probably would have done the same as you. I would have fixated on it during the steakhouse cooking "show" and been uncomfortable, but I doubt I would have done much.
However, being able to pre-reflect, I think I might have stepped away and talked to the host or manager just to mention that you were uncomfortable with the open carry so close to the kids. Just so they thought of that in the future.
That's a good question. I've always assumed if I saw someone in, like, Costco with an AR-15, I'd call the cops. I don't know if I live in an open carry state (I should really look into this more), but it's definitely not something that I've ever seen in my more-liberal and less-rural area of this state. A hand gun in a holster? I'd be really uncomfortable. I'd also assume that the staff and other patrons had noticed and not done anything. That said, it's possible that they would do something if other patrons were complaining.
Re: the restaurant. Would you have been more okay with it if it was more of a traditional seating arrangement and not communal tables with a lot of commotion?
I would not have said anything, nor would I have felt the need to. Unless it was not properly secured in the holster, or she was drunk and waving it around or something. She could have been a police officer, or in the military. Or she could have been some gun-loving yahoo, but she wasn't breaking the law, wasn't acting in a threatening way, wasn't being irresponsible (I assume).
What would you have expected the manager to do? Not being snarky, just curious.
I would have just asked what the restaurant's weapon policy was and if he or she said they weren't allowed, I would point out that a patron had a gun. I would assume an officer or military personnel would have their weapon concealed.
I would not have said anything, nor would I have felt the need to. Unless it was not properly secured in the holster, or she was drunk and waving it around or something. She could have been a police officer, or in the military. Or she could have been some gun-loving yahoo, but she wasn't breaking the law, wasn't acting in a threatening way, wasn't being irresponsible (I assume).
What would you have expected the manager to do? Not being snarky, just curious.
I would have just asked what the restaurant's weapon policy was and if he or she said they weren't allowed, I would point out that a patron had a gun. I would assume an officer or military personnel would have their weapon concealed.
I only know a few officers and they carry openly when in uniform and don't conceal carry to social events - especially if there is any alcohol (illegal).
My DH has one FBI friend and she conceal carries, but also has open carried. She is authorized to bring her guns into all sorts of places that most can't, but she still checks it in and out at places like sporting events. I guess there are officers at those places that can do that for plain-clothes people.
Post by jojoandleo on Dec 16, 2015 15:32:40 GMT -5
I live in Oklahoma-we have open carry. A guy I work with wears a gun on his hip every damn day. I'm not a fan, but there is really nothing I can do about it. I probably wouldn't have done anything unless she pulled it out or was being stupid with it.
Post by oscarnerdjulief on Dec 16, 2015 16:04:01 GMT -5
I would've done nothing, but I maybe would have been ill at ease. If state laws are clear, I really do not see what you would've been able to do about it.
I would have just asked what the restaurant's weapon policy was and if he or she said they weren't allowed, I would point out that a patron had a gun. I would assume an officer or military personnel would have their weapon concealed.
I only know a few officers and they carry openly when in uniform and don't conceal carry to social events - especially if there is any alcohol (illegal).
My DH has one FBI friend and she conceal carries, but also has open carried. She is authorized to bring her guns into all sorts of places that most can't, but she still checks it in and out at places like sporting events. I guess there are officers at those places that can do that for plain-clothes people.
I would've done nothing, but I maybe would have been ill at ease. If state laws are clear, I really do not see what you would've been able to do about it.
Individual businesses can legally ban weapons. Whataburger banned open carry in their restaurants this summer and gun nuts in open carry states threatened boycott. Which, lol. So, if Japanese steakhouse had a no weapons policy and a sign on the door, a manager could ask a patron to put their gun in their car or leave, if I understand correctly. It's not like breastfeeding where you have a legal right to breastfeed anywhere you have a legal right to be.
Isn't there something in NC law about weapons where alcohol is served?
I remember my mom getting all cagey with her purse when she remembered she had her gun with her at a restaurant. Also, not allowed to bring to church.
But that was 7 years ago...things might have changed.
But this makes me oh so excited about my upcoming trip down south.
Not sure, as the gun toters would say, I should educate myself! But based on what downtoearth said, the alcohol rule maybe only applies to conceal carry? Because, you know, concealed weapons plus alcohol equals trouble. Brandished weapons plus alcohol and everything is a-ok people! Remain calm!
I wouldn't have said anything. Again, she wasn't a threat. It's legal for her to carry openly. Would it make me uncomfortable? Maybe. I don't know. Because open carry is not allowed here (yet), I would have assumed she had some law enforcement authority to carry her weapon openly.
I get that open carry is legal some places. I get that most people are not intending to use their weapons for harm. I get that military personnel and law enforcement carry weapons. The difference - in my view - is that MP or LE are required as part of their jobs to have special training and "continuing education" as it were of how to handle and discharge their weapons. They likely have dedicated professionals who inspect and ensure their weapons are functioning properly. And while I'd like to *think* that the same would go for a gun afficionado who open carries, the reality is that any dipshit with cash and vocal cords can purchase a gun in most places and be on their merry way with no training or oversight. So in that way, seeing a gun on a patron would unnerve me like crazy.
I get that open carry is legal some places. I get that most people are not intending to use their weapons for harm. I get that military personnel and law enforcement carry weapons. The difference - in my view - is that MP or LE are required as part of their jobs to have special training and "continuing education" as it were of how to handle and discharge their weapons. They likely have dedicated professionals who inspect and ensure their weapons are functioning properly. And while I'd like to *think* that the same would go for a gun afficionado who open carries, the reality is that any dipshit with cash and vocal cords can purchase a gun in most places and be on their merry way with no training or oversight. So in that way, seeing a gun on a patron would unnerve me like crazy.
This is where I am. Anyone can open carry in NC, no license, no training, no anything. These could be cops or military personnel or people who are responsible with their guns, or it could be the dipshits whose guns went off at Target or Cracker Barrel.
Conceal carry, but it doesn't matter, point still stands.
"- A man who was dining Sunday at a Cracker Barrel restaurant on Hickman Drive in Sanford was hit by an apparent accidental gunshot.
Seminole County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kristen Bentsen said the man was hit in the calf by the gunshot at about 8:40 a.m. He was taken to Central Florida Regional Hospital with injuries that are not considered life-threatening.
Bentsen said the gunshot appeared to be accidental, and the person who had the firearm is cooperating with investigators.
Deputies closed the restaurant while an investigation was completed.
According to investigators, the gun owner, who was a customer at the restaurant, was walking up to pay his bill when a loud popping noise was heard. Investigators believe the gun fell out of its holster as the man walked past a fireplace in the restaurant.
Officials released the 911 call made after the shooting.
"There was an explosion here and a guy got hit in the leg," a caller told 911 dispatchers.
"OK, was there, like, an explosion? What exploded, ma'am?" the dispatcher asked the caller.
"We don't know and nobody in the restaurant is actually telling us. All the servers heard a loud pop and the guy has blood coming out of his leg," the caller said to the dispatcher.
A witness, who doesn't want to be identified by WESH 2 News, said he had just sat down with his son and wife at the restaurant when a bullet flew by his table.
"Waitress came over with a towel and wrapped it, she put pressure on it and my wife called 911. I'm just happy it didn't injure any of my family members that were with me, my son and my wife," the witness told WESH 2 News.
The Seminole County Sheriff's Department said the shooting was accidental. The gun owner will not be charged. Investigators said he has a valid concealed weapons permit."
Again, if you are uncomfortable it's your perogative to leave.
True her prerogative is to leave, but I would hope most reasonable people would see there is a possible middle ground between "No guns except for LEO" and "Fuck it, you do what you want."
True her prerogative is to leave, but I would hope most reasonable people would see there is a possible middle ground between "No guns except for LEO" and "Fuck it, you do what you want."
I understand that it makes some people uncomfortable. However, I also think these people are going to have to try to come to terms with it because it's going to be more common.
Yeah, I don't want to live in a world where that's common. I don't want my kids to see that and be used to it. That's like some Mad Max BS right there.
True her prerogative is to leave, but I would hope most reasonable people would see there is a possible middle ground between "No guns except for LEO" and "Fuck it, you do what you want."
I understand that it makes some people uncomfortable. However, I also think these people are going to have to try to come to terms with it because it's going to be more common.
Or move to a state where it's not possible. Thank god for the northeast!
I would have just asked what the restaurant's weapon policy was and if he or she said they weren't allowed, I would point out that a patron had a gun. I would assume an officer or military personnel would have their weapon concealed.
I only know a few officers and they carry openly when in uniform and don't conceal carry to social events - especially if there is any alcohol (illegal).
My DH has one FBI friend and she conceal carries, but also has open carried. She is authorized to bring her guns into all sorts of places that most can't, but she still checks it in and out at places like sporting events. I guess there are officers at those places that can do that for plain-clothes people.
How many do you know? I'm pretty sure every cop I know conceal carries off duty.
"Not gonna lie; I kind of keep expecting you to post one day that you threw down on someone who clearly had no idea that today was NOT THEIR DAY." ~dontcallmeshirley
"Not gonna lie; I kind of keep expecting you to post one day that you threw down on someone who clearly had no idea that today was NOT THEIR DAY." ~dontcallmeshirley
I only know a few officers and they carry openly when in uniform and don't conceal carry to social events - especially if there is any alcohol (illegal).
My DH has one FBI friend and she conceal carries, but also has open carried. She is authorized to bring her guns into all sorts of places that most can't, but she still checks it in and out at places like sporting events. I guess there are officers at those places that can do that for plain-clothes people.
How many do you know? I'm pretty sure every cop I know conceal carries off duty.