Uniformed officer asked to leave 'gun-free'

[halfmileharry]

Our own and beloved Frank must have been on duty across town. Another missed opportunity to set straight the thinking of a misguided flake.

 

[chipbennett]

Corporate policy is GFZ. LE on duty accepted. It also depends on the individual owner’s stance. If a customer complains about a firearm that is exposed, you will be asked to remove it, if they don’t see it, well?

From what I understand, he was some sort of wildlife officer, and not on duty, but in uniform (which required wearing his firearm). And his reaction read more like concern that an LEO should be treated as such. He may need to broaden his perspective just a bit, and understand that he was treated just like any other, law-abiding, lawfully gun-carrying civilian - and that it is equally wrong, whether one is in an LEO uniform, or otherwise.

 

[Bfish]

In uniform is just insane! I want to know who the manager is that thought it was a good idea to ask a uniformed officer to leave over the woman complaining. And beyond that why someone higher up hasn't stepped in. I feel like this has to make them look bad to the public in general.

 

[boogieman]

I am interested to see if Outback corporate releases anything about this. Usually something will come out.

 

[Vigilant]

Crporate contact info for Outback/Bloomin Brands

https://www.bloominbrands.com/contactus/

 

[Vigilant]

I am interested to see if Outback corporate releases anything about this. Usually something will come out.

They did on the Youtwitface! The officer was given $100 gift card and an apology from Corporate. I’m quite sure that that manager or Managing Partner have also been corrected. Doesn’t help us mere mortals, you will still be asked to remove the firearm if someone complains.

 

[actaeon277]

I agree with this comment.

rightguyleftcoastLeader
3m


According to Ward’s post, “This customer went on to demand to be escorted to her vehicle out of fear of being shot.”

Escorted to her vehicle? By what, another unarmed person? Who would do exactly what, if an armed person decided to start shooting?

There's so much stupid in this story it's hard to know where to begin. I'm glad at least the corporate office dealt with this appropriately and that the officer involved has graciously accepted the apologies and considers the matter closed.

 

[chipbennett]

All of these points are addressed in the article.

In uniform is just insane!

Bloomin' Brands, of which Outback Steakhouse is a subsidiary company, "bans guns inside its restaurants", but has a uniformed law enforcement officer exception.

I want to know who the manager is that thought it was a good idea to ask a uniformed officer to leave over the woman complaining. And beyond that why someone higher up hasn't stepped in. I feel like this has to make them look bad to the public in general.

Corporate has, in fact, stepped in. See the link above for their statement:

Channel 3 reached out to Outback for comment. A spokesperson from the corporate office wrote in an email to Channel 3 that the manager made a mistake.

We’ve always allowed uniformed law enforcement officers to carry their sidearms while dining with us. A manager made a mistake. We have contacted the guest personally and apologized.
​

And from the OP's link:

On Saturday, Ward told NewsChannel9 that he considers the incident to be over.


“I have spoken with the manger involved, the regional manager and the Vice President of operations for Outback today. They have apologized profusely and I have accepted their apology and the issue in my opinion has been concluded.”


Outback Steakhouse also sent the couple a $100 gift certificate for the ordeal.

So, in his mind, the matter is settled. And likewise for Outback corporate.

 

[Butch627]

According to the linked story after first confronting the officer the manager left to make a phone call before he returned and asked him to leave. Id like to know who he called. I am glad the link to corporate policy was linked. I can happily live my life without ever eating at any of their 5 chains.

 

[Sylvain]

Same thing happened a few years ago at an Olive Garden restaurant.
The police officer was on duty, in uniform and ... it was his birthday on top of that.

https://www.eater.com/2015/10/12/9506179/olive-garden-kicks-out-armed-gun-uniformed-cop

 

[HoughMade]

Adam Carolla has coined the term: "Minimum wage gilded cage". This refers to people at the bottom of the societal totem pole who use their low-wage positions to stick it to any authority figure or anyone doing better than themselves.

I've personally seen this. TSA screeners who are more rude than need be. Security guards flexing their plastic badge muscle ("I smell turkey bacon"). Maybe a waitress. Also, perhaph, other customers who can't control much of anything in their own lives and don't like authority figures of any type.

The list goes on.

 

[Sylvain]

Adam Carolla has coined the term: "Minimum wage gilded cage". This refers to people at the bottom of the societal totem pole who use their low-wage positions to stick it to any authority figure or anyone doing better than themselves.

I've personally seen this. TSA screeners who are more rude than need be. Security guards flexing their plastic badge muscle ("I smell turkey bacon"). Maybe a waitress. Also, perhaph, other customers who can't control much of anything in their own lives and don't like authority figures of any type.

The list goes on.

That could be it but it could also be the sign of a pro-gun activist.

If I were the manager I might be tempted to follow their silly "no gun" policy to a T and kick out anyone with a gun, especially cops because it would make the news.
That would include cops in uniform to be consistent, and that could force corporate folks to change their policy to a "all guns welcome" policy.

Same thing could be done as a teacher.Call the cops anyone you see a cop walking into a school buidling because they are supposed to be "gun free" zones.

 

[BugI02]

That could be it but it could also be the sign of a pro-gun activist.

If I were the manager I might be tempted to follow their silly "no gun" policy to a T and kick out anyone with a gun, especially cops because it would make the news.
That would include cops in uniform to be consistent, and that could force corporate folks to change their policy to a "all guns welcome" policy.

[More likely it would "force" corporate to offer the manager's head on a platter, sweep it under the rug and nothing else would change. That corporate policy likely plays quite well in bluer areas of the country]

Same thing could be done as a teacher.Call the cops anyone you see a cop walking into a school buidling because they are supposed to be "gun free" zones.

Virtue-signaling is not confined to one wavelength

 

[HoughMade]

That could be it but it could also be the sign of a pro-gun activist.

If I were the manager I might be tempted to follow their silly "no gun" policy to a T and kick out anyone with a gun, especially cops because it would make the news.
That would include cops in uniform to be consistent, and that could force corporate folks to change their policy to a "all guns welcome" policy.

Same thing could be done as a teacher.Call the cops anyone you see a cop walking into a school building because they are supposed to be "gun free" zones.

I appreciate your optimism. However, I highly doubt that this mid-level functionary had such lofty goals.

 

[Heavy]

Outback made the right call asking the cop to leave. From a corporate standpoint. Not the right call from a common sense standpoint. The least risky move is to ask the officer who is paid to be in control of emotion as well as be able to maintain a level of professionalism, to leave. The nutbag that started melting would’ve been a full on puddle on the floor if the manager told them to deal with it. The left news stream would’ve likely had a field day with it. Causing protests and a whole slew of stupid # whatever’s. Risk assessment won out. The end result of this proves it. All parties seem to have got what they wanted. Outback avoided lots of bad press, the officer asked to leave gets free food from a place he clearly likes to eat at, and the liberal got to force their beliefs down the throats of everyone around them.

 

[HoughMade]

...The left news stream would’ve likely had a field day with it. Causing protests and a whole slew of stupid # whatever’s. Risk assessment won out. The end result of this proves it. All parties seem to have got what they wanted. Outback avoided lots of bad press...

I too am prone to see the world through **** colored glasses, but something tells me that this would have turned into the left's cause ​du jour.

 

[BugI02]

Outback made the right call asking the cop to leave. From a corporate standpoint. Not the right call from a common sense standpoint. The least risky move is to ask the officer who is paid to be in control of emotion as well as be able to maintain a level of professionalism, to leave. The nutbag that started melting would’ve been a full on puddle on the floor if the manager told them to deal with it. The left news stream would’ve likely had a field day with it. Causing protests and a whole slew of stupid # whatever’s. Risk assessment won out. The end result of this proves it. All parties seem to have got what they wanted. Outback avoided lots of bad press, the officer asked to leave gets free food from a place he clearly likes to eat at, and the liberal got to force their beliefs down the throats of everyone around them.

This got me thinking, perhaps the problem with the pre-Trump Republican party was too many corporate/marketing types. They have no core principles and will not stand and fight; call them names and they go into full retreat mode - any humuliation to protect the "brand"

 

[T.Lex]

This got me thinking, perhaps the problem with the pre-Trump Republican party was too many corporate/marketing types. They have no core principles and will not stand and fight; call them names and they go into full retreat mode - any humuliation to protect the "brand"

Interesting.

And the perception is that Trump somehow ushered in an era principled action?

 

[Gabriel]

Outback made the right call asking the cop to leave. From a corporate standpoint. Not the right call from a common sense standpoint. The least risky move is to ask the officer who is paid to be in control of emotion as well as be able to maintain a level of professionalism, to leave. The nutbag that started melting would’ve been a full on puddle on the floor if the manager told them to deal with it. The left news stream would’ve likely had a field day with it. Causing protests and a whole slew of stupid # whatever’s. Risk assessment won out. The end result of this proves it. All parties seem to have got what they wanted. Outback avoided lots of bad press, the officer asked to leave gets free food from a place he clearly likes to eat at, and the liberal got to force their beliefs down the throats of everyone around them.

I hope he likes the taste of spit.

 

[Expat]

This got me thinking, perhaps the problem with the pre-Trump Republican party was too many corporate/marketing types. They have no core principles and will not stand and fight; call them names and they go into full retreat mode - any humuliation to protect the "brand"

The party used to just deride them with terms like "wacko bird".