"We aren't asking you to leave, we want you to stay and shop"...

[daddymikey1975]

My wife and I went on a dinner date at Hibachi Grill (kind of a buffet.. really good food BTW).. then we had to stop at Meijer and pick up some things before returning home.

We were moseying (is that a word?) around with pull-ups, water bottles, and an air freshener in our cart. We ended up in the kitchen appliance section (pressure cookers ? ) to look at a 'small' or 'personal size' blender or smoothie maker for the fat guy (me )

This really cool guy walks up and offers a handshake and says "Hi, I'm Tim Stevens. How are you this evening ?"

me: I'm just fine. How about yourself ?

Tim: I'm doing really well, thanks.

me: <puzzled look>.. soo... can I help you with something ?

Tim: I'm a security officer with Meijer loss prevention. Are you a police officer?

me: No, why ? <another puzzled look> (I have my FS M&P 9mm on my hip and my Kel-Tec P-11 at 7 o'clock)

The manager comes around the other corner.. now we're cornered...

Manager lady: We had a customer complain about a man with a gun walking around the store. We understand it's your right to carry your guns and we certainly don't mind, but we'd like you to cover it up. (she wasn't being a douche about it)

My wife: So.. if he was a cop, it would be OK ? Why is it ok for one man to carry a gun openly but not for my husband ? Just because one guy is a cop shouldn't matter.

Tim: Well, we don't know if the cop's badge is real or not. Besides, cops are allowed to carry places that normal citizens just can't. I carry as well and it's just the way that it is. (he wasn't being a jerk either)

Me to manager lady: So, when the concerned patron mentioned their concern, did you take the opportunity to explain that you will go talk to the MWAG and as long as he's licensed to carry, he's not doing anything illegal ?

Manager lady: No we didn't. We have to be sensitive to other people's feelings. You know, with what happened in CT and Boston and all.

me to manager: I'm not reponsible for other people's feelings, they are. If it's fear of the unknown, maybe we should embrace that opportunity and explain that it's legal, and allowed and if something were to transpire while I'm in the store, at least I'd be able to help out and protect us all.

Manager : well, we'd just like you to cover it up is all. We're not asking you to leave, we want you to stay and shop. Would you mind ?

Me to manager: I do mind. I'm really sorry, and I understand what you're saying, but I refuse to cover something that I'm not ashamed of. If my shopping in your store is conditional upon covering my legally carried firearm, I'll happily leave and spend my money elsewhere with no problems. Again, not trying to be a jerk, I understand what you're saying but I do not want to cover my sidearm. I will leave though if this is unacceptable, just so we're clear.

Tim: Look man, I get what you're saying, and we support your right to carry. We both encourage it and certainly don't have a problem with it, but we would prefer that you cover it up. I mean, we've asked other folks to cover theirs and they have no problem with it. Whaddya say ?

Me: I still say that I refuse to cover something I'm not ashamed of and again, just to be clear, I totally understand what you're saying and if I need to leave, just say so and I'm happy to. No worries

Manager lady: well, we'll let it go but if I get another complaint...

Tim: yeah, if we get another complaint then we'll have to call the police.

Me: The police ? <puzzled>.. what for? I've not broken any laws, and I already made myself clear that if I need to leave, simply say the word and I will do so without incident or complaint

Someone pulled manager away at this point and I had a great discussion with Tim about guns and other patrons and the like. I even showed him a video of my 10 yr old shooting my M&P (on my phone) and things were great.

My wife was upset about their 'favoritism' (if I was a cop or not) and ranted about it all night

They didn't want me to leave, they really wanted me to stay, they made that point clear. It's almost like each time I proposed leaving to avoid a conflict, they were like "no, pull up a chair and hang out"...

Just wanted to share this with ATM

 

[MikeDVB]

Handled as well as you could have, imho. Maybe the next time they get a complaint that somebody has a gun they'll inform that person that if they're licensed then they're fine.

I wonder if the person who reported you was genuinely scared, or if they were just trying to cause you problems...

 

[KG1]

Don't get the part about calling the police either if they get another "complaint". It's not like you were doing anything illegal to warrant the kind of complaint that was necessary to get the police involved.

I mean all they would have to do is ask you to leave.

 

[daddymikey1975]

Handled as well as you could have, imho. Maybe the next time they get a complaint that somebody has a gun they'll inform that person that if they're licensed then they're fine.

I wonder if the person who reported you was genuinely scared, or if they were just trying to cause you problems...

I dunno .. it was hard to tell.. the interaction was pleasant at least. They weren't being confrontational at all, and both made certain to mention that they were ok with me carrying, but 'out of sight, out of mind' was their preference.

During my conversation with Tim afterwards, we agreed on property rights vs OC/CC rights and the like.. We spent another 10-15 minutes there gathering other stuff and left without incident.

 

[actaeon277]

Because of what happened in Boston? That's one of the reasons I'm carrying. How are you going to protect your patrons if some guy decides to hide from the cops in here and starts shooting people to bring his body count higher?

 

[MikeDVB]

I dunno .. it was hard to tell.. the interaction was pleasant at least. They weren't being confrontational at all, and both made certain to mention that they were ok with me carrying, but 'out of sight, out of mind' was their preference.

At the end of the day they're more worried about keeping the ignorant comfortable than upholding your rights. They can say it as nicely as possible but that doesn't change the underlying meaning.

Again, I think you did well.

During my conversation with Tim afterwards, we agreed on property rights vs OC/CC rights and the like.. We spent another 10-15 minutes there gathering other stuff and left without incident.

I agree that they should have the right to make you leave as it's their property, but topic for another discussion .

 

[daddymikey1975]

At the end of the day they're more worried about keeping the ignorant comfortable than upholding your rights. They can say it as nicely as possible but that doesn't change the underlying meaning.

I smelled this stink right off the bat.. I wasn't going to argue with her, she was too closed minded for that. I did at least propose educating the sheeple by advising them that it's legal if they're licensed to carry, but she seemed non-confrontational.

Again, I think you did well.

Thanks

I agree that they should have the right to make you leave as it's their property, but topic for another discussion .

Whether I agree with their right/ability to ask me to leave, I didn't want to open that can of worms.. it is the law for now, so I didn't argue with it in the least. In fact, I was the one offering to leave (you know, to keep their sheep happy) and they weren't having it

 

[Bushido Devil Dog]

At the end of the day they're more worried about keeping the ignorant comfortable than upholding your rights. They can say it as nicely as possible but that doesn't change the underlying meaning.


Again, I think you did well.

This. If the whiner was someone complaining that the OP's race/ethnicity/etc. was making them upset, I highly doubt they would have approached him and asked him to be a little less brown/Jewish/fat/handicapped/etc. Why is it that when some ignorant busy-body gets stuck on stupid regarding an OC-er that is minding their own damn business, store management puts the onus on the twisted-pantied one, not on the complainer?

Me to manager lady: So, when the concerned patron mentioned their concern, did you take the opportunity to explain that you will go talk to the MWAG and as long as he's licensed to carry, he's not doing anything illegal ?

Manager lady: No we didn't. We have to be sensitive to other people's feelings. You know, with what happened in CT and Boston and all.

me to manager: I'm not responsible for other people's feelings, they are. If it's fear of the unknown, maybe we should embrace that opportunity and explain that it's legal, and allowed and if something were to transpire while I'm in the store, at least I'd be able to help out and protect us all.

Well said! But sadly the manager continued to try to get coax you to acquiesce, rather than educate the complainer...

Tim: Look man, I get what you're saying, and we support your right to carry. We both encourage it and certainly don't have a problem with it, but we would prefer that you cover it up. I mean, we've asked other folks to cover theirs and they have no problem with it. Whaddya say ?

 

[Hoosierdood]

*Runs to the Break Room to post a story about an armed fat guy at Meijers shopping for pressure cookers. Boy, am I glad I was able to bring it to the manager's attention.*

 

[MikeDVB]

*Runs to the Break Room to post a story about an armed fat guy at Meijers shopping for pressure cookers. Boy, am I glad I was able to bring it to the manager's attention.*

ROFL

 

[Double T]

Don't get the part about calling the police either if they get another "complaint". It's not like you were doing anything illegal to warrant the kind of complaint that was necessary to get the police involved.

I mean all they would have to do is ask you to leave.

Especially since they told you that you didn't have to leave.

 

[Marine1]

Well done that's what would have said if I carried oc but I always carry cc

 

[daddymikey1975]

Well done that's what would have said if I carried oc but I always carry cc

Chicken

(Thanks though )

 

[Mango]

"Tim: I'm a security officer with Meijer loss prevention. Are you a police officer?"

You: Sir, I am not at liberty to disclose my employer. Can you spell your last name for me?

 

[MikeDVB]

"Tim: I'm a security officer with Meijer loss prevention. Are you a police officer?"

You: Sir, I am not at liberty to disclose my employer. Can you spell your last name for me?

I wonder how that would really turn out... Gave me a heck of a chuckle.

 

[Roadie]

Well done that's what would have said if I carried oc but I always carry cc

Would you like a link to the OC/CC Carry debate thread?

 

[Mgderf]

If the whiner was someone complaining that the OP's race/ethnicity/etc. was making them upset, I highly doubt they would have approached him and asked him to be a little less brown/Jewish/fat/handicapped/etc.

Maybe it should be called a dress code? You know, like Burka's!

I seriously worry about the state of our nation today.

This crap is ridiculous. Seriously!!? They'd rather worry about someone's "feelings" over anothers' RIGHTS?

 

[AngryRooster]

Voice recorders are worth their weight in gold. IF they had another complaint and IF the police were called it would have been nice to have the "we aren't asking you to leave" on file.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

FWIW, I think you did fine. A couple of thoughts though: when that manager made that remark about being sensitive about people's concerns--I wonder what her response would have been had you directly asked her "madam, I am deeply insulted. You already said you understand it is legal and you're ok with me carrying it. Why does that customer deserve special treatment and my concerns, my sensitivities mean squat? Once that customer's concerns had been allayed by your confronting me, why are you treating my like a less desirable customer?"

Then when they laid out that veiled threat of calling the police if another complaint is made...oh brother! I think I might have left then and there.

Neither would have changed any minds and it sounds like you represented us well

 

[halfmileharry]

I think you handled it well.
All parties were non-confrontational, polite, and tried to get along.
Thumbs up for holding up on your rights without being rude.
Good impression of a gun owner with OC.