So this is a situation I was in over the weekend regarding one of my favorite little pizza places in Norfolk. It left me a bit confused.
Ive been to this place quite a few times a few months back. Me and my friends would all have to open carry as the location has an ABC license for consumption of alcohol on premise. This situation actually arose once before, but more on that later.
Well I was in there Saturday, with the shirt tucked on the inside of my IWB holster as usual. And towards the end, I was approached by our server, who wanted to inform me "for future reference" that I was not allowed to carry in the restaurant because of alcohol being served there. I said that that was not the case, as long as I was open carrying, but I did say that they could ask me to leave if they wanted. They said they would never do that, and that we were welcome to stay, but that their ABC manager said they were not allowed to have firearms in the restaurant. I was confused by this, and politely but firmly stated that I was fully allowed to carry in this restaurant unless they wished me to leave. They again declined, but the owner (the sweetest old lady), came over and decided to mention that my gun "looked exactly like the one that killed her grandson last April." I really didn't know what to say to that, so I just kind of playfully played it off. The owner then mentioned that the rule might have had something to do with almost losing their license after an underage drinking incident or something. I dint feel like repeating myself would have been productive, so the conversation kind of ended there. But I'm very confused. I'm almost positive ABC managers are not allowed to dictate store policy when it comes to firearms, and I would like to continue to go to the restaurant because of the great pizza and prices. But I wont give up my carry gun, especially in Norfolk.
Can anyone shed light on the situation or offer some advice? The only thing I can think of is if Virginia ABC can dictate store policy if there is an ABC infraction. Like I mentioned before, this sort of happened before. They told me about the same thing, and I responded with about the same thing. A couple police officers (who looked none too pleased at us carrying) did inform them that we could carry, unless they wanted us to go. That was almost a year ago, so maybe they "forgot?"
Sorry about being long winded. I might have to clarify some points as I go on, but let me know what you think.
Ive been to this place quite a few times a few months back. Me and my friends would all have to open carry as the location has an ABC license for consumption of alcohol on premise. This situation actually arose once before, but more on that later.
Well I was in there Saturday, with the shirt tucked on the inside of my IWB holster as usual. And towards the end, I was approached by our server, who wanted to inform me "for future reference" that I was not allowed to carry in the restaurant because of alcohol being served there. I said that that was not the case, as long as I was open carrying, but I did say that they could ask me to leave if they wanted. They said they would never do that, and that we were welcome to stay, but that their ABC manager said they were not allowed to have firearms in the restaurant. I was confused by this, and politely but firmly stated that I was fully allowed to carry in this restaurant unless they wished me to leave. They again declined, but the owner (the sweetest old lady), came over and decided to mention that my gun "looked exactly like the one that killed her grandson last April." I really didn't know what to say to that, so I just kind of playfully played it off. The owner then mentioned that the rule might have had something to do with almost losing their license after an underage drinking incident or something. I dint feel like repeating myself would have been productive, so the conversation kind of ended there. But I'm very confused. I'm almost positive ABC managers are not allowed to dictate store policy when it comes to firearms, and I would like to continue to go to the restaurant because of the great pizza and prices. But I wont give up my carry gun, especially in Norfolk.
Can anyone shed light on the situation or offer some advice? The only thing I can think of is if Virginia ABC can dictate store policy if there is an ABC infraction. Like I mentioned before, this sort of happened before. They told me about the same thing, and I responded with about the same thing. A couple police officers (who looked none too pleased at us carrying) did inform them that we could carry, unless they wanted us to go. That was almost a year ago, so maybe they "forgot?"
Sorry about being long winded. I might have to clarify some points as I go on, but let me know what you think.