Regular_Joe
Regular Member
imported post
(I started to post this as a reply in the 'Are there ANY gun friendly restaurants in Northern Virginia?' [sub][sup]<http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum54/44699.html>[/sup][/sub], but I didn't want to hijack the OP's excellent intent!)
Is there a difference between an establishment - in this case a restaurant - being 'OC friendly' and 'OC indifferent'? I know I'd rather send our business towards 2A-supportive business owners, but I spend most of my OC time mainstreaming in whatever Virginia community and place of business/service I happen to be in (car dealerships/repair shops, restaurants, movie theaters, grocery stores, sports shops, banks, shoe stores...) and my S&W M&P 9mm in a Serpa CQC or my wife's Sig P239 in a black leather Galco has yet to cause a problem.
For example, my wife and I have OC'd at restaurants all over NOVA and have never had any issues, other than a few curious looks from kids or an occasional :shock: from folks that are visitors or recent transplants from other states/countries. If anything, we observe an increase in the friendliness/politeness factor.
We don't call ahead to request approval or for an understanding of their policy regarding firearms - for us OC and safety awareness has become more a way of life than an experiment: we simply show up at a restaurant expecting good food and service. People either do not notice or if they do they simply don't care. I am tall and could probably be mistaken for a LEO if dressed in khaki's, dark green/black 5.1.1 polos and boots, but my beautiful wife is petite and typically followed by three very cute little boys - still never an issue.
We have OC'd in several restaurants in Arlington (La Madeline, PF Changs...), Tyson's (Olive Garden, Legal Seafoods...), Annandale (Fuddruckers, Silverado...), Chantilly (Cici's, Chipotle, Famous Dave's BBQ, Texas Roadhouse...), Manassas (Lone Star, UNOs, Red Lobster...) and ALL over the mostly southwestern region between Charlottesville, Winchester, Richmond and Gainsville. Maybe these businesses have anti-gun policies, but we were not informed either by employees or signage. If so, we would politely and immediately leave, understandably taking our business elsewhere.
I have had several situations where someone has noticed and asked questions about state law regarding firearms, about our gear, or about the 2A, but never in a hostile way. Well, there was the one older couple I was standing behind at a Starbucks late last year. I could tell by the pursed lips and angry eyebrows that I had done something, like cut in front of them in line (I hadn't). I didn't realize the issue until I saw them glance down, glance back up and shake their heads, then walk out and climb back into their Maryland-tagged Prius...
I have had too many good experiences to list here, and it could just be our unique situation, but other than the noticeable exceptions I have read about on OCDO, I think the general public just may be starting to accept the 2nd Amendment and lack of Virginia legal prohibition. "Maybe, <the Constitution> ... perhaps... means a little bit more!"
This doesn't mean that the good fight is over - a right not freely exercised is a right freely surrendered - but it may mean that OCDO and VCDL have led a successful first contact with the anti-gun culture, and I will continue to support both until the 2A becomes our non-restrictive OC and CC permit!
Now, to church, and then to OC at Glory Days in Culpeper!
(I started to post this as a reply in the 'Are there ANY gun friendly restaurants in Northern Virginia?' [sub][sup]<http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum54/44699.html>[/sup][/sub], but I didn't want to hijack the OP's excellent intent!)
Is there a difference between an establishment - in this case a restaurant - being 'OC friendly' and 'OC indifferent'? I know I'd rather send our business towards 2A-supportive business owners, but I spend most of my OC time mainstreaming in whatever Virginia community and place of business/service I happen to be in (car dealerships/repair shops, restaurants, movie theaters, grocery stores, sports shops, banks, shoe stores...) and my S&W M&P 9mm in a Serpa CQC or my wife's Sig P239 in a black leather Galco has yet to cause a problem.
For example, my wife and I have OC'd at restaurants all over NOVA and have never had any issues, other than a few curious looks from kids or an occasional :shock: from folks that are visitors or recent transplants from other states/countries. If anything, we observe an increase in the friendliness/politeness factor.
We don't call ahead to request approval or for an understanding of their policy regarding firearms - for us OC and safety awareness has become more a way of life than an experiment: we simply show up at a restaurant expecting good food and service. People either do not notice or if they do they simply don't care. I am tall and could probably be mistaken for a LEO if dressed in khaki's, dark green/black 5.1.1 polos and boots, but my beautiful wife is petite and typically followed by three very cute little boys - still never an issue.
We have OC'd in several restaurants in Arlington (La Madeline, PF Changs...), Tyson's (Olive Garden, Legal Seafoods...), Annandale (Fuddruckers, Silverado...), Chantilly (Cici's, Chipotle, Famous Dave's BBQ, Texas Roadhouse...), Manassas (Lone Star, UNOs, Red Lobster...) and ALL over the mostly southwestern region between Charlottesville, Winchester, Richmond and Gainsville. Maybe these businesses have anti-gun policies, but we were not informed either by employees or signage. If so, we would politely and immediately leave, understandably taking our business elsewhere.
I have had several situations where someone has noticed and asked questions about state law regarding firearms, about our gear, or about the 2A, but never in a hostile way. Well, there was the one older couple I was standing behind at a Starbucks late last year. I could tell by the pursed lips and angry eyebrows that I had done something, like cut in front of them in line (I hadn't). I didn't realize the issue until I saw them glance down, glance back up and shake their heads, then walk out and climb back into their Maryland-tagged Prius...
I have had too many good experiences to list here, and it could just be our unique situation, but other than the noticeable exceptions I have read about on OCDO, I think the general public just may be starting to accept the 2nd Amendment and lack of Virginia legal prohibition. "Maybe, <the Constitution> ... perhaps... means a little bit more!"
This doesn't mean that the good fight is over - a right not freely exercised is a right freely surrendered - but it may mean that OCDO and VCDL have led a successful first contact with the anti-gun culture, and I will continue to support both until the 2A becomes our non-restrictive OC and CC permit!
Now, to church, and then to OC at Glory Days in Culpeper!