Arizona recently passed a law that allows concealed carry permit holders to patronize restaurants that serve alcohol providing the restaurant does not post to the contrary and that the CCW holder does not drink while there.
I have found several restaurants I used to patronize regularly have now posted "No guns allowed" signs. I will personally deliver the following letter to them, and then thank them and walk away. The text of the letter follows:
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Dear Restaurant Owner or Manager:
My family and I have patronized your restaurant regularly for years, but since you have chosen to ban lawfully owned and concealed firearms on your premises, this will not occur today, nor will it occur until you take your sign down. Here's why:
"No guns allowed" indicates to criminals that no one on the premises has the means to stop them. I do not wish to place myself or my family in an environment that gives criminals a major edge for whatever they want to do to us, you and your patrons.
I do not wish to divest myself of my means of self-protection and visibly stow my firearm in the trunk of my car. This can be noticed and makes that firearm subject to theft while I'm inside your restaurant.
In effect, what you are doing is saying "Law-abiding, trained concealed carry permit holders who do not drink are NOT welcome here, but criminals can walk right in brandishing firearms and that's OK."
As a concealed carry permit holder, I have been thoroughly fingerprinted and checked out by the FBI as someone with a completely clean record. I'm professionally trained in the safe and effective handling and use of firearms. I also happen to be schooled on applicable local, state and federal laws regarding firearms and their use. Under the law, I cannot drink while armed on your premises. In short, I'm one of the good guys – not a wild-eyed drunk miscreant with a gun. I'm only dangerous to someone seeking to do harm to me, my family – or you.
My legal firearm will alarm no one. Concealed carry means just that – concealed, not noticeable.
Here is something else you may want to consider. Let's say an armed criminal sees your sign and decides to invade your premises. And further, let's say he kills one or more of your patrons in the process. The family of the deceased then decides to sue – you. Why? Because you, in effect, advertised your vulnerability to attack and refused to admit law-abiding people who could have made a critical difference. If I were a lawyer, I'd represent that family on a contingency basis in a New York minute.
Please take a moment to ponder these things. Your sign not only reduces your income, but it actually endangers your patrons. If what I have said makes sense to you, then I urge you to consider taking your "No guns allowed" sign down. If and when you do, I would be more than happy to patronize you as I have in the past. Thanks for reading.
A concerned former patron of your business.
I have found several restaurants I used to patronize regularly have now posted "No guns allowed" signs. I will personally deliver the following letter to them, and then thank them and walk away. The text of the letter follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Restaurant Owner or Manager:
My family and I have patronized your restaurant regularly for years, but since you have chosen to ban lawfully owned and concealed firearms on your premises, this will not occur today, nor will it occur until you take your sign down. Here's why:
"No guns allowed" indicates to criminals that no one on the premises has the means to stop them. I do not wish to place myself or my family in an environment that gives criminals a major edge for whatever they want to do to us, you and your patrons.
I do not wish to divest myself of my means of self-protection and visibly stow my firearm in the trunk of my car. This can be noticed and makes that firearm subject to theft while I'm inside your restaurant.
In effect, what you are doing is saying "Law-abiding, trained concealed carry permit holders who do not drink are NOT welcome here, but criminals can walk right in brandishing firearms and that's OK."
As a concealed carry permit holder, I have been thoroughly fingerprinted and checked out by the FBI as someone with a completely clean record. I'm professionally trained in the safe and effective handling and use of firearms. I also happen to be schooled on applicable local, state and federal laws regarding firearms and their use. Under the law, I cannot drink while armed on your premises. In short, I'm one of the good guys – not a wild-eyed drunk miscreant with a gun. I'm only dangerous to someone seeking to do harm to me, my family – or you.
My legal firearm will alarm no one. Concealed carry means just that – concealed, not noticeable.
Here is something else you may want to consider. Let's say an armed criminal sees your sign and decides to invade your premises. And further, let's say he kills one or more of your patrons in the process. The family of the deceased then decides to sue – you. Why? Because you, in effect, advertised your vulnerability to attack and refused to admit law-abiding people who could have made a critical difference. If I were a lawyer, I'd represent that family on a contingency basis in a New York minute.
Please take a moment to ponder these things. Your sign not only reduces your income, but it actually endangers your patrons. If what I have said makes sense to you, then I urge you to consider taking your "No guns allowed" sign down. If and when you do, I would be more than happy to patronize you as I have in the past. Thanks for reading.
A concerned former patron of your business.
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