Opinion
Virginia – -(AmmoLand.com)- Now that some of the dust has settled, here is some more information and thoughts on Walmart, Kroger, and the other stores that are “virtue signaling” on guns:
Walmart
The video of the open-carrier getting kicked out of a Walmart in Kentucky happened before Walmart’s virtue signaling episode began. It appears to have had more to do with the gun owner embarrassing Walmart by trying to get someone to help him at the unattended firearms counter, than him having an openly-carried handgun. Here is a link to the Facebook posting from the gun owner on that incident.
Several people here in Virginia and in Texas have tested open carry in Walmarts and have had no issues. No change in signage at Walmart has yet occurred either. https://thehill.com/homenews/news/460652-gun-rights-activists-test-walmart-request-not-to-open-carry-guns-into-store
For now it would seem that it is business as usual if you wish to carry at Walmart openly or concealed. Of course, there is the issue of Walmart asking Congress for more gun control – which is stupid and unacceptable.
Another store virtue signals on guns. https://wtvr.com/2019/09/11/publix-joins-retailers-asking-customers-not-to-openly-carry-guns-into-its-stores/
Publix is now virtue signaling the same message as Walmart, Kroger, CVS, Walgreens and others by asking customers not to open carry in their stores. I, for one, personally, and respectfully, decline to honor that request.
Various companies have sent a letter to the Senate calling for more gun control
Here is the letter from close to 150 companies we need to stop doing business with (Uber, Lyft, Levi’s, Gap, Nextdoor, JJ Abrams, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Yelp, and many others). How stupid of all these companies to bring politics into their businesses. They have just needlessly lost a lot of customers.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz let their CEOs have it with this response.
Seems support for gun control is trending down.
- https://freebeacon.com/issues/polls-show-gun-control-support-trending-down/
- https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/gun-sales-surge-15-driven-by-self-protection-pelosi-schumer-demand-for-limits
What To Do If Approached About Carrying A Firearm In A Store
I have been conferring with one of Virginia Citizens Defense League’s attorneys and offer this general advice if approached by a store employee and/or the police while carrying in a business:
If approached by a store employee, ask to speak to the manager (often employees don’t know that while the store may prohibit them, as employees, from carrying at work, the store may not prevent customers from doing so).
If the manager or store security confirms they don’t want you carrying in the store, just politely and quietly leave the store. Do NOT ask that they post the business with a “no guns” sign.
You DO NOT have to identify yourself, nor do you have to sign anything. You should simply leave without argument.
If the police are involved and they ask you to identify yourself, you should do so to them only. Do NOT sign any document except in the extremely unlikely case that it is a summons to appear in court issued by the police. (Failure to sign a summons will leave the police with no choice but to arrest you.) Leave the store once the police have indicated you are free to go. If the police want you to sign something from the company, just say you don’t sign anything unless you have a lawyer present and stick to that. You will not be charged with trespass if this is the first time the police have approached you at that business. You have committed no crime, so there is nothing to sign.
All that said, be polite to the officers and do NOT debate the company’s policy with the police. You have nothing to gain by being anything other than reasonable and pleasant.
About Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL):
Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right.
For more information, visit: www.vcdl.org.
Attention open carriers!
I see you not making apologies, I see you showing others gun owners are responsible community members, I see you’re not threatening anybody but the criminals.
I chose to conceal. That doesn’t make you stupid and me smart. The argument for concealed carry shouldn’t be one against open carry.
Thank you.
ANY store chain like Walmart that either has a policy of ‘no guns’ OR partners with the gun control lobby (also Walmart!!) needs to be ENTIRELY BOYCOTTED BY ALL GUN OWNERS. Too many gun owners won’t follow through on principle; if they did, corporations would not feel emboldened to toy around with our rights to carry in public. We also need to coordinate our efforts to put full-spectrum pressure on corporate America to never interfere with our Constitutional Rights. They have to know that going the wrong way on liberty will cost them dearly where it matters most to them:… Read more »
Better yet only carry concealed and avoid both any potential hassles and the problem of making non-gun owners nervous, which they are sure to remember at the next ballot initiative.
Sometimes prudence is the better part of valor. Don’t make a scene if it’s not needed. Don’t get me wrong. I’m as Pro 2A as they come. It’s always better if the Enemy is unaware of your Force Strength. Especially if SHTF. Keep Your Powder Dry.
Just remember that the Walmart employees may not like the policy any more than you do. In many small towns across America, the Walmart may be the main source for sporting goods and ammunition for the locals. I’m sure that most of the Walmart managers would rather not have to approach an openly armed citizen who is his/her neighbor and ask them to respect the corporate policy. I’m not on the “boycott Walmart train” but I’ve tried to buy most of my supplies elsewhere for some time now, especially trying to “buy American” instead of cheap Chinese “stuff.” After their… Read more »
I plan on continuing to do what I normally do like I did today at the CVS Pharmacy. That would be concealed carry. I will let the rest of you fight about open carry. Now, should I decide to carry open I will deal with whatever comes as a result. I don’t think it will be much if anything. I seem to have that affect on people. On a side note the guy ahead of me was picking up his Adderall and he said his doctor had just increased the dosage by 5mg. He did not appear to have a… Read more »
This is the old OC vs CC argument. We need to stop bickering amongst ourselves about that. Do what your state’s laws allow and your preference is, if you have the choice. We need to take a chapter from the anti’s playbook and start coordinating our ‘response’ and pressure on companies/stores so that we don’t have to debate how or whether we’re able to exercise our rights.
Know your state laws. I only have to ID to the police in three situations: When I am driving. If I am carrying a concealed weapon Or If I am under arrest. Note, my state law says “under arrest” not “detained”. My drivers license stays in my vehicle. I have no legal requirement to carry an ID. I have no legal requirement to tell anyone my ID if I am not under arrest. I have no legal requirement to ID if I am open carrying a weapon.
Vigorously exercise your rights or you have already lost them.
Back in the day, before the “Georgia Weapons Carry License”, open carry was permitted without a license but concealed carry was not permitted, period. (This is what I think my dad told me sixty-odd years ago) Later on, a friend of mine said that his father-in-law, a mid-sized town police chief, said that law or no law, he’d rather stop someone with a gun in the glove compartment than someone with a gun beside him on the seat.
I look at concealed and open carry like this …It’s just like the old country song “If you mind your own business then you won’t be minding mine!” and “because if you mind your own business you’ll be busy all the time!” …Tell them to have a nice day f××cking off..I will exercise my rights that were endowed to me by My Creator..nuff said..