"Guns in restaurants draw stares but little outcry" AP Article 14 May / Chi Tribune

[Henry Bowman]

The Champps appearance -- and several other restaurant visits throughout northern Virginia last month -- were a response to comments from the majority leader in the state Senate, Democrat Richard Saslaw, who said armed patrons would be unwelcome in northern Virginia restaurants.

* * *

Saslaw said he's not necessarily surprised that VCDL found restaurants in the region that would allow them to dine while armed. But he said that carrying guns is simply not normal behavior in this area.

"What normal person walks around with a gun on your hip? Something's wrong in your life" if you feel compelled to carry a gun as part of your daily routine, he said.

Boycott whom? This was not a quote from the restaurant owner/manager.

 

[Sage of Seattle]

Henry, this restaurant...

At one restaurant -- Mike's American Grill -- the group had gone essentially unnoticed until a woman in her 20s with a satin-finished, stainless-steel revolver got up from her table.

The restaurant's manager spotted her and asked the group to either put the guns in their cars or leave. They left.

"When I saw the gun on her hip, I was like, 'What is going on here?'" said the manager, Gabba Kaye, who hadn't noticed the guns when the group of 20 checked in for their lunch reservation.

Kaye said he hadn't received complaints from customers, but that the weapons made him uncomfortable. He also said he had been warned by the restaurant's owners about the visit and instructed not to allow the group service while carrying.

 

[MakAttak]

Boycott whom? This was not a quote from the restaurant owner/manager.

"When I saw the gun on her hip, I was like, 'What is going on here?'" said the manager, Gabba Kaye, who hadn't noticed the guns when the group of 20 checked in for their lunch reservation.

Kaye said he hadn't received complaints from customers, but that the weapons made him uncomfortable. He also said he had been warned by the restaurant's owners about the visit and instructed not to allow the group service while carrying.

The quote you listed was not from a manager/owner. This one is; it is from the Manager of Mike's American Grill which is part of the "Great American Restuarant's" chain. These include Sweetwater Tavern, Mike's American Grill, Artie's, Coastal Flats, and a few others in the Northern Virginia Area.

They won't get anymore of my money.

 

[AlaskaErik]

At one restaurant -- Mike's American Grill -- the group had gone essentially unnoticed until a woman in her 20s with a satin-finished, stainless-steel revolver got up from her table.

The restaurant's manager spotted her and asked the group to either put the guns in their cars or leave. They left.

Talk about a misnamed restaurant!

 

[bdickens]

Y'all should read the comments. I posted a comment about how bigoted the antis are nd then all I had to do was sit back and wait for them to make my point for me. It's funny in some sort of sick way.

 

[carlrodd]

i like the idea of any gun owner...every gun owner that is allowed to open carry, doing so wherever they wish, and doing it often. however, the organized 'effort' mentioned in the article seemed to be an intentional affront to the perceived sensibilities of many of the other patrons. these sorts of tactics, where the person/group trying to make a point force the public to acknowledge their presence are annoying. i would have been embarrassed if i was there. i can't think of anything more counter-productive when trying to illustrate how un-provocative a thing is or should be, than to do something ridiculously provocative, like forcing yourself into the private dining experiences of restaurant patrons by standing up and virtually demanding everyone's attention.

imagine that someone with an anti-gun agenda did the very same thing.

 

[06]

----"What normal person walks around with a gun on your hip? Something's wrong in your life" if you feel compelled to carry a gun as part of your daily routine--"
If you ever see this idiot again ask him if he remembers the first "public mass murder" after the Texas tower shooting. It was in Luby's Resturant. A nut drove his PU into the resturant-- calmly got out and started shooting customers. No reason other than his derangement. Texas now has CC--it did not then. One of the survivors looked back to her parents(whom she had tried to get to crawl out with her) and saw him put a bullet into her mother's head. She made a vow to never go anywhere unarmed again. She was on nat. TV shortly afterwards and Peter Jennings asked her--"do you have a gun with you now". She replied--"it is against the law to carry a gun in NY". He asked her again and got the same answer. My kind of a gal. Sorry she had to learn a hard lesson the hard way--she had left her pistol in the pocket of her car--didn't do her much good in the resturant. wc

 

[3fgburner]

i can't think of anything more counter-productive when trying to illustrate how un-provocative a thing is or should be, than to do something ridiculously provocative, like forcing yourself into the private dining experiences of restaurant patrons by standing up and virtually demanding everyone's attention.

Actually, the group WERE simply having a quiet meal. A few people noticed, and went to the manager. Bruce's announcement, and discourse on gun rights, were done AT THE REQUEST of the restaurant manager.

 

[PershingRiflesC-7]

3fgburner wrote:

Actually, the group WERE simply having a quiet meal. A few people noticed, and went to the manager. Bruce's announcement, and discourse on gun rights, were done AT THE REQUEST of the restaurant manager.

This is the first time I have seen this info in the numerous postings of this exact same article on here, GT, FreeRepublic, etc. Thanks for adding it to the thread. Everybody else, welcome to last week, please return to the Search function and re-familiarize.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

http://www.greatamericanrestaurants.com/Mikesmain/how_are_we_doing.php

let em know how you feel and where your money won't be going but be nice be a good ambassador

 

[carlrodd]

Actually, the group WERE simply having a quiet meal. A few people noticed, and went to the manager. Bruce's announcement, and discourse on gun rights, were done AT THE REQUEST of the restaurant manager.


my mistake.

 

[novaDAK]

Actually, the group WERE simply having a quiet meal. A few people noticed, and went to the manager. Bruce's announcement, and discourse on gun rights, were done AT THE REQUEST of the restaurant manager.

This would have greatly changed the article if it were included. The way they described it in the article makes it seem as though the OCers were merely looking for attention and "flaunting" (as said on Fox 5 on an unrelated OC story last month).

Having the manager ask Bruce to say a few words changes the perspective.

 

[trbon8r]

I agree, that if the manager requested someone from the group say a few words it changes the context of the story.

Even so, I would try to avoid being in the position of giving a speech in the middle of a restaurant. People are trying to relax, spend time with friends and family, and enjoy their meal. It isn't the time or the place for a political spiel. In the future I would politely explain this to anyone from restaurant management that requested someone from the group speaks. All you would have to say to the manager is something along the lines of "I appreciate the opportunity to say a few words, but wish to respect the privacy of your patrons. I don't feel it is appropriate to interrupt their meal with a speech." I'm sure any restaurant manager would respect this decision. Cheers.

 

[Bobarino]

http://www.greatamericanrestaurants.com/gar/ also included under the parent company's control are:

Arties

Carlyle

Mike's American

Sweetwater Tavern

Silverado

Best Buns Bread Co.

boycott one, boycott all.

Bobby

 

[brighamr]

I would be well withing my rights as a property and business owner.

- thank you sooooooooooooooooooooo much for dragging that dead horse into this.

Actually, the group WERE simply having a quiet meal. A few people noticed, and went to the manager. Bruce's announcement, and discourse on gun rights, were done AT THE REQUEST of the restaurant manager.

- and yet another reason why we shouldn't take media spin as truth. Always get the facts before making assumptions.

 

[Kitchen_Duty]

it's all about education. keep it up

 

[Dravur]

a political announcement anymore than I want the Mormons coming to my door on Saturday morning to force their religion on me.

Darn Mormons! Coming to your house and forcing you to join their religion....

I was not aware they were able to force anyone to do anything. The Elders I know are not allowed to carry guns, tomahawks, grenades or any other device to force their religion on you.

Heaven forbid they knock on your door as you cower in your home, scared of being forcibly converted.

 

[Rachen]

Sixty years ago right here in Virginia this would have read:


Quote:
Kaye said he hadn't received complaints from customers, but that the negros made him uncomfortable. He also said he had been warned by the restaurant's owners about the visit and instructed not to allow the nergos service.

That is so true. The persecution has taken a different turn, and is targeting other people.

 

[trbon8r]

Darn Mormons! Coming to your house and forcing you to join their religion....

I was not aware they were able to force anyone to do anything. The Elders I know are not allowed to carry guns, tomahawks, grenades or any other device to force their religion on you.

Heaven forbid they knock on your door as you cower in your home, scared of being forcibly converted.

You know, I had a whole response typed out explaining exactly why it is your logic is flawed, but deleted it. This isn't the time or place for such a debate. Lets keep the focus where it belongs which is on the pro-RKBA movement.

 

[3fgburner]

Sixty years ago right here in Virginia this would have read:

Kaye said he hadn't received complaints from customers, but that the negros made him uncomfortable. He also said he had been warned by the restaurant's owners about the visit and instructed not to allow the nergos service.

Bwahahahaha!

This is even funnier, when one considers that Mr. Kaye is, in fact black. Judging by the accent, I'd guess at either East African or Caribbean family origin.

 

[Otahyoni]

I wish a few in my area would get together and do something like this... just go out to eat, meeting new faces, and showing that law-abiding citizens carry guns without causing trouble.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

funnier still that the folks stretching to make those kinda comparisons are always white

 

[Blackbeard]

I hope these guys tip well.

 

[Blackbeard]

Talk about a misnamed restaurant!

Should be Mike's Anti-American Grill

 

[Wesson Smith]

This wouldn't have ever occurred in my state. It really frosts me to no end that I am prohibited by law from carrying concealed (or otherwise) in any establishment with a Class 3 liquor license. For pete's sake, I have to secure my firearm in my car just to walk into a Red Lobster!