Interesting OC event today

[Carter]

Today, after work I went to the Sprint store to get my phone fixed, cause androids are evil. Well I was OC and I walked up to the counter and started explaining my issues. Half way through the counter lady interrupts me and asks if I am a cop. I told her no, but I'm a correctional officer hoping that'd end that conversation. She let me continue and she asks me to have a seat.

Two minutes later I hear her speaking spanish (she is hispanic) to her boss. I guess she thought I wouldn't be listening, but police and corrections sounds pretty darn similar in spanish and english. It was obvious she was asking if it was okay if I had a gun. Then her boss immediately half way yells, "Who has a gun?" And I got an accusing finger pointed at me.

I was told that they didn't allow anyone but uniformed police to carry in the store. Politely, I stated NC law says if the store isn't posted I can carry it in, but if you ask me to put in the car I have too. I politely complied and they said thank you.

Well when I went back to pick up my phone I switched to my CCW holster. I was going to do that in the first place cause I absolutely needed their service and didn't want to get in to a debate about gun rights, but the pistol I was carrying I only have a serpa holster for it. My crossbreed is for an sr9c (which I sold to my dad), but it works with my 1911. I decided to go with secure holster instead of concealed and less secure. Oh well, guess they made me switch that on my return trip.

I was extremely disappointed with this particular Sprint store. I just moved to this town a few months ago, and the Sprint in my old town had no problem with me OC.

When they told me I would be getting a survey I just smiled and said thank you.

 

[WNC Seabee]

What part of NC?

 

[Hacker15E]

NC law says if the store isn't posted I can carry it in, but if you ask me to put in the car I have to

Sounds to me like they were perfectly in their legal right to do so, and they did.

<shrug>

It's their business, their property, and you're a customer. Choose not to patronize them if you want, but I don't see anything disagreeable with how that 'encounter' went.

 

[youngda9]

Take your $$ elsewhere, and let them know why you're doing so. Don't support stores that don't respect your 2A protected god-given rights.

 

[Skribs]

It's their business, their property, and you're a customer. Choose not to patronize them if you want, but I don't see anything disagreeable with how that 'encounter' went.

I am a firm believer that a business should have the right to sell whatever product they want and not offer products they don't want; and that they should be able to choose at will who their patrons should be.

I also believe if they decide certain individuals will not be patrons, their punishment is a loss of business, and they will never change if they do not know that they are losing business for this policy.

 

[hermannr]

I have encounterd very few businesses like that, but I have encounted some, and my position is: I tell them, "If my gun is not welcome, then consider me and my family not welcome", leave whatever I was purchasing right there (on the floor if necessary) and leave....then I never do business with that company again.

 

[Carter]

It was in Union county.

Its not that I felt offended, its that I've never had a problem in any other sprint store. So I think the "boss" didn't know what she was talking about. It wasn't even a manger, just a senior floor person. She also could of handled it better.

 

[tydephan]

I politely complied and they said thank you.

This was the best course of action. They think that we are some sort of mouth-breathing heathens. The best way to show them we are not, is to do exactly what you did. This will go much further in winning over people like that than arguing about the law.

Good work.

 

[RCArms.com]

This was the best course of action. They think that we are some sort of mouth-breathing heathens. The best way to show them we are not, is to do exactly what you did. This will go much further in winning over people like that than arguing about the law.

Good work.

+1 on this one.

You represented firearms folks very well with how you handled it.

Thank you for your professionalism.

 

[firesky101]

If you want to take further action, I would just write a letter to corporate about how this will keep you out of their location, and may force you to switch carriers. Unless it is one of those 3rd party cell phone stores, Sprint would not have any influence with them.

 

[skeeziks]

When are these business owners and their managers gonna wake up and use the common sense the Good Lord gave them?
If someone walked into my store with a handgun strapped to their waist, I would feel MORE secure while they are there. People see a gun and get very nervous. It's the hidden gun that could potentially harm them (bad guys don't wear 'em on their waist in OC mode.)

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Next time tell them that you speak Spanish, that you very much.. and that was quite rude of them.

 

[foghornl]

Carter, you handled that the best way possible.

When are these business owners and their managers gonna wake up and use the common sense the Good Lord gave them

They missed the bus on that one, and then the ship sailed away.................



Sorry...just feeling REALLY snarky today...

 

[gbeecher]

Guns, guns, guns - what's all the fuss!?

When I see a sign posted on a public building that says something like 'Guns Banned on These Premises', it doesn't make me feel safer. It has the opposite effect - I feel safer knowing someone inside is a good citizen who is carrying a firearm. Criminals don't care about the law - hence the work 'criminal'! Criminals will always disregard the law and find a way to obtain a weapon. People are so stupid sometimes - I think its an insult to God that He gave them a brain - they don't use it!

 

[B!ngo]

I am a firm believer that a business should have the right to sell whatever product they want and not offer products they don't want; and that they should be able to choose at will who their patrons should be.

I also believe if they decide certain individuals will not be patrons, their punishment is a loss of business, and they will never change if they do not know that they are losing business for this policy.

Huh? What? I was with you regarding the products but choosing your clientele? So a white person and a black person walk in and the manager says the black has to leave? Huh? What?
Re the OP, seems like both sides treated the situation properly. Up to the OP if he wants to stop frequenting that business thereafter. But regardless of what was actually going through the managers mind, I can well understand why a retail store would be against OC patrons. It isn't news, now or for some time, that many patrons would be unnerved by seeing a civilan with an open carry weapon. I'm not sure what the OP looks like, but if I saw a bunch of gang-banging twenty somethings come in to a phone store in a group, tats abounding and chains banging against their 1911's tucked in to a holster or pocket, I'd leave in an instant. My street-radar would tell me that it's a bad bet for my ongoing health and well-being. I don't think it would help the storekeepers business in the least.
B

 

[Carter]

Next time tell them that you speak Spanish, that you very much.. and that was quite rude of them.

I don't actually speak spanish. I just recognized some keywords and knew they were discussing me and "my little friend".

I'm not sure what the OP looks like

23, white guy of average height, short hair and goatee, khaki pants, blue t-shirt, 5.11 work boots. Only tats I have are easily covered by a t-shirt.


I've never been asked to leave or put my gun in the car, but I have had a lot of people talk to me about OCing. It usually ends somewhat positive. Only negative comments I've heard were from a couple who though I wasn't listening. Its amazing what you hear when you actually pay attention.

I plan on contacting Sprint because I've never had a problem before. Only reason I did not leave was I needed my phone fixed, there are no other sprint stores in my area, and I can't change service. My family and I (more than just me and my wife) share a massive plan to save money for everyone.

 

[orionengnr]

You conducted yourself in a mature and civil manner. Well done.
Next, I would follow up with both the local store manager and Corporate.

Continue taking The High Road, try to enlighten them. If they are not listening...

Take your $$ elsewhere, and let them know why you're doing so. Don't support stores that don't respect your 2A protected God-given rights.

^^This.

 

[Fremmer]

I wouldn't go back.
Who wants to deal with 'em.
Just ccw and go to a different store.

 

[hermannr]

Huh? What? I was with you regarding the products but choosing your clientele? So a white person and a black person walk in and the manager says the black has to leave? Huh? What?
Re the OP, seems like both sides treated the situation properly. Up to the OP if he wants to stop frequenting that business thereafter. But regardless of what was actually going through the managers mind, I can well understand why a retail store would be against OC patrons. It isn't news, now or for some time, that many patrons would be unnerved by seeing a civilan with an open carry weapon. I'm not sure what the OP looks like, but if I saw a bunch of gang-banging twenty somethings come in to a phone store in a group, tats abounding and chains banging against their 1911's tucked in to a holster or pocket, I'd leave in an instant. My street-radar would tell me that it's a bad bet for my ongoing health and well-being. I don't think it would help the storekeepers business in the least.
B

You see, that is your mistake...if there were a bunch of "gangbangers" and they were armed, the guns would be hidden, probably in their hoodie.

I was told something many years ago (50's). "Those that are up to no-good hide their weapons." You know what? The old man that told me that....he was right.

 

[Fremmer]

No, he really wasn't, lol.

 

[CZguy]

No, he really wasn't, lol.

Why not.......what is your reasoning?

 

[tydephan]

Why not.......what is your reasoning?

I think he was saying that not everyone with bad intentions hides their guns. A point of which I would agree, if for no other reason than it is unwise to paint with such a broad brush.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

I don't actually speak spanish.

So?

The point isn't so much that you speak Spanish or not, it's to remind them that discussing the customers in front of them is inappropriate. Of course, they already knew that in the back of their minds which is why they were speaking Spanish.

Take the issue up the line. We are a very large multi-state armed security company and our business is with Sprint. They don't mind our guns, they shouldn't mind yours.

 

[CZguy]

I think he was saying that not everyone with bad intentions hides their guns. A point of which I would agree, if for no other reason than it is unwise to paint with such a broad brush.

I think that you may be right. But in the interest of clarity, I was hoping that Fremmer could expand on his position.

 

[kcshooter]

I would have gone back concealed, but printing so that there was no question that I was carrying.

"Those that are up to no-good hide their weapons."...The old man that told me that....he was right

I hide mine. Do you assume I am up to no good?