I stopped at a Taco Cabana in Houston with my wife and son. After several months of conceal carry in Texas, this is my first time to encounter a 30.06 sign. Granted, it wasn't posted per the letter of the law, specifically wasn't letters of 1" height. But, I locked my pistol in the Tahoe and went in without incident.
A few days later, I typed up the letter below and emailed it to the customer service email. Only a few days later I got the response below, and now I am happy to say sometimes a kind (but decisive) letter can get some very positive results.
The letter I wrote seems a little long for the response I got, but I expected much more resistance; so I tried to impress the fact that us CHL owners are law abiding citizens, several times. Not to toot my own horn, but I think this could be my future 'form letter' when I see a 30.06 sign, one of those "insert restaurant name here" things.
The response email with my email as a history:
Hello Chris,
First of all, allow me to apologize on behalf of Taco Cabana.
We appreciate you, our guest, and it is our intention that each experience be a pleasant one.
“The 30.06 sign should not have been posted at our stores.
Taco Cabana does not prohibit lawfully concealed handguns on our premises – only unlicensed weapons.”
I will have our legal department contact this store and have them remove the sign.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us again, should the need arise.
Thank you,
Diana Smith
Taco Cabana Customer Services
(800) 580-8668 <toll free>
Visit our website at Taco Cabana : Home
-----Original Message-----
From: kd5tms@hotmail.com
Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 9:13 PM
Name: Chris
Email: kd5tms@hotmail.com
Comments:
Re: Store #250
I must first say that I enjoy eating at your restaurants. I enjoy the selection on your menu and have always had a pleasant time. But, as a law abiding citizen, I hold the safety of my family paramount. I was suprised to see this particular store posting a sign as per Section 30.06 of the Texas code on trespassing by a holder of a concealed hand gun licensed under Section 411 Subchapter H. As a law abiding citizen (and thus a CHL holder), Texas has confirmed my right to keep and bear arms in public to better defend myself and my family. I am saddened that this establishment feels that as a CHL holder, I must leave my protection (my concealed hand gun) where it will be of least use to me. Yes, odds are I will not need such protection, but in this day and age, the odds of having a flat tire are about the same, yet I keep a spare tire, just in case. Upon seeing the sign, I did respect the wishes of the general manager, Fanchon Nash, and secured my legal handgun in my vehicle. We then enjoyed our dinner without incident. If this is a decision of the general manager, and each manager has the choice of a "30.06 sign", then I hope you will urge him/her to allow us lawful citizens (as CHL holders, we are by definition law abiding) the right to exercise our 2nd Amendment while enjoying our meal and time together. If it is general company policy, I am sorry to say that I will no longer purchase meals from Taco Cabana as long as I see a "30.06" sign posted. I will also tell my friends, who are also lawful citizens, that Taco Cabana feels it is necessary to disarm those of us who are responsible enough to have earned a CHL license in the state of Texas in their establishments. I do hope company policy will come around to help us exercise our Constitutionally protected right to protect ourselves from those that would wish us harm. Thank you for reading my comment, and look forward to being able to eat in a Taco Cabana again soon.
A few days later, I typed up the letter below and emailed it to the customer service email. Only a few days later I got the response below, and now I am happy to say sometimes a kind (but decisive) letter can get some very positive results.
The letter I wrote seems a little long for the response I got, but I expected much more resistance; so I tried to impress the fact that us CHL owners are law abiding citizens, several times. Not to toot my own horn, but I think this could be my future 'form letter' when I see a 30.06 sign, one of those "insert restaurant name here" things.
The response email with my email as a history:
Hello Chris,
First of all, allow me to apologize on behalf of Taco Cabana.
We appreciate you, our guest, and it is our intention that each experience be a pleasant one.
“The 30.06 sign should not have been posted at our stores.
Taco Cabana does not prohibit lawfully concealed handguns on our premises – only unlicensed weapons.”
I will have our legal department contact this store and have them remove the sign.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us again, should the need arise.
Thank you,
Diana Smith
Taco Cabana Customer Services
(800) 580-8668 <toll free>
Visit our website at Taco Cabana : Home
-----Original Message-----
From: kd5tms@hotmail.com
Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 9:13 PM
Name: Chris
Email: kd5tms@hotmail.com
Comments:
Re: Store #250
I must first say that I enjoy eating at your restaurants. I enjoy the selection on your menu and have always had a pleasant time. But, as a law abiding citizen, I hold the safety of my family paramount. I was suprised to see this particular store posting a sign as per Section 30.06 of the Texas code on trespassing by a holder of a concealed hand gun licensed under Section 411 Subchapter H. As a law abiding citizen (and thus a CHL holder), Texas has confirmed my right to keep and bear arms in public to better defend myself and my family. I am saddened that this establishment feels that as a CHL holder, I must leave my protection (my concealed hand gun) where it will be of least use to me. Yes, odds are I will not need such protection, but in this day and age, the odds of having a flat tire are about the same, yet I keep a spare tire, just in case. Upon seeing the sign, I did respect the wishes of the general manager, Fanchon Nash, and secured my legal handgun in my vehicle. We then enjoyed our dinner without incident. If this is a decision of the general manager, and each manager has the choice of a "30.06 sign", then I hope you will urge him/her to allow us lawful citizens (as CHL holders, we are by definition law abiding) the right to exercise our 2nd Amendment while enjoying our meal and time together. If it is general company policy, I am sorry to say that I will no longer purchase meals from Taco Cabana as long as I see a "30.06" sign posted. I will also tell my friends, who are also lawful citizens, that Taco Cabana feels it is necessary to disarm those of us who are responsible enough to have earned a CHL license in the state of Texas in their establishments. I do hope company policy will come around to help us exercise our Constitutionally protected right to protect ourselves from those that would wish us harm. Thank you for reading my comment, and look forward to being able to eat in a Taco Cabana again soon.