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I was refused service in Griolis restaurant in Bealeton, VA, unless I left my pistol outside. I uncovered my handgun when I entered the restaurant, as required in Virginia, and was shown to a booth. Then before we even sat down the man asked me to take “that” outside. I pointed out that I’d been there many times and it has never been a problem before. He told me a police officer had recently told him one can’t carry a gun in there because they serve alcohol and because there are small children there

I corrected him on the law and told him the officer (if there even was such an officer) was wrong. But if that was what he preferred then I preferred to spend my money somewhere else. My wife and son and I then left.

Then I went home and sent the following to the corporate e-mail address. I haven’t received any acknowledgement of my e-mail.

“I am sad to report that I will not be able to enjoy the fantastic food and previously wonderful service at your restaurant in Bealeton , Virginia .

I tried to take my family to dinner at your Griolis in Bealeton , VA last night, June 23, 2009. A man, I think he’s the manager or owner, who has seen me with my legally carried handgun in there numerous times and never said a word before, asked me tonight to leave my pistol outside. I pointed out that I have carried in there before and they’ve never objected. He told me that a policeman had told him that people can’t carry handguns in there because there are little children in there.

If there actually was a police officer telling him such things, and I suspect that was a ruse, then the officer was distributing misinformation either due to a lack of understanding or deliberately to support his own beliefs. I have a feeling that the employee/manager was simply using this story to avoid just saying he preferred to discriminate against gun owners.

Under Virginia statute it is legal to openly carry a handgun in an establishment that serves alcohol for consumption on premises. It is not legal to carry a concealed handgun in such an establishment.

I told him that since it was his place he could request I leave if he preferred. His answer was that he did prefer that. So I told him in that case I prefer to spend my money somewhere else. I also told him I would spread the word that some people are not welcome there.

Is it a corporate policy at Griolis to discriminate against gun owners? While we may not be a protected category under federal civil rights laws, we do consider it discrimination and we are very vocal about it. We will make certain that every other gun owner, and all our friends, know that a company discriminates. I spent a 23+ year career in the U.S. Air Force protecting your rights only to have you discriminate and deny me my constitionally protected rights. I was even wearing a cap proclaiming “U.S. Air Force Retired” at the time of this incident.

If it is your policy to discriminate you should own up to it up front and not wait until taking a party to their table and attempt to embarrass them there in a crowded restaurant. It won’t embarrass me; I’ll simply explain to your employee, and everyone within earshot, what the truth of the law is.

I will wait one week, until May 30, 2009, for your response before I decide whether to post my experience on every gun owner forum I know of.”

So I urge all of you in Virginia and North Carolina, and anywhere else they open a property, to avoid all of Griolis restaurants since they are anti-Second Amendment.

__________________
Rick N.
Culpeper, VA