DefensiveCarry Concealed Carry Forum - View Single Post - I got kicked out of Lowes in Chambersburg.

Pikachu711 · July 4th, 2009, 03:41 PM

I experienced something like that yesterday at a local Wal-Mart here in Las Vegas. I OC to & from work on a daily basis. So far I've had very few negative experiences in the places I've visited. This includes WM's, KFC, McD's, etc. That was until yesterday.

As I was walking past the electronics department a WM "associate" suddenly walked towards me. He asked if he could talk to me for a moment. I courteously stopped and said, "Sure, what do you need?" He asked me if I was aware that (I'll paraphrase to be brief) "only on-duty metro police officers are allowed to carry their firearms openly in this Wal-Mart store." He then asked me if I was a police officer. I advised him that I was not a police officer but an "armed security officer" and that I was in route to work & I was doing some shopping along the way. The "associate" then advised me that "We generally prefer that "all non-police officers" leave their guns in their cars." I advised him that "Sir, I feel that leaving my handgun in my car is not very smart as car burglaries are quite common. Doing so also puts Wal Mart customers at risk if someone does steal my handgun from my car." To this comment I just got a "blank stare" back. I advised him that I was leaving the store & wouldn't be shopping at Wal Marts again in light of this policy. At this point I just walked out of the store.

When I arrived at work I looked up the number of that particular WM store. I called the WM and requested to speak with the "on duty" manager. I won't use this mans name out of respect for his privacy.

I relayed the above information to him about this exchange with this WM associate to the assistant manager. The assistant manager advised me that this employee was misinformed about "current" policy of this WM store. The assistant manager told me that "armed" security officers ARE permitted to carry handguns IF they feel that leaving the firearm in their vehicle makes them uncomfortable. I advised the assistant GM that this was precisely how I felt.

The assistant GM apologized for my inconvenience and asked me to describe the person with whom I spoke in the store. I described him in some detail and the assistant GM mentioned that he knew this employee and that he had been employed there many years. The "associate" had told me an "old policy" that had been changed some time ago. The assistant GM told me that he would talk to this "associate" and advise him of the current policy of firearms in this WM store.

The assistant GM again apologized for the "misinformation" that this WM associate expressed and to please continue shopping at WM stores. All in all, I think this was a successful resolution. At this point in the conversation I ended the call with the WM assistant GM.

What concerned me after I hung up was what the policy had I not been in uniform. I'll take that issue up the next time I go to this WM store.

Truly amazing!!!

July 4th, 2009, 03:41 PM	#6
Pikachu711 VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,095	I experienced something like that yesterday at a local Wal-Mart here in Las Vegas. I OC to & from work on a daily basis. So far I've had very few negative experiences in the places I've visited. This includes WM's, KFC, McD's, etc. That was until yesterday. As I was walking past the electronics department a WM "associate" suddenly walked towards me. He asked if he could talk to me for a moment. I courteously stopped and said, "Sure, what do you need?" He asked me if I was aware that (I'll paraphrase to be brief) "only on-duty metro police officers are allowed to carry their firearms openly in this Wal-Mart store." He then asked me if I was a police officer. I advised him that I was not a police officer but an "armed security officer" and that I was in route to work & I was doing some shopping along the way. The "associate" then advised me that "We generally prefer that "all non-police officers" leave their guns in their cars." I advised him that "Sir, I feel that leaving my handgun in my car is not very smart as car burglaries are quite common. Doing so also puts Wal Mart customers at risk if someone does steal my handgun from my car." To this comment I just got a "blank stare" back. I advised him that I was leaving the store & wouldn't be shopping at Wal Marts again in light of this policy. At this point I just walked out of the store. When I arrived at work I looked up the number of that particular WM store. I called the WM and requested to speak with the "on duty" manager. I won't use this mans name out of respect for his privacy. I relayed the above information to him about this exchange with this WM associate to the assistant manager. The assistant manager advised me that this employee was misinformed about "current" policy of this WM store. The assistant manager told me that "armed" security officers ARE permitted to carry handguns IF they feel that leaving the firearm in their vehicle makes them uncomfortable. I advised the assistant GM that this was precisely how I felt. The assistant GM apologized for my inconvenience and asked me to describe the person with whom I spoke in the store. I described him in some detail and the assistant GM mentioned that he knew this employee and that he had been employed there many years. The "associate" had told me an "old policy" that had been changed some time ago. The assistant GM told me that he would talk to this "associate" and advise him of the current policy of firearms in this WM store. The assistant GM again apologized for the "misinformation" that this WM associate expressed and to please continue shopping at WM stores. All in all, I think this was a successful resolution. At this point in the conversation I ended the call with the WM assistant GM. What concerned me after I hung up was what the policy had I not been in uniform. I'll take that issue up the next time I go to this WM store. Truly amazing!!! __________________ "80 Million gun owners can't be wrong!" NRA Member Last edited by Pikachu711; July 4th, 2009 at 05:58 PM..