nkanofolives

First off, I am not here to discuss the philosophies of drinking while carrying (there are plenty of threads on the topic)...this thread is an account of my evening at the Reston Town Center last night.

So the wife and I head over to my old restaurant Mon Ami Gabi, have some great appetizers and a drink each, OC with no issue.

Head on over to the new wine bar in the Town Center called Boxwood. I hate the wines they have, had a small sample of a white and called it a day. Within the first 3 minutes we were in there, one of the ladies who worked there asked me to cover up my gun. I respectfully tell her that VA State Law does not allow me to. That I have to OC in a place that serves alcohol for on site consumption. Discussed property owners rights and their right to ask me to leave. She asked if I was LEO, I told her I was not. She asked why I carry, I told her that about once a month some one (usually a server/bartender) gets mugged in the parking lots and I do not want to be one of those victims. (For those of you who are not familiar with the Reston Town Center, it is a 4 block by 4 block, giant collection of higher end retail and about 16 restaurants, in other words a VERY target rich area. The security there is a joke btw.) Back on topic, the lady at the wine place got a very concerned look on her face and told me that my wife and I were welcome to stay and told us to enjoy our evening.

Briefly head over to McCormick & Schmick's, we do not like the vibe and bounce out quickly. OC'd once again with no issue.

Last place of the evening. We head over to Uno's, some servers that I used to work with at my old restaurant were heading over there and they invited us. I get my wife a beer and the bartender refuses to serve me. He tells me that is very pregnant manager is refusing me alcohol "as VA state law does not allow me to drink with my gun." I laugh at him, say thanks and go find this pregnant manager. Once again, very respectfully I ask her why she is refusing me alcohol. She makes some claim that I can not drink while carrying. I correct her and go through pretty much the same conversation I had 30 minutes before hand at the wine bar. She then speculates if corporate policy dictated whether or not guns are allowed in the restaurant. She asks for me to sit tight while she calls a high up supervisor. 5 minutes later she comes and asks me what kind of a beer I would like, apologizes for the inconvenience and tells me that my beer is on the house.

Over all great evening of hanging out with the wife, friends and educating uninformed.

Erik

I's say that you handled those situations well.

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God, country, family.

uncballzer

Good job....I love education....

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BLONDIE: You may run the risks, my friend, but I do the cutting. If we cut down my percentage... cigar? Liable to interfere with my aim.

TN_Mike

Well done.

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A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. -Barry Goldwater 1968

justherenow

I hate to say it, I would not have served you. I support carry in all modes, but not when one is drinking, it only takes one drink here and another there and all the sudden we have a drunk man with a gun call.


EDIT: I see others thing this was done well, I will put my flame suit on now since I do not agree.

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Ohio CHL since 1/29/2009

Those who trade liberty for security have neither. ~John Adams

64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.

Trouble

Well done...??? Good job....??? Really....???

While I support the right to OC, I sure as heck wont give you an ata-boy for OC'ing while bar hopping....

packinnova

Yeah...in psychology they call that projection...

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-The Mist (2007)

Bunny

Um, okay, all references to alcohol aside here for the moment -- it sounds to me like you were polite and handled each situation in a way that reflected well for those who carry. I didn't hear about anyone getting loud, nasty, arrogant, etc, either on your side or those of the uneducated. In fact, it sounds as though you educated them in a very pleasant, non-threatening manner and they clearly saw it as such, so on that I say absolutely "well done."

I'm not going to comment about carrying while drinking. Our state does not allow it.

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Sig Sauer P239 DAK (9mm)
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gglass

I respect everyones right to carry, and everyones right to consume any beverage they please. I just refuse to combine the two activities... Much the same way I refuse to drink and drive.

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"Let me guess... This isn't about the alcohol or tobacco."

RMS

+1