Virginia Gun Owners Not Pleased With ‘No Guns Permitted’ Sign Outside Toby Keith’s New Restaurant

[RandySF]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Sissyk (a host of the General Discussion forum).

Country music star Toby Keith is facing some backlash from gun owners after one of his new I Love This Bar And Grill restaurants in Woodbridge, Virginia posted a “No Guns Permitted” sign outside its premises.

“I’ll never eat here. Lawfully armed and spending my money elsewhere,” read one of many disgruntled reviews on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

The furor spurred a response by the restaurant, explaining, “While we understand and respect every person’s right to own and bear arms, we at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill, with guidance from the State of Virginia and based on insurance regulations, have adopted a no weapons policy. It is our desire to provided a safe, enjoyable and entertaining experience for our patrons and staff.”

That did little to quell the ire of gun owners, one whom responded to the restaurant’s Facebook message by saying, “Your post regarding your stance on not allowing patrons to defend them selves should the need arise is a total cop out to the bad publicity that your bad policy has initiated.”

But gun owners may actually be legally allowed to carry loaded weapons in Keith’s restaurant under Virginia law, irrespective of what the sign says. Virginia is one of at least six states — the others being Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Arizona — that explicitly allows loaded guns in bars. “No Guns Permitted” signs don’t actually have the force of law in Virginia unless the state specifically lists the facility as one where people cannot carry guns.


http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/12/29/3106791/toby-keith-restaurant-guns/

[calimary]

1. Toby Keith??? That's surprising.

Hmmm - I'm surprised. Wouldn't have expected this from him. After the whole Dixie Chicks business a few years back, I'd kinda written him off as hopeless and unsalvage-able. Maybe not... Good to see!

[Aristus]

2. "...not allowing patrons to defend themselves should the need arise..."

Jesus!

Those gun-fuckers are scared of their own shadows...

It's a terrible thing, to live in perpetual fear...

[arcane1]

10. Indeed. A restaurant full of armed chicken-shits, expecting danger at every moment?

No thanks!

[Ranchemp.]

3. His restaurant, his rules.

Any private business can ban firearms from their premises, as it should be.

[LonePirate]

4. Why do some gun owners think their lives are in jeopardy wherever they go thus their need for guns?

If they are so paranoid, shouldn't they stay at home where they can feel safe? Or maybe they should buy some land in a remote part of the country so they can feel safe in their isolation.

[arcane1]

11. In any case, "home of the brave" no longer applies n/t

[warrior1]

5. Fuck them

What's the goddamn purpose of a gun at a restaurant.

[Comrade Grumpy]

8. I use mine to shoot the flies off the salad.

[Brigid]

16. And we have our thread winner.

[Douglas Carpenter]

6. what kind of nutty crackpot restaurant owner wants his customers to be disarmed and vulnerable to

attack from terrorist, criminals and wild animals?

[onehandle]

7. We need a freedom from gun nuts Amendment. nt

[11 Bravo]

9. I'm a VA gun owner, and I fucking love the policy!

I don't go to a restaurant with my family in order to wonder if the sloppy drunk at the next table is going to get pissed off and start blasting away.
(We're not all crazy, you know? Some of us just hunt and put meat on the table, and others enjoy target shooting.)

[Ranchemp.]

12. Maybe not, might want to read this first.

Additionally, Virginia state law allows bar and restaurant owners to ban weapons from the premises, as long as they prominently display a gun-free sign in the establishment. However, “No Firearm” signs in Virginia do not carry the force of law unless the property is specifically mentioned in state law as off limits to individuals with a permit or license to carry.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/27/toby-keith-restaurant-guns_n_4509745.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009

Seems to be a loophole here, now, what management can do is ask them to leave for another reason and if they refuse, then they can be cited for trespassing.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

17. I think they ask them to leave if they have a gun.

The Can be charged with trespass if they refuse.

They can't be charged with entering with a gun against the posted sign. At worst they can be charged with trespass

[Ranchemp.]

19. I believe you're correct.

Thanks for the clarification.

[jmowreader]

13. Toby licenses his name to a restaurant management company

Considerin' Toby is a Democrat, why would those people even considered going in there?

[Spirochete]

14. It's Toby's restaurant

He should get the say on whether guns are allowed in the place -even if they are legal.
Besides, if someone thinks they need defense in a restaurant, they don't really need a gun - a bottle of Pepto-Bismol should suffice...

[MrScorpio]

15. The objections sound like they come from gun bullies, not "gun owners"

Gun humpers? Gun fetishists? Gun assholes?

All of the above?

[B Calm]

18. If they don't want to eat there, so be it. They can stay

home and watch reruns of Duck Dynasty!

[Sissyk]

20. Lock

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