No guns policy at new Toby Keith restaurant in Woodbridge, Virginia

[NYC_SKP]

No guns policy at new Toby Keith restaurant in Woodbridge

Posted: Dec 26, 2013 2:21 PM PST Updated: Dec 26, 2013 2:27 PM PST
By John Henrehan, FOX 5 Reporter

WOODBRIDGE, Va. -

A big country star opened a huge, new restaurant last week in Woodbridge, Va. But a house rule for the new establishment is roiling some Virginians: no guns are allowed inside.

Toby Keith is not only a hugely successful country star (and actor), he also has personally opened a couple of restaurants, and through other companies, has now expanded those establishments into about a dozen cities.

The latest Toby Keith restaurant opened in Woodbridge. Prominently displayed on the front door is a sign saying: “NO GUNS PERMITTED.”

Virginia happens to be a gun-friendly state, where it’s quite permissible for citizens to strap on a weapon and go into a bar or restaurant, as long as the weapon is clearly visible. State law is silent on the issue of drinking while openly carrying a gun. (State law does prohibit most citizens who are legally carrying a concealed weapon from consuming alcohol, but they, too, are allowed to go into a bar or restaurant.)

http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/24309712/no-guns-policy-at-new-toby-keith-restaurant-in-woodbridge#axzz2ogpXNUHA

Blowback:

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

By Sy Mukherjee on December 29, 2013 at 5:25 pm

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/#

Should be interesting...

[Ranchemp.]

1. His restaurant, his rules.

I wonder if that applies to off duty LEO?

[NYC_SKP]

2. The last link in last sentence in my OP takes you to a PDF that should explain.

I believe that it's unenforceable even for civilians who CC, not sure about LEOs and OC.

[LonePirate]

5. Republican rule: Employers can ignore anti-bias laws but they cannot opt out of conceal carry laws

[SheilaT]

28. And I have been shouted down on DU when I've pointed

out these laws that don't allow opting out of conceal or sometime open carry.

Why in the fuck to people think they need to be carrying guns all the time?

Really?

[Straw Man]

29. Really?

And I have been shouted down on DU when I've pointed

out these laws that don't allow opting out of conceal or sometime open carry.

What laws are those? I don't know of any law that forces owners of private property to allow the carry of firearms on their property. I could very well be wrong, so please educate me.

[friendly_iconoclast]

33. Your question remains unanswered three days later...

[louis-t]

3. Hmm, conservatives think it's ok to discriminate against people

in their businesses because of race, but not if they're gun owners?

[In_The_Wind]

4. I'll be sure to look for a Toby Keith restaurant on my travels.

I've got to eat somewhere. Might as well be there.

[NYC_SKP]

6. I'm surprised at how many are out there. Link:

http://tobykeith.com/restaurants/

[In_The_Wind]

10. There is 1 northwest of me in NY. Two down in VA.

If we get the contract to move the two hundred thousand pound bridge beams (fingers crossed) I'll have time to enjoy one of 'em.

[NYC_SKP]

13. That's a heavy ass load!

Wow!

[In_The_Wind]

14. It's almost 25% heavier than the ones we moved this summer.

Those beams were the largest built in Vermont until now.
They don't call us specialized for nuthin'.

The boss is talkin' about investing in a perimeter trailer. indeed

[NYC_SKP]

15. Five times most anything I've ever loaded or pulled.

Let's see, bulk tomato trailers, sets of doubles...

Not sure of the weight, trailers carrying bins of tomatoes use to be about 45,000, IIRC.

These are bulk, been a while!

[In_The_Wind]

16. That's why it takes us so long. Fifteen mph uphill on 70 mph roads is so much fun.

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

That sounds about right on the bulk weight of the tomatoes. Any more than that and the bottom would be ready to go in a sauce pan.

[Ranchemp.]

34. Nice truck.

KW? Pete?

[In_The_Wind]

35. Western Star

[Ranchemp.]

36. Even nicer,

the caddilac of trucks and very well built.

[In_The_Wind]

37. It's an old one that's in for repairs right now.

The passenger seat doesn't have air ride. (ouch, my back) We decked my escort car from NY to Oklahoma. I was really glad to be back in my car when it was time to travel east.

[Ranchemp.]

38. My younger brother drives for Rael Transport

they gave him a brand new International Pro Star, Detroit series 60 engine, 10 speed with a full size sleeper, really beautiful truck, fire engine red.

[Straw Man]

7. I believe in gun rights in general.

Last edited Mon Dec 30, 2013, 05:40 PM - Edit history (1)

I also believe that any property owner has the right to ban carry on his or her property. People can choose whether or not they want to eat there.

A good compromise would be to provide lockers for people to secure their firearms at the entrance. But this is a private property issue, pure and simple. If you don't want guns in your house or place of business, you don't have to allow them.

[NYC_SKP]

8. I tend to agree with you. nt

[Starboard Tack]

17. Well said. +1 nt

[Eleanors38]

19. In Texas, one must post an official "30.06" sign to prohibit guns.

Otherwise, a generic no-guns poster has no force of law.

[Straw Man]

20. Then it's up to the property owner to get one ...

... if he or she doesn't want guns on the property. In Texas, can a property owner ask someone to take the firearm off the premises even if no sign has been posted?

[blueridge3210]

21. I would think they could.

The requirement for specific signage would seem to pertain to the ability to file criminal charges for disobedience. Unless the property owner could be shown to be discriminating in some unlawful manner (race/gender/religion) they should be allowed to ask someone to remove a weapon from their property. Not a lawyer, don't play one on TV and didnt stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

[Straw Man]

22. Sounds about right.

That would make it similar to my state (New York), where it would be a trespassing charge rather than a weapons charge. The criminal charge only applies if it's a school, courthouse, post office, or government building.

[Eleanors38]

24. No lawyer, but no. However, the prop owner can tell you to leave...

at pains of trespass. As a practical matter, how would the owner know you were carrying or not?

[VA_Jill]

9. My S/O

is from Woodbridge, and we'd probably make a point of eating there if we visited. But alas, no family there any more, so no reason to go back. If we do, we'll be sure to dine at Toby Keith's!

[doc03]

11. I also hope they ban his stupid redneck music n/t

[gejohnston]

12. He doesn't own any part of the

restaurant. The company paid him to use his name, no more.

http://nation.time.com/2013/12/29/toby-keith-restaurant-bans-guns-angers-fans/

The press release put out by the company says it has more to do with Virginia insurance regulations than anything else.
Their house their rules.

[ileus]

18. He needs to review rules set by those he lends his name/likeness to.

But then again he may be a "guns kill people" type.


I go in lots of dumps that want me to be a victim first, some folks believe target rich environments are the way to go. I only get pissed off when the government (state/local/federal) tell me I can't carry inside properties I support. If I support them, they should support my rights.

[spin]

23. Fine with me but if I were to walk up to the door of Toby Keith's Restaurant and notice ...

the sign, I would respect the rule and take my business elsewhere.

I am not fond of leaving my carry weapon in my car in a parking lot as it may be stolen by some fool who will misuse it. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, it stays in its holster in my pants pocket.

[Eleanors38]

25. Most places I've been to in Austin have unofficial no-gun signs or

nothing at all. I'm sure some CCWs have nevertheless floated through while others are soothed in some manner.

On edit, I have seen signs which have said in effect No unauthorized gun possession. Has anyone seen this?

[spin]

30. I have never seen a sign that said "No Unauthorized Gun Possession" in Florida. ...

I wonder what the sign actually means. I have a valid concealed weapons permit so I am authorized to carry. On the other hand, I have not asked to owner for permission to carry in his establishment.

Maybe the sign is meant to deter criminals who usually do not bother getting a carry permit and often because of their criminal record have no right to even own a firearm. However I don't really believe that a sign posted on the entrance of an establishment would deter an armed criminal. In fact a "No Guns" sign might mark the business as a good target for a robbery.

In the early days of "shall issue" concealed carry in 1987, "No Guns" signs were common. I will admit that I walked into a couple of stores with such signs and of course nobody knew I was carrying. Then I simply decided to take my money elsewhere and call the owner of the store to inform him that he had lost my business because of his sign. I rarely see "No Guns" signs in Florida today. The bank next to my house has one and also a metal detector. I just drive two blocks up the street to another bank which does not post such a sign.

[TheMastersNemesis]

26. People So Paranoid They Need To Carry A Gun Should Not Have One In The First Place.

Carry a gun NO SERVICE.

[aikoaiko]

31. talk about paranoid.

[friendly_iconoclast]

32. Are you Fred Colon, by any chance?

Sergeant Colon had had a broad education. He’d been to the School of My Dad Always Said, the College of It Stands to Reason, and was now a postgraduate student at the University of What Some Bloke In the Pub Told Me."
- Terry Pratchett, Jingo

[appleannie1]

27. No different than 'no shirt, no shoes, no service'. We pass Woodbridge on our way to my daughter's

house. We might just try their food.

[madville]

39. No guns allowed signs don't mean much

Depending on the state. Here in FL all the business could do is ask the customer to leave and if they refuse then the business could report them for trespassing.

If someone is properly carrying concealed the business should never know they have a firearm to begin with.

I think you see more of this in states that allow open carry in public (which FL generally doesn't except when hunting or fishing). I have seen one no guns allowed sign in FL, at a Cinemark movie theatre and it really means nothing as far as the law is concerned.