Jakeiscrazy
Regular Member
Bowl America on Hull Street Road
Tonight I went to a local Bowl America with a friend. I double checked the doors for signs as I entered and none were posted. I rented to shoes and payed for the unlimited bowling($9.99). We bowled a few games before the same women that had checked us in came up and asked "Is that a real gun?"
I calmly explained that it was real and that it was perfectly legal to open carry a firearm in the state of Virginia. I explained I carry for self defense and she gave the old "When would you ever need a gun?" So I referenced the recent Aurora shootings and her response was "O great another gun and more bullets." I told her I understood her concern but many mass shooters choose to kill themselves or surrender when met with armed resistance and had there been someone shooting back lives could have been saved. She said that the bowlers next to us were "sacred off" by the gun and that's what her concern was.
I didn't care to argue the point at the time but they bowled next to us for a good hour or so before leaving. I think they most likely just mentioned it in passing and the employee took that to mean they were sacred off. But that's just my pure conjecture on my part of course.
After the discussion about self defense she left and said that she's gonna have to "Check into it." I continued to bowl and noticed the employees having a little conference and shortly there after noticed one of the employees on the phone.
As I suspected they were phoning the police and shortly there after an officer arrived and approached me. He was very professional and explained that he would have to escort me to my vehicle to watch me unload and store my handgun as per the management's wishes. I told him that I would prefer to leave that establishment as I don't care to patronize an business that doesn't allow me to open carry. He was very respectful, not jumpy and didn't ask to secure the weapon or anything.
We turned in out shoes and as I was leaving reminded the employees that I and other gun right supporters will chose not to support you establishment with our business in the future. The women who first asked about it told me "Sorry..."
I'll be emailing Bowl America corporate and see if they have a differing stance.
Tonight I went to a local Bowl America with a friend. I double checked the doors for signs as I entered and none were posted. I rented to shoes and payed for the unlimited bowling($9.99). We bowled a few games before the same women that had checked us in came up and asked "Is that a real gun?"
I calmly explained that it was real and that it was perfectly legal to open carry a firearm in the state of Virginia. I explained I carry for self defense and she gave the old "When would you ever need a gun?" So I referenced the recent Aurora shootings and her response was "O great another gun and more bullets." I told her I understood her concern but many mass shooters choose to kill themselves or surrender when met with armed resistance and had there been someone shooting back lives could have been saved. She said that the bowlers next to us were "sacred off" by the gun and that's what her concern was.
I didn't care to argue the point at the time but they bowled next to us for a good hour or so before leaving. I think they most likely just mentioned it in passing and the employee took that to mean they were sacred off. But that's just my pure conjecture on my part of course.
After the discussion about self defense she left and said that she's gonna have to "Check into it." I continued to bowl and noticed the employees having a little conference and shortly there after noticed one of the employees on the phone.
As I suspected they were phoning the police and shortly there after an officer arrived and approached me. He was very professional and explained that he would have to escort me to my vehicle to watch me unload and store my handgun as per the management's wishes. I told him that I would prefer to leave that establishment as I don't care to patronize an business that doesn't allow me to open carry. He was very respectful, not jumpy and didn't ask to secure the weapon or anything.
We turned in out shoes and as I was leaving reminded the employees that I and other gun right supporters will chose not to support you establishment with our business in the future. The women who first asked about it told me "Sorry..."
I'll be emailing Bowl America corporate and see if they have a differing stance.
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