imported post
I've been OC'ing extensively in the Lancaster / Chester Co. area. On Friday night, another member of this forum (theacted) & I went out for wings with a few friends at a place called the Brasserie, in Bridgeport, just outside of Lancaster. He was OC w/ his Glock, and I w/ my Kahr P9, both in Fobus paddle holsters. He got there before me, and was inside for 20 minutes before I came in. As soon as I sat down, the manager came over, knelt down beside me and quietly asked if I was a cop. I told him I wasn't. He said that there is a state law that bans carrying a gun in a bar in PA. I politely told him that there wasn't. He was very calm, and respectful, but got a little flustered at this point. He told me that there was off-duty LEO at the bar, who had pointed me out, and asked the manager why he thought I was packing. That's when he came to talk to me. (This all happened within 5 minutes of me getting there, and nobody had seen theacted's Glock yet.)
He said he would like if I would disarm in his establishment, so I asked him if it would be ok if I just went to the men's room and conceal. He beat around the bush a little, clearly not wanting to just throw me out, but also trying to figure out what to say to the LEO, who was probably a regular (I'm not.) To alleviate his discomfort, and to get on with my wings, I offered to go secure my weapon in the truck. This brought a huge smile of relief to his face, so theacted & I volunteerily went outside and disarmed.
We enjoyed our stay there for a few hours, until about 1 a.m. very nice place, think Applebees, but nicer, more upscale. As we were ready to leave, I went to speak with the manager away from our large table, to discuss the issue with him more in depth. We ended up talking for 20 minutes, great conversation. He was not an anti at all, but just had gotten flustered with the situation. He apoligized for making up law as he did, and profusely thanked me for the polite way in which I handled the situation. We talked a lot about OC versus CC, and he admitted that, now that he can think clearly about it, he thinks OC is preferable to him, because if I'm carrying a gun, at least that's out on the table, and he can deal with that fact as we're communicating.
I pointed out to him that if firearms are not allowed in the restaraunt, they really should post the entrance, so that I could make a decision about whether or not to do business there. He indicated that he very much respected my decision, and wishes he had handled the incident differently, and I advised him that I would likely be carrying the next time I came in, and would continue to do so until he asks me not too, or until I see a sign posted, or something of that nature. He said he doesn't see that being a problem, and he would let me know if something changes.
All in all, a lot of education for him, and a positive, constructive conversation, that I believe furthered our cause. I could just as easily conceal, but I OC in order to make a political statement, when the opportunity arises, just as it did here.
Thanks to this forum, I was informed enough to confidantly educate him about our rights here in the Commonwealth.
Merry Christmas all!