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Colonial Williamsburg Trip

marshaul

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So I went with my family to visit Colonial Williamsburg over the weekend.

Overall we had a really good time, but I did have a couple "interactions."

On our last day (today), one employee ran(!) up to me and asked me if I had cleared my gun with security. I said, "No, why would I do that? Several security guards have seen me. None of them said anything..."

He proceeds to explain that since Williamsburg gets "federal funding," private guns are prohibited (I don't pretend to follow this logic). He then asked me to conceal my weapon. I explained that, since I didn't have a permit, that would be illegal. He seemed quite surprised that I didn't have a permit, so I briefly explained VA OC to him.

He wouldn't let the issue drop, so after he asked me to conceal again I said "OK, fine", walked off, and proceeded to ignore him. If he'd asked me to leave, I would have done it, but this guy was clueless.

The last stop we made was the gunsmith, who informed me that security "might" have a problem with it, since it's private property and they have a "no guns" policy, but he didn't have a problem with it himself. I said that we'd been there all weekend and had security walk right past me, with no issues.

Other than that, I had no issues anywhere. I OCed the whole time, in the hotel, in town, on tours, etc. We even went into the Rockefeller Folk & Decorative Art Museum, where they had a "No guns and swords downstairs" sign. At first I was a little annoyed, but when the lady at the desk proceeded to take water bottles and "disarm" some kids of their toy guns, I realized the point of the rules was to prevent damage to the exhibits from careless children. As it happened, my holstered firearm presented no danger to the exhibits, and I had no problem spending two or three hours perusing the museum. The security guards there were extremely friendly and helpful, in fact. No mention was made of my sidearm by them or any of the staff.
 

skidmark

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Marshaul -

In the words of one of my heroes - "You done good!" You handled the ninny employee well, and avoided a useless confrontation.

I'm not so sure the Gunsmith was not confused between the rule that disarms employees and some rule that says visitors cannot carry. I suggest this because if the Rockerfeller Foundation/Colonial Williamsburg had a "no guns" policy for visitors it would be clearly stated & posted where it was applicable. (Remember, some of the streets in the Colonial area are actually public streets/state highways while others are private ways.)

stay safe.

skidmark
 

Virginiaplanter

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I've never had any problem there. I usually conceal most of the time and then open carry in the late afternoon/ evening when I am through taking pictures and eat in one of the restaurants ( My Camera bag rests over my gun anyway so I just don't tuck my shirt in). I had a long talk with one employee who had noticed my gun and came over to sit and talk while I was sitting outside of one of the restaurants. We had a very good conversation (about an hour) and we talked about firelocks most of the time both modern and real firelocks.

It sounds like this employee is misinformed.
 

psmartin

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Oct 2, 2006
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Richmond, Virginia, USA
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marshaul wrote:
So I went with my family to visit Colonial Williamsburg over the weekend.

Overall we had a really good time, but I did have a couple "interactions."

On our last day (today), one employee ran(!) up to me and asked me if I had cleared my gun with security. I said, "No, why would I do that? Several security guards have seen me. None of them said anything..."

He proceeds to explain that since Williamsburg gets "federal funding," private guns are prohibited (I don't pretend to follow this logic). He then asked me to conceal my weapon. I explained that, since I didn't have a permit, that would be illegal. He seemed quite surprised that I didn't have a permit, so I briefly explained VA OC to him.

He wouldn't let the issue drop, so after he asked me to conceal again I said "OK, fine", walked off, and proceeded to ignore him. If he'd asked me to leave, I would have done it, but this guy was clueless.

The last stop we made was the gunsmith, who informed me that security "might" have a problem with it, since it's private property and they have a "no guns" policy, but he didn't have a problem with it himself. I said that we'd been there all weekend and had security walk right past me, with no issues.

Other than that, I had no issues anywhere. I OCed the whole time, in the hotel, in town, on tours, etc. We even went into the Rockefeller Folk & Decorative Art Museum, where they had a "No guns and swords downstairs" sign. At first I was a little annoyed, but when the lady at the desk proceeded to take water bottles and "disarm" some kids of their toy guns, I realized the point of the rules was to prevent damage to the exhibits from careless children. As it happened, my holstered firearm presented no danger to the exhibits, and I had no problem spending two or three hours perusing the museum. The security guards there were extremely friendly and helpful, in fact. No mention was made of my sidearm by them or any of the staff.

You did an excellent job diffusing the idiot.

By that same logic, by cashing our income tax refunds, our homes become federal property, and "no guns on federal property"
 

marshaul

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skidmark wrote:
I'm not so sure the Gunsmith was not confused between the rule that disarms employees and some rule that says visitors cannot carry.  I suggest this because if the Rockerfeller Foundation/Colonial Williamsburg had a "no guns" policy for visitors it would be clearly stated & posted where it was applicable.  (Remember, some of the streets in the Colonial area are actually public streets/state highways while others are private ways.)

Thinking about it later, I pretty much came to the same conclusion. After all, security really did see me and didn't even stop to say "Hello." Nothing is posted anywhere (except the museum ;)), and they do have signs up where they could easily convey such a policy if it actually existed.

I guess in retrospect it wasn't bad as all that. The guy who did hassle me was clearly not one of the experienced, knowledgeable employees -- just some kid, really. And the gunsmith made it clear that, whatever he may have thought their policy was, he wasn't going to enforce it himself. I toured basically all the important buildings in town, and over 2.5 days I had no other negative reactions.
 

marshaul

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There was a fairly amusing interaction at the hotel. We were standing outside talking to the doormen about where my mother might find a waffle past noon, when a French woman near me said (in French, no less) to her husband, "That man over there has a gun, and I think it's real." My father (who has lived in France) heard this, politely turned to her and said, "It is real, but don't worry, it's holstered and not at all dangerous." :lol:
 

nova

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marshaul wrote:
There was a fairly amusing interaction at the hotel. We were standing outside talking to the doormen about where my mother might find a waffle past noon, when a French woman near me said (in French, no less) to her husband, "That man over there has a gun, and I think it's real." My father (who has lived in France) heard this, politely turned to her and said, "It is real, but don't worry, it's holstered and not at all dangerous." :lol:
But I thought Obama said Americans don't know any french other than "thank you very much"...:lol:
 

nova

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It's still too dangerous...you could put someone's eye out with the corkscrew! :lol:
Oh and the white flag is a choking hazard. :p
 

deepdiver

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Apr 2, 2007
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Southeast, Missouri, USA
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Tomahawk wrote:
deepdiver wrote:
Just carry your French Army knife and have everything you need to say in French at your fingertips :p
I don't usually go for insulting the French, but this is just way too funny.:dude:
Plus it's from me and you know by now that I am equal opportunity. Funny is funny ;)
 

marshaul

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Fairfax County, Virginia
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nova wrote:
It's still too dangerous...you could put someone's eye out with the corkscrew! :lol:
Oh and the white flag is a choking hazard. :p

Ah, but there's one place the French show great courage (at least enough to wield dangerous tools). And that's in the face of victory. :lol:
 

nova

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marshaul wrote:
nova wrote:
It's still too dangerous...you could put someone's eye out with the corkscrew! :lol:
Oh and the white flag is a choking hazard. :p

Ah, but there's one place the French show great courage (at least enough to wield dangerous tools). And that's in the face of victory. :lol:
What's sad is the fact America's turning into this...pretty soon they'll have to come with a warning label on the side (engraved like on the side of some guns). :banghead:
 

ed

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Ok.. so is some OC member going to set up a day of OCing in Williamsburg with a group tour and a dinner? Pick a date and lets get things going.. People could pre-pay with PayPal for the tour etc.

I'd be interested.
 
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