Food Lion in Roanoke...

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I just got questioned by the management of the Oak Grove Plaza Food Lion in Roanoke and will be firing off an e-mail to Food Lion corporate headquarters.

I've OC'd there many times without a problem, but today I overheard a couple of the managers say, "I don't know...I've never seen it before." Something told me they were talking about me...

Sure enough, one of them walked up and asked if I was a LEO. I told him no, so he asked me if I had a permit. I politely told him that yes, I did have a concealed permit, but that one was not required to openly carry a firearm. He said he understood that, but for the safety of the other customers, they require you to either be a LEO or have a permit.

I told him once again that I did in fact have a permit and he said fine...then walked away.

Needless to say, this makes no sense. What difference does it make if I have a permit if I'm openly carrying and obeying the law?

Stay tunedto find out what corporate has to say...

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I've never had any trouble at the Food Lion at Parham/Brook in Richmond.

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Maybe you should have just said yeah, and moved on. Sometimes you can't educate a dumbass.

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I'll admit it, I'm new... I have not yet OC'd. I do wonder what I would do in situations like this. Unfortunately, I'm a writer, not a talker, so most of my best material comes after I walk away.

In that luxury of hindsight, I think I would have started out with "Do I have a permit for what?"

"Carrying a firearm."

"I'm sorry sir, in Virginia there is no such thing as a 'permit to openly carry a firearm...' but if there were one available, I would probably get it."



TFred

ETA: spell much?

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Since the law is what is is here in VA, it really shouldn't matter. However, in the minds of some people, OC seems to be more justified if a CHP is in hand. One can't fault the manager for not completely understanding OC law in VA, as most people don't...YET. Give it time, because, if done correctly, people will understand OC or CC in the long run. Possessing a CHP is just a feel-good measure for those who don't understand the law but observe someone carrying a sidearm openly. Personally, I can understand why someone would feel more comfortable knowing that a person has a CHP and was carrying a sidearm versus someone who was not in possession of the CHP while carrying a firearm. In their minds, the person with the CHP has been "checked out", whereas, the individual with no permit has not been "cleared". The assumption is that the CHP holder has had some form of training over the person without the permit, which is true for the most part. The training required for a CHP isn't where it needs to be IMHO, nonetheless, it is what it is. I don't have any issues with this, but personally, I'd hope that the CHP holder or OC'er would take it upon themselves to seek more advanced training. Thats another reason why some folks, including myself (and I'm a LEO), would prefer that people carried their sidearm concealed instead of openly. There are a number of reasons for this, however, one's choice to either OC or CC is personal. I FULLY support OC and CC, but I do think that CC has a lot of advantages over OC. Personally, I don't like attention. OC draws a lot of attention, and whether we like it or not, its usually of the negative variety. Honestly, I think the requirement to OC in bars/restaurants by permit holders is assinine, but it is the law, so law abiding citizens must OC in bars and restaurants (despite no convictions of anyone ever charged with carrying concealed in restaurants.) I carry in restaurants all the time and have even sat at the bar while carrying (concealed, not drinking alcohol) and nobody has ever said a word to me. For the record, I don't ever have my shield displayed unless I'm working so I guess concealed means concealed (there is a lot to be said for a really good concealment holster and blending in). I'm not advocating that anyone break the law but I'm trying to make a point here. I do think that OC will be completely accepted in time in VA but its not going to happen overnight. The main point here is to use common sense and to not represent the gun community poorly. Fight the good fight, but use common sense.

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LRS76251 wrote:

OC draws a lot of attention, and whether we like it or not, its usually of the negative variety.

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That's why we're here, to make OC not be attention getting by, err, getting attention towards it.

You know what I mean. :uhoh:

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Yep, I agree with you, but it is what it is and its going to take time to fix the perception of OC. Its going to be an uphill battle but I AM on your side!!

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VA Caver wrote:

What difference does it make if I have a permit if I'm openly carrying and obeying the law?

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It really doesn't make sense to require that you have a permit and refrain from asking you to display it. Not that I'm suggesting they should; I just think it's likely that this "requirement" was made up on the spot and not thought completely through.

Anyway, for what it's worth, the management at the Food Lion on Williamson Road have seen open carry before; I'm there once or twice a week. It's probably a bit out of your way, though, if you usually shop at the Oak Grove location.

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VA Caver wrote:

I told him once again that I did in fact have a permit and he said fine...then walked away.

Needless to say, this makes no sense. What difference does it make if I have a permit if I'm openly carrying and obeying the law?

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With a CHP you've passed a background check and so you're just not "anybody". I believe to open carry in the capital you have to have one, IIRC? It just makes people who don't trust the average citizen to be sane feel a little more safe :^).

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TFred wrote

"I'm sorry sir, in Virginia there is no such thing as a 'permit to openly carry a firearm...' but if there were one available, I would probably get it."

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oooooh, I like that one. I'm stealing it!

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wchiang wrote:

TFred wrote

"I'm sorry sir, in Virginia there is no such thing as a 'permit to openly carry a firearm...' but if there were one available, I would probably get it."

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oooooh, I like that one. I'm stealing it!

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I like:

"I'm sorry sir, in Virginia there is no such thing as a 'permit to openly carry a firearm...' but if ONE WAS REQUIRED, I would probably get it."

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No, there is a permit to open carry, it is called the VA Code.

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Earlier this week it was the Hooter's and now Food Lion. Perhaps it is time for some positive public education in the Roanoke area. I thinking several information sessions at popular locations in the Roanoke Valley. We already now th Roanoke Times may not help, but I'm willing to bet one of the three television station will.

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UPDATE!!!!

I just received the following e-mail from Food Lion:

Dear Mr. XXXX:

Thank you for your recent email. We sincerely appreciate you contacting us.

Although we respect your right to openly carry a firearm, for the safety of our associates and customers, we utilize a more strict policy in our stores.I hope that you can understandour position in this matter.

Again, Mr. XXXX, thank you for taking the time to contact us. If I may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to let me know.

A Leader in Your Community,

Andrea Vaughn
Consumer Research Specialist



It would appear Andrea either does not know, or is unwilling to say what the official corporate policy is. I replied to her asking that she please provide more info on what, exactly, their "more strict policy" is.

Stay tuned...

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Make sure you let her know in the reply, that you will be forwarding the information to a gun owner unfriendly registry.

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longwatch wrote:

Make sure you let her know in the reply, that you will be forwarding the information to a gun owner unfriendly registry.

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Already taken care of.

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Do you have a permit?
Yes sir, I have a permit as do you.
Huh?
It is called the Constitution and Bill of Rights.



[line]



My standard answer when asked about a permit is
"Yeah, it is called the Constitution."
Always done with a smile and a have a great day.


1A to express 2A and 2A to protect all of them

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What you fail to understand is that, without a permit, the gun could discharge itself, hitting the floor and then ricocheting into a customer.

When you have a permit, the gun tends to not discharge itself.

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thaJack wrote:

What you fail to understand is that, without a permit, the gun could discharge itself, hitting the floor and then ricocheting into a customer.

When you have a permit, the gun tends to not discharge itself.

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I never thought of that. I'll make to sure unload it and leave the magazine at home for the safety of others! :lol:

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VA Caver wrote:

thaJack wrote:

What you fail to understand is that, without a permit, the gun could discharge itself, hitting the floor and then ricocheting into a customer.

When you have a permit, the gun tends to not discharge itself.

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I never thought of that. I'll make to sure unload it and leave the magazine at home for the safety of others! :lol:

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Now you are thinking like one of them liberal democrats. Be careful.