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Asked to leave resturant while oc

freebird60

New member
Joined
May 24, 2009
Messages
8
Location
Norfolk, Virginia, USA
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First let me say hi to all. I've had this site bookmarked and have read it daily for some time(over two years I think), which is about how long I've been ocing(I've had my cch only awhile longer). I know that's a long time to never have even said so much as "HI" but posting something on the internet just never caught on with me. This happened on May 1, 2009 and I've had quite some time to think on it.On to my "OC ENCOUNTER": My daughter(age22) and I are huge trek fans, so catching the new movie on opening day in IMAX was a given for us. With tickets already purchased online we went to lynnhaven mall almost an hour early to get them in hand. We decided to stop in the food court(inside) to grab something to eat as we waited for the show. I was dressed in proper retired military uniform(tshirt, jeans, retired Navy hat) with my owb taurus(PT140). We went upstairs to the food court and picked one of the first places we came to(I suck, but I don't know the name) which is a old time diner type place(50's feel). Hostess comes and takes us to the first booth by the door(me with my back to the entrance strong side out). Waitress comes up and starts taking our order, jokes that our food will be good because I'm packing:) My daughter and I sat and joked while we waited for our food. After a few minutes, a woman walks up and informs us she's the manager and that she was called and told by mall security that I must leave because mall security says guns are not allowed on mall property. It was a wierd conversation, because she kept pointing out that she had no problem with it, but that if I didn't leave security would come and "escort" me off the premises. I said why don't they come tell me themselves. She said she understood that I might have a "licence" and all but her hands were tied. She let it slip that people "come in all the time" with guns and it's not a problem. I could actually see the "oh ####" look on her face when she said that(I'm a BMWAG). The final insult came we she said that as soon as our food was ready she would "allow" me to pay for it and take it with me. Needless to say that was not gonna happen. I said we are leaving even though she kept trying to get me to understand she had no control over the situation. As we were walking out of the mall(door across from theatre), in the little square outside a groungs keeper had there walky talky turned up(really loud) you could here "security" talking. They were giving the description of a "security risk" from inside the mall:black male, bout 5'8, tshirt, dark ball cap, lighting a cig:shock: I look out in the parking lot and see the white truck with yellow light on top and "security" looking right at me talking on the radio(not knowing I could hear everything he is saying). He was saying that if "that guy" doesn't keep walking, he was gonna come and "escort" me off the property. I was:cuss:, but my daughter was beginning to freak because she knows her dad will dig a hole with a backhoe and she wanted to see the movie with me.
We got in my car a drove to wendys on the outer circle and my daughter told me when we were in the resturant, a man in a "security" uniform had paced back and forth outside the place and stared but she had given it no thought(I never saw him). When we finished our food I drove back and "security" was parked in the same place. I get out and walk back to the theatre(still oc'ing) and walked right in with the folks in the movie not so much as a second look. I suck at writing, hope I got all my "i's" dotted.
 

nova

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2007
Messages
3,149
Location
US
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"Then reach for your hip, giving the illusion that you have a gun, even though we both know you don't"

Paul Blart...:p
 

DrMark

Lone Star Veteran
Joined
Jan 13, 2007
Messages
1,559
Location
Hampton Roads, Virginia, USA
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Welcome to the site, freebird60. Thanks for sharing your experience.

By the way, remember that all are welcome at our Hampton Roads open carry dinners! (hint, hint)

By the way (part 2), I thought Star Trek was great.
 

freebird60

New member
Joined
May 24, 2009
Messages
8
Location
Norfolk, Virginia, USA
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DrMark wrote:
Welcome to the site, freebird60. Thanks for sharing your experience.

By the way, remember that all are welcome at our Hampton Roads open carry dinners! (hint, hint)

By the way (part 2), I thought Star Trek was great.
I plan on going to the dinner on the 30 in VB. Star Trek ROCKED!
 

Renegade

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2007
Messages
270
Location
Yorktown, VA, ,
imported post

Thank you for your efforts freebird. Despite the occasional semi-negative encounter those of us that carry are promoting a positive image and helping further the cause.

I am looking forward to seeing you at the next OC dinner and sharing some fine fellowship.
 

paramedic70002

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2006
Messages
1,440
Location
Franklin, VA, Virginia, USA
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Well seems that their security is a bunch of fraidy cats (can't use the other word I am thinking).

Still, you were given effective notice so you could have been charged with trespassing.
 

HardChrome

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
236
Location
Newport News, VA, ,
imported post

freebird60 wrote:
I said why don't they come tell me themselves.
Similar to my experience at Patrick Henry mall a number of years ago. I saw the security surrounding me but afraid to approach so I approached one of them when I finished my meal. Heck, I was leaving anyway. :)
 

Grapeshot

Legendary Warrior
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
35,317
Location
Valhalla
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freebird60 First new item on your list of things to buy - a good digital voice recorder.

Yata hey
 

Grapeshot

Legendary Warrior
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
35,317
Location
Valhalla
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hawgasm wrote:
Grapeshot wrote:
freebird60 First new item on your list of things to buy - a good digital voice recorder.

Yata hey

any recommendations on a good one?
A number of us carry Olympus models - important things are ease of operation, small size and ability to download direct to your PC.

I scored a factory refurbished, higher end model for less than 1/2 price w/full warrantee.

Yata hey
 

freebird60

New member
Joined
May 24, 2009
Messages
8
Location
Norfolk, Virginia, USA
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paramedic70002 wrote:
Well seems that their security is a bunch of fraidy cats (can't use the other word I am thinking).

Still, you were given effective notice so you could have been charged with trespassing.
That's what I meant about weird, I was ready to leave as soon as the manager first told me to leave but she kept talking saying her hands were tied and that she didn't have a problem with it. I know that you must leave when asked by the business owner or risk a trespassing charge. I'm thinking it was more a certain security guards personal opinion as I've been to lynnhaven several times before while oc.
 

sudden valley gunner

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2008
Messages
16,674
Location
Whatcom County
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I think you did good by leaving and not escalating the situation. In my experience security gaurds are not the brightest and can make a situation worse very quickly.

And Star Trek was awsome, I had promised my step son we would see it when it came out and it was worth it.
 

darthmord

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2008
Messages
998
Location
Norfolk, Virginia, USA
imported post

freebird60 wrote:
paramedic70002 wrote:
Well seems that their security is a bunch of fraidy cats (can't use the other word I am thinking).

Still, you were given effective notice so you could have been charged with trespassing.
That's what I meant about weird, I was ready to leave as soon as the manager first told me to leave but she kept talking saying her hands were tied and that she didn't have a problem with it. I know that you must leave when asked by the business owner or risk a trespassing charge. I'm thinking it was more a certain security guards personal opinion as I've been to lynnhaven several times before while oc.

It is posted on their signs at select entrances that no illegal weapons or firearms are permitted. The bad part is that several entrances into the mall ARE NOT POSTED.

Keep in mind that Lynnhaven is private property. Though given the financial straits the management company is in, I doubt they want to turn away anyone willing to give them money.
 

darthmord

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2008
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998
Location
Norfolk, Virginia, USA
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I'll take a picture of the sign I know is at one entrance (I rarely use) and post it here the next time I'm out that way (Wednesday for movie night with my wife).

I'm fairly certain I got the wording right. I do remember clearly the wording is ambiguous and could be interpreted a couple of different ways.

I've also read reports from others here on on the forums that O/CC is verboten at Lynnhaven Mall; that people have been escorted from the property for doing so.
 

darthmord

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Joined
Oct 10, 2008
Messages
998
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Norfolk, Virginia, USA
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I stopped by Lynnhaven tonight since it was our movie night. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian was pretty good. The kids liked it. So did we.

Anywho, the sign was wored slightly differently than I previously posted. It states "No firearms or illegal weapons" on the rules of conduct sign posted by the entrance closest to the AMC movie theater. That sign however is NOT posted at all entrances to the mall building. Also, no such notice is posted anywhere except select entrances to the main mall building. You don't see it in the parking lot or in any of the tenant stores.

The feeling I get is the sign is for insurance purposes more than anything else. If they were truly dead set on banning all firearms, it'd be more clearly posted and in far more places. As it stands, each of these signs is in a darker part of the entrance alcove at the entrances where it is posted. Unless you were looking for the signs, you would NOT see them.
 

freebird60

New member
Joined
May 24, 2009
Messages
8
Location
Norfolk, Virginia, USA
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darthmord wrote:
I stopped by Lynnhaven tonight since it was our movie night. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian was pretty good. The kids liked it. So did we.

Anywho, the sign was wored slightly differently than I previously posted. It states "No firearms or illegal weapons" on the rules of conduct sign posted by the entrance closest to the AMC movie theater. That sign however is NOT posted at all entrances to the mall building. Also, no such notice is posted anywhere except select entrances to the main mall building. You don't see it in the parking lot or in any of the tenant stores.

The feeling I get is the sign is for insurance purposes more than anything else. If they were truly dead set on banning all firearms, it'd be more clearly posted and in far more places. As it stands, each of these signs is in a darker part of the entrance alcove at the entrances where it is posted. Unless you were looking for the signs, you would NOT see them.
That's not cool on their part, I've been there quite a few times and have NEVER seen that sign.
 

ProShooter

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2008
Messages
4,663
Location
www.ProactiveShooters.com, Richmond, Va., , USA
imported post

darthmord wrote:
I stopped by Lynnhaven tonight since it was our movie night. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian was pretty good. The kids liked it. So did we.

Anywho, the sign was wored slightly differently than I previously posted. It states "No firearms or illegal weapons" on the rules of conduct sign posted by the entrance closest to the AMC movie theater. That sign however is NOT posted at all entrances to the mall building. Also, no such notice is posted anywhere except select entrances to the main mall building. You don't see it in the parking lot or in any of the tenant stores.

The feeling I get is the sign is for insurance purposes more than anything else. If they were truly dead set on banning all firearms, it'd be more clearly posted and in far more places. As it stands, each of these signs is in a darker part of the entrance alcove at the entrances where it is posted. Unless you were looking for the signs, you would NOT see them.
I was there the other night and didnt see any such sign. It must have been as concealed as my gun was. Neither saw each other!
 
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