imported post
So I just got back from Bellevue Square and had to get all this info down. Here's my story:
My g/f and I have been out since lunch time in Kirkland and I'm OC'ing today. We run a couple errands and grab lunch at the local Fred Meyer without anyone saying anything or even noticing I have my sidearm. Then we decide to drop by Bellevue Square for a nice walk and some shopping indoors since it's so hot outside. After about 20 minutes we end up in Victoria Secret cause they had a 7 for $25 sale. (I know, but she came with me into Champs so it's only fair). We're in there for about 10 minutes and I notice a lot of these girls start to notice that I'm OC'ing. It bothers me for a second, but then I ignore them and keep on watching as my g/f is doing her thing.
Out of the corner of my eye I notice three mall security guards circling the front of the store and I knew at any moment they would come up to me and say something. Two decide to approach me and one remained outside. The guard who started talking was named Phil, not sure of the other one since he didn't say a thing, thus I assumed Phil was the ranking guard at the moment.
Here's our conversation:
Phil: "Hello sir."
me: "Hi, how ya doin'?"
Phil: "Good. Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to conceal your weapon."
me: "Why is that? I thought Bellevue Square was okay to OC in."
Phil: "Well it's not. Do you have your CPL on you?"
me: "Yes I do. I talked to the Bellevue PD recently and they said OC is perfectly fine."
Phil: "Well under state law, IF YOU HAVE YOUR CPL ON YOU, THEN YOU MUST CONCEAL CARRY. You can't OC with the license on you. I have one too and I believe it says that on your CPL license."
So I take out my CPL and start reading and NO WHERE does it state this.
me: (At this point in my head I'm thinking "are you serious?") "So you're saying I can't OC when I have my CPL license on me in the state of Washington? Is that correct?"
Phil: "That is correct. It's not a good idea to OC because you could be arrested if someone feels threatened. Suppose an old grandma feels threatened and screams when she sees your weapon, then you could be arrested for that."
At this point I wuss out and conceal my pistol because I don't want to get kicked out or waste my time with someone who doesn't seem to know the law.
me: (I'm wearing a polo shirt and it does not conceal very well) "Well it's concealed but this shirt won't do it very well since I had planned on OC'ing all day."
Phil: "That's good enough for now. Wear a loose shirt next time you're in the mall carrying and it'll be better."
The three guards walk away and I wasn't confronted again for the period I was there.
I seriously feel like my rights were violated right now.:cuss: Could someone please clarify if the guard had any grounds to say what he said? Is it okay to OC in Bellevue Square? I'm thinking of contacting the head of security at Bellevue Square and finding out their policy on OC'ing. Does anyone know or who I should contact to find out?
So I just got back from Bellevue Square and had to get all this info down. Here's my story:
My g/f and I have been out since lunch time in Kirkland and I'm OC'ing today. We run a couple errands and grab lunch at the local Fred Meyer without anyone saying anything or even noticing I have my sidearm. Then we decide to drop by Bellevue Square for a nice walk and some shopping indoors since it's so hot outside. After about 20 minutes we end up in Victoria Secret cause they had a 7 for $25 sale. (I know, but she came with me into Champs so it's only fair). We're in there for about 10 minutes and I notice a lot of these girls start to notice that I'm OC'ing. It bothers me for a second, but then I ignore them and keep on watching as my g/f is doing her thing.
Out of the corner of my eye I notice three mall security guards circling the front of the store and I knew at any moment they would come up to me and say something. Two decide to approach me and one remained outside. The guard who started talking was named Phil, not sure of the other one since he didn't say a thing, thus I assumed Phil was the ranking guard at the moment.
Here's our conversation:
Phil: "Hello sir."
me: "Hi, how ya doin'?"
Phil: "Good. Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to conceal your weapon."
me: "Why is that? I thought Bellevue Square was okay to OC in."
Phil: "Well it's not. Do you have your CPL on you?"
me: "Yes I do. I talked to the Bellevue PD recently and they said OC is perfectly fine."
Phil: "Well under state law, IF YOU HAVE YOUR CPL ON YOU, THEN YOU MUST CONCEAL CARRY. You can't OC with the license on you. I have one too and I believe it says that on your CPL license."
So I take out my CPL and start reading and NO WHERE does it state this.
me: (At this point in my head I'm thinking "are you serious?") "So you're saying I can't OC when I have my CPL license on me in the state of Washington? Is that correct?"
Phil: "That is correct. It's not a good idea to OC because you could be arrested if someone feels threatened. Suppose an old grandma feels threatened and screams when she sees your weapon, then you could be arrested for that."
At this point I wuss out and conceal my pistol because I don't want to get kicked out or waste my time with someone who doesn't seem to know the law.
me: (I'm wearing a polo shirt and it does not conceal very well) "Well it's concealed but this shirt won't do it very well since I had planned on OC'ing all day."
Phil: "That's good enough for now. Wear a loose shirt next time you're in the mall carrying and it'll be better."
The three guards walk away and I wasn't confronted again for the period I was there.
I seriously feel like my rights were violated right now.:cuss: Could someone please clarify if the guard had any grounds to say what he said? Is it okay to OC in Bellevue Square? I'm thinking of contacting the head of security at Bellevue Square and finding out their policy on OC'ing. Does anyone know or who I should contact to find out?