• We are now running on a new, and hopefully much-improved, server. In addition we are also on new forum software. Any move entails a lot of technical details and I suspect we will encounter a few issues as the new server goes live. Please be patient with us. It will be worth it! :) Please help by posting all issues here.
  • The forum will be down for about an hour this weekend for maintenance. I apologize for the inconvenience.
  • If you are having trouble seeing the forum then you may need to clear your browser's DNS cache. Click here for instructions on how to do that
  • Please review the Forum Rules frequently as we are constantly trying to improve the forum for our members and visitors.

Kicked out of Costco for open carry

R

rff21

New member
Joined
Mar 28, 2010
Messages
5
Location
Fairfax, VA, ,
imported post

I was "escorted" out of Costco today, with the excuses of being a private establishment and the fact that there were women and children walking around.

Unfortunate news since I am a responsible gun owner.
 
45acpForMe

45acpForMe

Newbie
Joined
Nov 21, 2008
Messages
2,805
Location
Yorktown, Virginia, USA
imported post

There have been a couple threads about Costco.

Some Costco's seem to turn a blind eye to OC but their corporate policy is anti. Yes they are private property so they have the right to ask you to leave or deny you entry.

BJ's and Sam's seem to be OC friendly. You can write corporate or shop at an non-Costco OC friendly store. Since some locations don't enforce the corporate policy some OCDO members haven't had a problem and continue to shop at their local Costco.
 
C

curtiswr

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2008
Messages
1,133
Location
Richmond, VA, ,
imported post

45acpForMe wrote:
There have been a couple threads about Costco.

Some Costco's seem to turn a blind eye to OC but their corporate policy is anti. Yes they are private property so they have the right to ask you to leave or deny you entry.

BJ's and Sam's seem to be OC friendly. You can write corporate or shop at an non-Costco OC friendly store. Since some locations don't enforce the corporate policy some OCDO members haven't had a problem and continue to shop at their local Costco.
Click to expand...

Which, for the life of me, I'll never understand.
 
R

rff21

New member
Joined
Mar 28, 2010
Messages
5
Location
Fairfax, VA, ,
imported post

When I returned without my gun, they requested to search me to make sure I still wasn't carrying. At that point I laughed in their faces and left. I'm sure I won't be returning to costco anytime soon.
 
H

hunter45

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2008
Messages
969
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
imported post

I think a couple other members on here had issues at the Chantilly Costco as well. I go in that Costco quite often, but I have not carried there.
 
tdbarge

tdbarge

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Messages
48
Location
Alexandria, Virginia, USA
imported post

Who escorted you out? Management? Security? Who at costco wanted to search you? One of the old guys at the door checking member cards? I find that hard to believe... more details please.
 
R

rff21

New member
Joined
Mar 28, 2010
Messages
5
Location
Fairfax, VA, ,
imported post

My experience was identical to the link above, I was asked to leave/escoreted out by two employees, and when I came back into the store, the same two employees asked me to lift my shirt up so they could see my waistband. I was still wearing my holster, empty of my gun.
 
N

nova

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2007
Messages
3,149
Location
US
imported post

rff21 wrote:
I was "escorted" out of Costco today, with the excuses of being a private establishment
Click to expand...
Well, it's a valid excuse and is backed by VA law. Private property is just that.

If someone has a problem with me carrying, odds are, I don't want to knowingly give them any of my money.

eta: and no one's going to search me without showing me some creds and a warrant or PC.
 
peter nap

peter nap

Accomplished Advocate
Joined
Oct 16, 2007
Messages
13,551
Location
Valhalla
imported post

Very strange. Costco has a corporate policy of no firearms however I carry regularly in the Richmond and have never had anyone say anything. Not even the day I got into a very loud discussion with the skinhead at the photo center.

The manager came over, said something to the skinhead and he went in the back of the store, apologized to me and went away.

It's hard to figure who they're going to pick on...And no, I don't look like a cop.
 
tdbarge

tdbarge

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Messages
48
Location
Alexandria, Virginia, USA
imported post

Ditto to nova. Might want to look into the legality of them attempting to search you. Especially if they were just regular employees and not actual security recognized by VA DCJS.
 
ed

ed

Founder's Club Member - Moderator
Joined
Mar 8, 2008
Messages
4,841
Location
Loudoun County - Dulles Airport, Virginia, USA
imported post

rff21 wrote:
I was "escorted" out of Costco today, with the excuses of being a private establishment and the fact that there were women and children walking around.

Unfortunate news since I am a responsible gun owner.
Click to expand...

Even though it is there policy and private property, blah blah blah.. you should still drop corporate a note and tell them. I write to the CEO, Jim Sinegalat: jsinegal@costco.comand the response they send me was:

- - -

As an initial matter, thank you for your long patronage of Costco. We hope and trust you have found value in your membership through the years, and will continue to be a Costco member for many more years.

Costco's policy, applicable evenly at the more than 560 Costco warehouses worldwide, prohibits firearms within our buildings. Costco's policy with respect to firearms on our private property is consistent with Virginia law [Code of Virginia § 18.2-308.(O)].

We appreciate the arguments raised in your e-mail, which, as you can imagine, have been occasionally raised by other Costco members. While we frequently review our policies, and will continue to review this policy, for now our policy remains in full force and effect.

Sincerely,


Derek Snead | Corporate Counsel
Costco Wholesale Corporation
999 Lake Drive | Issaquah, Washington 98027
Direct Line: 425/313-6972
Facsimile: 425/313-8114
Email: dsnead@costco.com www.costco.com
 
R

rff21

New member
Joined
Mar 28, 2010
Messages
5
Location
Fairfax, VA, ,
imported post

I obviously didn't let them search me, and didn't make a big deal about it when I was there as to not make a scene.
 
N

NovaCop

New member
Joined
Dec 6, 2009
Messages
471
Location
, ,
imported post

tdbarge wrote:
Ditto to nova. Might want to look into the legality of them attempting to search you. Especially if they were just regular employees and not actual security recognized by VA DCJS.
Click to expand...
They didn't search them, they asked if they could search him (consent). They are not acting as a role of government and Constitutional rules don't apply. Think of it as though it was a club: employees (bouncers) can search as a prerequisite to allow you into their private property.

Costco employees performing Terry pats is still quite odd. If you want to contact corporate to determine if they may have violated company policy, that's up to you.
 
tdbarge

tdbarge

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Messages
48
Location
Alexandria, Virginia, USA
imported post

He is a member of costco (I assume) so, as pointed out in the previously mentioned thread, he has rights by law. If it was "we search you or you don't get to come in" they might be in the wrong. Just something to look into, be it with corporate or other. That is all.

Also pretty sure Terry v. OH doesn't cover private employees whether they are granting entry or not. Thats an entirely different subject.
 
N

nova

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2007
Messages
3,149
Location
US
imported post

NovaCop10 wrote:
tdbarge wrote:
Ditto to nova. Might want to look into the legality of them attempting to search you. Especially if they were just regular employees and not actual security recognized by VA DCJS.
Click to expand...
They didn't search them, they asked if they could search him (consent). They are not acting as a role of government and Constitutional rules don't apply. Think of it as though it was a club: employees (bouncers) can search as a prerequisite to allow you into their private property.

Costco employees performing Terry pats is still quite odd. If you want to contact corporate to determine if they may have violated company policy, that's up to you.
Click to expand...
I never said they couldn't ask, I was just saying that they would not be searching me. :)
 
D

driveramsII

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
89
Location
Richmond/VA Beach, Virginia, USA
imported post

Boy, I just went to costco today with the girlfriend and her mother. Glad I pulled the T-shirt over right before I walked in after reading this. If a scene was made, my girlfriends mother (originally from NY) would have flipped out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top