When we were talking (not sure if it was at the restaurant or on the phone) he said that it would be the same as if someone came in with profanity on their shirt of if someone were being belligerent.
As an aside, how many run-ins have you all had out here in the springs and east of the springs with businesses and people saying something? It seems like I have an extreme amount of bad luck with getting asked to leave lol.
Howdy Amigo!
So.... what is he saying? That open carry equates equally with belligerence? Or with profanity, as if the act of carrying equals obscenity? Really? He's reaching that deep to back his stand?
I'd be inclined to ask if a peace officer walked in, carrying openly, whether he'd be asked to take it outside? Or if a complaint came from another customer, whether the officer would be asked to stow his firearm in the car or otherwise conceal it? I'll wager the answer would be negative. In reality, we are all "peace officers" if you wanna stretch terms to the breaking point, as in opene carry being equal to profanity or beligerence! We all have the authority to make an arrest if we observe a crime taking place. Few citizens are familiar with the laws pertaining to citizen's arrest, but each and every citizen of the state of Colorado has the authority to make an arrest when witnessing a crime.
And I'd be further interested to visit that Golden Corral, and assuming a complaint came in, whether he'd ask me to deposit my weapon in the car... because I carry a badge. No... I ain't a cop, but I AM a Fugitive Recovery Agent. I arrest people. I've arrested quite a few already. Seeing my badge, my I.D., what then? While a local cop has arrest authority within his jurisdiction, I have my arrest authority from the federal decision in Taylor v. Taintor. My jurisdiction isn't limited to city boundaries, county lines or state borders. I can go wherever the fugitive is and take him into custody, so long as I abide by the laws of another state to which the fugitive may have travelled. So how would your manager handle my legitimate and lawful carry of a firearm?
It is my opinion that the particular manager involved is venting his personal bias. How do you know a customer actually complained? Because he said so? What if there is no complaining customer, but just him saying such because he doesn't like people exercising their freedoms to carry?
I think I will drop by that particular establishment on the 14th while in town! Maybe make a day of it and contact some bondsmen in the area to try drumming up some business. Maybe look for a fugitive or two while there! Maybe even make an arrest while enjoying my visit to the Springs. Sure... why not make a day of it and earn a bounty in the bargain?
But I'd love to have him come to advise me of a complaint and ask me to take my handgun to my car. I would enjoy seeing the look on his face when I produce badge and I.D. Now what? He probably never thought things through, and would suddenly be confronted with a conundrum. What does he do with an FRA? Or a security cop who comes in armed? Or a street cop who comes in openly carrying? Where does he draw his line, and to what degree is it arbitrary on his part?
I'll be at that gathering at Starbucks on the 14th, then after, I'll be headed for the GC in question to see what I may learn!
Blessings,
M-Taliesin