Hello,
In the thread below, https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo...fense/141370-had_the_police_called_on_me.html , I stated that I wrote the following to the restaurant and corporate:
Within the hour, several people had read it, and I received this reply:
We are being asked to act!
I only post this here because it seems that it is extremely important to most of us, and the response I received may not get the attention it deserves in a thread already filled past what most people will read.
Where do you stand?
Josh
In the thread below, https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo...fense/141370-had_the_police_called_on_me.html , I stated that I wrote the following to the restaurant and corporate:
Dear Sir or Ma’am,
It has come to my attention that, at your newly-opened HuHot in Lafayette, Indiana, a man who was dining at your establishment with his family was detained by police due to the actions of the manager and/or regional manager.
To say this is disturbing to me would be an understatement. I do not look at police interaction (unless they are my guests!) during a meal away from home as being a pleasurable dining experience.
With all the argument about the Second Amendment these days, I will not go into that. I will, however, take this time to educate you on Indiana law and procedure.
The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State. Art. I, § 32 (enacted 1851, art. I, § 32).
1816: That the people have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves and the State, and that the military shall be kept in strict subordination to the civil power. Art. I, § 20.
The above excerpt is from the Indiana Constitution. There is little left to define here as the wording is more straightforward and modern than the United States Bill of Rights.
Additionally, we must have licenses to carry our handguns, openly or concealed. To obtain these licenses, we must go through rigorous background checks by local and state agencies which may access federal records to make sure we are “proper people” as defined by the law. When we buy new firearms, we must submit to federal background checks. This is called the NICS, or National Instant Check System. As well, many of us are trained as are the average police officers, and more and better besides, as we seek out training on our own. We, as a community, feel a deep obligation to hold ourselves to higher standards having obtained the licensure and knowledge to possess firearms.
In short, Sir, you are assured to be safer in the company of an individual properly licensed and trained in pistolcraft, regardless of whether he or she is wearing a uniform or badge, than you are in the presence of an ordinary citizen. We have proven our mental and physical fitness as rational, upstanding persons, and we have licensure to prove this. Though we are not required to show these licenses to anyone but law enforcement (and law enforcement only upon demand), I’m sure there are a number of private citizens who would not mind showing his card to a curious manager for his further education in this area.
Until I am assured that the police will not be needlessly bothered to check a perfectly legal person carrying a legal sidearm (openly or concealed) in your establishment, I cannot patronize any HuHot location.
Thank you for your time,
Joshua M. Smith
Cc:
HuHot Mongolian Grills, LLC
Corporate Headquarters
223 East Main Street
Missoula, MT 59802
Within the hour, several people had read it, and I received this reply:
Joshua,
Thanks for sending me your message. As I told the patron that you noted below, the situation should have been handled in a different manner. For this, I apologized. This was our staff's first encounter with a patron carrying a sidearm other than a member of law enforcement. Truthfully, Joshua, our management staff was improperly trained on handling this situation in an appropriate manner. We take full responsibility for this.
You will be happy to know that our executive team will be meeting today to devise a plan on how we can better educate our managers and hourly staff to ensure a situation like this never happens in the future.
Joshua, I would actually like to invite you and other legally registered sidearm carriers to visit our location in the coming weeks to see, first-hand, the improvements we are making. Would you be willing to help us make our restaurants more open-carry friendly. I would greatly appreciate the help.
Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation.
Brian Schalk
Appetize - HuHot Mongolian Grill
920-380-0611
We are being asked to act!
I only post this here because it seems that it is extremely important to most of us, and the response I received may not get the attention it deserves in a thread already filled past what most people will read.
Where do you stand?
Josh