Tuesday at 1:00am I stopped by to fill up my car and check the oil. I spend somewhere between $50-$100 a week at this store. I was a quart low so I went inside to buy some oil. Gas was already paid for, $42 @ the pump. There was a GDPD car in the parking lot. I always OC here so I thought there wouldn't be a problem. I go to the bathroom, come out, get the oil, head toward the counter. The officer asked who I worked for. I told him that I don't work for anyone. He asked if I had a concealed carry permit, I told him that a CC permit didn't apply in this situation. He said, "It applies if you don't want me to have to do my job. You can't just walk around like that in public."
At this point the clerk refused to check me out, saying, "You're talking to the officer and I'm not doing anything until he tells me to." Great... He instructed the clerk to finish up. As I was walking out to the car, the officer asked me if I drove up there or walked. I told him that I drove. He asked for my license, I gave it to him (he would have gotten it anyway, made up some reason to pull me over, etc.)
He lectured me on how I couldn't carry a firearm like that without being a police officer, about how if the clerk hits the holdup alarm that I'll be arrested and taken to jail, and how an officer is going to shoot me.
Fast forward to 1:00am this morning. Same Thornton's. I walked inside after filling up to see what was going on with my friend who rode up there with me. As soon as I stepped inside, he told me that I had to leave right then, that the store was a public place and that I couldn't carry a firearm there. That's right, public. I asked when the manager would be in, then left.
I called GDPD this morning. The answer I got from them was a little disheartening. I was told that if my legal action of OC causes someone apprehension, that GDPD will arrest me and charge me with Disorderly Conduct. I pointed out that the DC statues deal with intent, but it fell on deaf ears. He said take it up with the court.
Trying to get ahold of Thornton's Corp. Office now to see if store managers have the authority to set policies like this, and see if I will be allowed to go back in to the store again. I would love to be able to spend my money at a local company if they'll have me. If not, there's always the Speedway that's closer to my house.
At this point the clerk refused to check me out, saying, "You're talking to the officer and I'm not doing anything until he tells me to." Great... He instructed the clerk to finish up. As I was walking out to the car, the officer asked me if I drove up there or walked. I told him that I drove. He asked for my license, I gave it to him (he would have gotten it anyway, made up some reason to pull me over, etc.)
He lectured me on how I couldn't carry a firearm like that without being a police officer, about how if the clerk hits the holdup alarm that I'll be arrested and taken to jail, and how an officer is going to shoot me.
Fast forward to 1:00am this morning. Same Thornton's. I walked inside after filling up to see what was going on with my friend who rode up there with me. As soon as I stepped inside, he told me that I had to leave right then, that the store was a public place and that I couldn't carry a firearm there. That's right, public. I asked when the manager would be in, then left.
I called GDPD this morning. The answer I got from them was a little disheartening. I was told that if my legal action of OC causes someone apprehension, that GDPD will arrest me and charge me with Disorderly Conduct. I pointed out that the DC statues deal with intent, but it fell on deaf ears. He said take it up with the court.
Trying to get ahold of Thornton's Corp. Office now to see if store managers have the authority to set policies like this, and see if I will be allowed to go back in to the store again. I would love to be able to spend my money at a local company if they'll have me. If not, there's always the Speedway that's closer to my house.
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