Whataburger bans OC in TX restaurants

[AKElroy]

Devil's Advocate that I am, I have to...

Consider the possibility that Whataburger simply wants to avoid another spectacle like Starbucks had, with the idiots walking in with slung AKs and AR15s and bandoliers full of loaded magazines.

Which brings us to an old bit of wisdom:

Just because you can, doesn't mean that you should.

All it takes is a few morons to throw a monkey wrench into the gear box.

Said better than I can. +1.

Before the flames start, let me add that I campaigned for and contributed to Greg Abbott, and the only complaint I have about my state finally passing OC is that it applies only to CHL holders. I support permit-less, open constitutional carry 100%.

As a business owner and home/land owner, I equally support being able to tell folks "no OC on my property". I do not consider such a request to be limiting of anyone's rights, but rather an exercise of my own.

 

[hso]

It may be smart business in their opinion, but it can't be supportive of the 2A as a business if the business bans a legal form of carry. Whether the CEO is a good guy or has a CHL or is even on the board of the NRA, SAF, and GOA, the company has set a policy in place that is not supportive of the 2A.

 

[oneounceload]

It may be smart business in their opinion, but it isn't being supportive of the 2A as a business if the business bans a legal form of carry. Whether the CEO is a good guy or has a CHL or is even on the board of the NRA, SAF, and GOA, the company has set a policy in place that is not supportive of the 2A.

He is also not being anti-gun, but pro successful business. He stated he had zero issue with concealed carry and I agree with him. After the all the fiascoes with folks carrying loaded longguns slung like mall ninjas, I wouldn't want that business in mine either.

Just because you can, doesn't mean that you should.

As true as ever in today's world

 

[hso]

We're going to have to see if they post prohibiting this form of legal carry to know if the company is requesting or banning legal open carry and thereby adopting a policy denying service to patrons complying with the law.

 

[1911Tuner]

It may be smart business in their opinion, but it can't be supportive of the 2A as a business if the business bans a legal form of carry.

It's also a business, and as such its reason for being is to make money...not to provide a political platform...especially for morons who don't understand that just because they can doesn't mean they should.

I'm as strong a supporter of RKBA as anybody, and stronger than some...but even I wouldn't be at ease a with damn fool comin' into a public place decked out like a member of a Marine fire team...and I'm willing to bet that the average John Q. Public and Susie Soccermom is even less so.

Because if he's that stupid, there's a pretty good chance that he's a couple french fries shy of a meal deal.

 

[AKElroy]

We're going to have to see if they post prohibiting this form of legal carry to know if the company is requesting or banning legal open carry and thereby adopting a policy denying service to patrons complying with the law.

Well, if they do in fact post the proper signage, then they will be complying with the law as Texas wrote it. I assume we are all OK with the 10th amendment in this regard, correct?

We have an interesting issue developing here. Most that hold dear the RKBA are the first to decry a bakery being forced to engage in a religious ceremony that violates their belief system (baking a wedding cake for a same-sex couple). I believe we, as a constitution loving group, should be likewise opposed to forcing a black-owned bakery being forced to serve a confederate flag cake to a KKK convention, or a catholic-owned bakery being forced to sell a sex-toy themed cake to an S&M convention.

At what point are we (the RKBA community) going to be filing lawsuits against businesses for exercising their 5th amendment rights to use their private property as they see fit? If this is an abhorrent tactic of the left, and it is, then let's acknowledge the same on our end. This is a private business, on private property, seeking to avoid a political fight. They have that right, and I will be buying a Wataburger today. (Of course, that is something I do twice a week, so it's not much of a statement).

 

[X-Rap]

Is the discussion really about the long gun issue or is it about the rank and file OC carrier?
Of course in many peoples eyes there is no such thing and all of them are Morons, I don't feel the discussion is about mandating by the state either.
Whataburger came out with a very preemptive policy statement that is trying to please everyone and probably will please no one who can see past that veil.
I support the Kroger model, I've tried Whataburger twice and wasn't impressed so no loss to me.

 

[tarosean]

Is W-A-Burger a lounge, internet cafe, or a place where you get in & get out?

Its a fast food restaurant just better than McD's, BK, Wendys, etc. etc.

Plus they have a drive through! so if you have to do both that is your answer..

 

[AKElroy]

It may be smart business in their opinion, but it can't be supportive of the 2A as a business if the business bans a legal form of carry. Whether the CEO is a good guy or has a CHL or is even on the board of the NRA, SAF, and GOA, the company has set a policy in place that is not supportive of the 2A.

Some could make the case that mall Nina tactawhiz types flaunting OC in places DESIGNED to create controversy is not particularly helpful to advancing the RKBA, so I'm not sure I agree with your premise.

If OC were comprised of creased wrangler wearing dudes, white Stetson, ostrich boots, cocked & locked 1911 in an El Paso saddlery rig, then I doubt this CEO would care one whit about making this statement. However, you don't get that guy without also getting an M4 carrying Paul Blart flaunting his "I'm making a point" crap, or Demitri Gangbanger coming in at 3am, pants half down passed his butt, Gat hanging out his undies.

I'm A-OK with guy#1, but not enough to want guys 2 &3 looking over my shoulder while I'm just trying to enjoy a freaking burger.

 

[X-Rap]

So those who keep it under cover are no worry?
Ignorant bliss of workers and customers is a wonderful thing.

 

[X-Rap]

I'm listening to mr Obama offer similar reasoning right now on the radio.

 

[AKElroy]

So those who keep it under cover are no worry?
Ignorant bliss of workers and customers is a wonderful thing.

No, but those making a political statement by slinging an M4 over their shoulder make me enjoy my burger a bit less.

 

[AKElroy]

I'm listening to mr Obama offer similar reasoning right now on the radio.

Yes, perfectly similar. A company owned by strong proponents of our RKBA, even allowing their employees to CC , asking folks to not use their property to make a political statement about OC is exactly equal to Obama freeing up $100 Billion in frozen assets based on Irans promise to not develope a Nuke for 10 years. Exactly the same thing.

 

[X-Rap]

The problem comes when folks lump everyone together with the least desirable being the default.
That plays greatly into the divide and conquer.
Would that long gun be as offensive if it were a Weatherby or Browning and the guy was decked out in Filson?

 

[rd_zzyzx]

Last time I was in Texas I went to What-A-Burger. I thought the locals were telling me to get a water burger, and I am like, "A water burger, what is a water burger?" It was a good burger.

I see no problem with any company saying no guns allowed, or saying open carry. It is a private business, not public.

I have a few acquaintances that in my opinion are to casual with their firearms. I don't go hunting with them, I don't go to the range with them, and I don't let them pack in my house.

 

[X-Rap]

Yes, perfectly similar. A company owned by strong proponents of our RKBA, even allowing their employees to CC , asking folks to not use their property to make a political statement about OC is exactly equal to Obama freeing up $100 Billion in frozen assets based on Irans promise to not develope a Nuke for 10 years. Exactly the same thing.

No, but rather the implication that his great deed will protect us and the world when we all know there will be a continued unseen effort to develop their Nukes, just like customers won't be offended and have to feel unsafe even though we all know they will still be in the presence of guns.

 

[AKElroy]

The problem comes when folks lump everyone together with the least desirable being the default.
That plays greatly into the divide and conquer.
Would that long gun be as offensive if it were a Weatherby or Browning and the guy was decked out in Filson?

I do not disagree, but we got a bit off track. The existence of this thread concerns me, because it was apparently posted with the intent to either pressure Wataburger to change this policy under threat of boycott, or to shame them for being anti RKBA. I know this company. I office less than two miles from their corporate HQ. THESE FOLKS ARE ON OUR SIDE OF THIS ISSUE. This is not Starbucks, with a Seattle based CEO that would love nothing more than take money from "gun-toting rednecks" so that he can use it to fund Anti-RKBA efforts. We are attempting to eat one of our own, and it aggravates me that we are not more careful. This is a good company, making a well reasoned policy that they feel keeps them out of the political spotlight. They just want to sell burgers, and some in this thread are sounding a lot like the folks forcing a bakery to bake an offensive cake.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Right, I don't understand why people are getting so bent out of shape if Whataburger doesn't allow open carry. It isn't even like all that many people in states with open carry even bother open carrying, but by golly folks want to get bent out of shape over the business not allowing something most of the folks don't do anyway.

Funny how we are quick to want to limit their rights on their own property but get all upset about not being granted the privilege (which is what it is) of carrying on their property and call it an infringement or lack of support of our rights.

If we don't fully support their rights, then why would we expect them to fully support ours?

 

[JRH6856]

If we don't fully support their rights, then why would we expect them to fully support ours?

^^^ This!

 

[coloradokevin]

I really don't have an issue with this company's decision. They're still allowing CCW, and they're trying to keep their customers happy on both sides. OCI (open carry idiot) gun owners have been losing ground for us for a while now, with their silly antics of going to a business with an AR-15 to get a burger. This policy on the part of this company shows balance, as they aren't banning guns, but are merely asking you to conceal them.

 

[Coogs.]

At least there isn't any around here, I'd be stayin' out of 'em if there were. Coogs.

 

[TomJ]

It seems to me that they should either post the necessary signs and ban OC or allow it. Asking employees to have customers who are open carrying leave is going to create arguments. I hope they're smarter than that. I know businesses such as Starbucks and Target came out against concealed carry, but I've yet to see them posted in Illinois, making that request meaningless.

 

[rd_zzyzx]

At least there isn't any around here, I'd be stayin' out of 'em if there were. Coogs.

Which restaurants do you go to that allows you to open carry?
When was the last time you were carrying open in a restaurant?

I am anxious to see if any of the listed restaurants are big name chains or are they something else.

I don't care if someone is going to boycott, but can you share that you always open carry when you are out to eat (and you are not a cop) and that you don't eat at some establishment that won't allow it. It's easy to boycott something you aren't doing, so I am asking.

 

[hso]

Some could make the case that mall Nina tactawhiz types flaunting OC in places DESIGNED to create controversy is not particularly helpful to advancing the RKBA

We've made that very argument here more than once (currently there's a thread on such stupidity). But that behavior was done to push a change in the law and carried out by attention seeking idiots that were interested more in their egos than anything else. Such behavior in TX, where most of it occurred, was eventually disavowed by the Texas OC groups and it stopped (for the most part).

In this case Wattaburger is setting policy in their restaurants that exclude people complying with the new carry law before they've had any incident. By doing so they make it more probable that some misanthrope with a rifle slung over his shoulder will consider it "his God given right as a Texan" to parade up to the counter eager for someone to ask him to leave while a nitwitted accomplice records it on their phone.

 

[cheygriz]

If I ran a business, no way in hell would I allow any open carry "mall ninja" types on my premises.

If you feel the need to prove your "manhood" to the world, enlist in the Army or Marine Corps and volunteer for the sandbox.

Real men have no need to prove their manhood to the world. And when you piss off a bunch of families in a restaurant, you just throw wood on the anti-gun people's fire.