Firing back at Toby Keith, Virginian creates registry of pro-gun restaurants

The Washington Times ^ | 12/31/13 | Meredith Somers

[Nachum]

The windows of restaurants and businesses are often crowded with signs and stickers denoting store hours and accepted credit cards, but a Leesburg restaurateur is looking to add one more decal in the name of constitutional rights.

Bryan Crosswhite has created 2amendment.org, an online database where gun-rights businesses can register their names and addresses and get stickers for their windows that signal they are friendly to legal gun owners who exercise their right to bear arms.

“We want to make it something for business owners who are pro-Second Amendment,” said Mr. Crosswhite, owner of The Cajun Experience. “A sticker on the door, just like Zagat [Survey], and that way people who want to do business with pro-Second Amendment companies will automatically connect with those Second Amendment companies.”

The move comes after singer Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill drew ire after posting a “no guns permitted” sign on its door.

The Woodbridge pub has been open less than a week, but already made national headlines after the owners decided to prohibit firearms in the restaurant.

[Nachum]

Did Keith pull a mini 'Dixie Chicks'?

[South40]

It's not his restaurant.

The Toby Keith restaurant “no guns” policy non-story

[Red Badger]

Not his restaurant. But I don’t like him anyway...............

[HamiltonJay]

Hardly, Check Guns at door have been around forever, the idea that private businesses don’t have a right to refuse folks carrying guns is nonsense.

My bet is that simply sane liability insurance policy and business practice was behind the policy.

Alcohol and Firearms, yep, insurance companies will be beating down a door to write that policy...

[Buckeye McFrog]

Keith or his partners may not be to blame, it could be his insurance company.

[circlecity]

"businesses can register their names and addresses and get stickers for their windows that signal they are friendly to legal gun owners who exercise their right to bear arms."

I would feel safer in a business with this sticker than one with a "Gun free zone" sticker on the door.

[ConservativeInPA]

I like Toby. I don't live near the restaurant. If it turns into a chain restaurant, I won't go because I don't like chain restaurants. With that said, I respect property rights. If someone who owns a property doesn't want me to carry on his property, I will respect his right and I will not frequent his business. No dollars from me. I also expect that same person to respect my rights to own and carry firearms on public property and where others allow. That same person, however, will not be welcome on my property and he needs to respect that.

[exDemMom]

People who are the most likely to obey a “no guns allowed” policy are also the least likely to go on a shooting spree.

[Dr. Sivana]

Alcohol and Firearms, yep, insurance companies will be beating down a door to write that policy...

Mmmm . . . in Wisconsin, the new conceal carry law states that a private business that forbids a CC permit holder from carrying can be held liable if something happens to him and he cannot defend himself. So, we have restaurants on both sides of the ledger, and the insurance companies don't seem to care much either way.

[Andy'smom]

It IS a chain restaurant with several locations. We have one in Massachusetts.

[thackney]

Especially since it is not his restaurant.

[ThunderSleeps]

Same here. I feel safer surrounded by fellow citizens prepared to defend ourselves rather than in a pool of potential victims. In CO you can carry in an establishment that serves alcohol, but you cannot imbibe while carrying. I use an app called GunFreeZone that lets you tag businesses as gun friendly or not.

[longtermmemmory]

that is BS for any insurance company. There are ccw imunity laws.

[HamiltonJay]

Oh I bet they do... Check the premiums. Insurance companies will insure anything, its just how much it will cost you.

[vpintheak]

Talk about over the top. It’s why people laugh at certain conservatives. “Toby Keith is an SOB! Let’s boycot him and blame the liberals, and make a map!That’ll learn ‘em!”

[Dr. Sivana]

Insurance companies will insure anything, its just how much it will cost you.

The odds of an incident are low enough (in WI) that the rates NEVER came up in any of the debate in Wisconsin. Bona fide shooting incidents usually are from thugs who don't have a CCW. A few have involved legitimate self-defense where only the perp gets hurt. I live here. The state is filled with liberal termites. If insurance rates were a significant issue, it would have come up. It didn't.

I will say there is PERSONAL CCW insurance for the carrier, but the rates are minimal.

http://www.mmdnewswire.com/wi-concealed-carry-license-holders-homeowners-insurance-94751.html

[Graybeard58]

the idea that private businesses don’t have a right to refuse folks carrying guns is nonsense.

Who is trying to deny him this right?

Many people are unhappy that he's excercising this right and are expressing their displeasure that he seemingly has done so. It isn't about "rights" but choice, many will undoubtably excercise their own rights, to not patronize these places.

[verga]

It has been a long time since I lived there, but I seem to recall that you were not allowed to carry in bars in Buffalo NY, Restaurants (even ones that served alcohol) yes, but not bars.

That being said I always did carry some type of weapon when ever I went out, just not always a gun.

[ozzymandus]

We don’t get too many anti-gun posters here. You’ll be lonely. deservedly so.

[HamiltonJay]

Has nothing to do with anti gun, recognizing that other folks have rights too is not being anti gun. A property owner decides he doesn’t want firearms on their property that is their right.

That’s the funny thing about rights, they are not exclusive to one person.