[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Lowes... (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 12/4/2006 3:45:32 PM EDT
| I thought some of you might like to read what happen to this gentleman, click me |
So I was shopping at Lowe's tonight buying some drywall and other stuff for the baby's room. I of course was carrying concealed and had my shirt fully covering my xd. I was lifting a couple sheets of drywall and my shirt lifted over my holster exposing my xd. One of the employees apparently saw this and alerted store security. As I was walking with the cart up to the register one of the store managers approached me and asked to speak with me. I of course obliged him and walked over to speak with him. He explained to me what happened and said that Lowe's had a zero tolerance policy regarding firearms. I interrupted him and asked him to show me where the signs were reporting such a policy. He proceeded to tell me that there were none. He told me that I could return to my car and put my firearm in there and proceed with my purchase. I told him that if I left the store I would be leaving for good and not returning at any point. I explained to him that I was legally carrying with my permit and I even offered to show it to him to put his mind at ease. He declined and restated his position. I proceeded to walk over to my wife, and we left the store. Leaving almost 2500.00 worth of merchandise sitting there. I have a problem with this. If there is a sign stating the policy I have no problem, I will take my business elsewhere, however when there is no sign stating there policy, how am I supposed to know that they have that policy? I am awaiting on a response to an email to Lowe's coporate office will update you when I can... ~semper fi~ USMC Captain |
That's not true in all states. In Texas, an inadvertent and unintentional flash is not illegal. That said, in Texas the manager probably would have offered better holster choices and discussed caliber, brand of handgun, etc. 
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I have to agree with you there. Brandishing? Seems like a bit of a strectch for picking up drywall don't you think?
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Meh.  I can't get too excited about this. If anything, it just makes me want to patronize Lowe's more. The "situation" was handled discreetly by Lowe's management. They didn't tell him to leave and not come back. They didn't call local LEOs to handle the "situation." Instead, the store manager offered a solution that would allow the customer to complete his purchase. The fact that the guy didn't want to return to his vehicle, stow his weapon and return to the store was up to him. If you think that Lowe's is "anti-gun" because they have an unannounced, unposted corporate policy against concealed carry by their customers, I've got news for you: every single retail corporation in the U.S. has the same policy. Those policies get created when the corporations answer the questions posed to them by their liability insurance carriers: --Does your corporation allow customers to carry firearms in your stores? Of course we don't. --Does your corporation have a policy forbidding the possession of firearms on store premises? Of course we do. The fact that Lowe's doesn't post big signs saying "NO CONCEALED CARRY!" just indicates that they don't want to make a big deal of the issue like outfits like CostCo do. That's OK by me. Try flashing your carry gun in a suburban Kohl's or Target and see if the situation gets worked out with a discreet conversation between you and store manager. |
It's probably a stretch but I'd say it depends on your location and if they want to press the issue. In Florida the statute reads, "...in the presence of one or more persons, exhibit the same in a rude, careless, angry, or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense..." so it probably wouldn't count in this case. Just a thought. I still think nobody should've seen it. 
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Sure, and I could have you charged with rape simply because you have a penis. That doesn't mean that either charge has a hope in the world of sticking. Oh yeah, my corporate liability insurance never once asked me about customers carrying concealed weapons in my establishment or anything of the like. |
I work for a major retailer and there is no official policy against people legally carrying a concealed firearm. Employees are not allowed and that is posted in employee only spaces. |
He did nothing illegal or unethical. Lowe's needs to stop being a bunch of pansies. Either post their antigun policy if it exists - or shut up. Not everyone who carries can keep their weapon completely concealed 100% of the time. Not everyone lives in a blue state area run by libtard homos. Agreeing with Lowe's "compromise" is the same lame mentality that has allowed a bunch of socialist dirtbags back in office. Wake up people. Draw the line somewhere and don't bend over for businesses who NEED your money.  Apathy of gun owners is just as dangerous as those stupid corporate policies which impeed on your freedoms. |
Post of the day |
+1 You guys who are thumping your chests over this may not like it, but the fact is that there are consequences that stem from letting your concealed weapon become visible. |
Depends on where you live. Your CCW becoming visible is only a "problem" among those who have problems with CCW and firearms in the first place. Concealed and Open carry are decidedly different - but how a situation is handled is indicative of the type of people you live around. Thank God people here aren't that stupid yet. |
Really? Where in ME are you? Do you think people could go into a department store in Bangor or Portland, inadvertently flash a carry piece, and bystanders would just shrug? If that's the case, then ME is definitely more "gun friendly" than PA......and I'm not even anywhere close to Philly, bastion of evil that it is.  |
It's called CONCEALED carry because the sheeple get a case of the vapors if they so much as see a pocket knife, and to appease them we have to hide our birthright under our bloody jackets. |
I've messed up twice. Once while getting out of the car, carrying IWB (t-shirt covering the pistol). My shirt had bunched up, exposing the butt of the pistol. I got a wave from some random guy in the parking lot, and he pointed at me, then his hip. I fixed the problem, we smiled and waved at each other. End of story. Second time, carrying OWB with a jacket covering. It rode up a little (with the bottom of the holster showing). I got a tap on the shoulder by an on duty cop who told me I should pull my jacket down. I did, he smiled and waved. End of story. Both of these incidents were when I first started carrying (back in 98), and I haven't had an issue since then. Pretty calm reactions to it though. Were they both my fault? Absolutely. I fucked up both times. |
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Just to throw in my 2 cents but Lowes doesn't have a corporate policy against customers carrying firearms. Their policy is against employees carrying while at work. I know i've worked there. As for the author accidently allowing his sidearm to be shown. Let me ask has YOUR sidearm never been exposed? If it hasn't then you haven't been carrying long enough. Crap happens and it gets seen sooner or later. I know mines been seen a couple of times but I haven't had any problems. The author should have had the manager show him the policy right there. And when it showed him in the right he should then file a complaint with corporate. |
I wouldn't consider Portland even part of Maine - its all Massachusetts imports who live there. Don't confuse central and northern Maine with the Boston trash who moved in down south. Its a big state - and only a fraction of its tourist country. I don't consider "flash a carry piece" as proper terminology. For a second, his sidearm became exposed. Greater Bangor is redneck central - who cares? You can open carry up here legally. And a CCW is easy to get. Unless you are carrying in a prohibited federal or state area - its not an issue. This isn't Massachusetts. Not yet anyway. |
| I bet that the person who seen the pistol complained to the manager and he felt pressured to handle the situation. The problem with companies like this is that the management is disposible and they have a high turnover rate. He may have just been trying to protect his job. |
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Any state that requires you to have your gun concealled no matter what needs a better carry law IMHO. In Minnesota, you can carry open or concealled, there is no brandishing law of any sort and if someone asks you to leave for any reason you leave. I consider brandishing pulling the gun and waving it in the air no showing the gun while lifting sheetrock. Take your money else where and don't ever go back. Send a letter to the regional and corp managers about how you were treated. |
And when you screw up, don't get too upset if others call you on. As mentioned, the author of the post was at fault. If you can't keep your concealed gun concealed, the problem is with the carrier, not the public. |
Flashes happen. Nobody is immune. So is carrying concealed setting yourself up for failure, or just a bad idea to begin with? |
Only in your world is that a true statement. |
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Yet again we see Gun owners are their own worst enemies. Never accidently exposed your gun or been "made"...you haven't carried long enough, or you must not be doing any kind of normal physical activities. As carry laws and social standards vary from state to state so greatly, you really shouldn't say anything unless you live in the same place. I got thrown out of an AMC theatre once here in AZ for open carry, perfectly legal under AZ law business has no signs posted, and posted the story here to encourage a boycott. Solidarity...nope. I got to have a bunch of east coast jackasses who aren't even allowed to carry guns in their states lecture me on how I was "screwing over gun rights" for everyone. With the timid mentallity that so much of the gun owning public has, no wonder they have such shitty laws in their home states. Businesses banning the carry of firearms is corporate tyranny...vote with your dollars and take your business elsewhere. |
Well said. The gun rights movement needs more men who act like men and less political correct sally's. |
And when/if they happen you shouldn't get upset when somebody calls you on it. Car accidents happen also. That doesn't mean it is OK.
Neither, AFAIK. I've carried concealed for years, and again AFAIK I've never inadvertently exposed my gun anytime it mattered. It's not that hard to do, IMO.
Sorry, but you'll find that statement to be true most places, and this thread is just one example of that. |
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shirts get caught on guns, it happens. Especially if you are lifting something. He didn't screw up IMO. And Darm, even if you don't think you've been spotted, I would wager money you have but the person that spotted you wasn't a spineless, pussified, sheep so didn't feel the need to call attention to it. |
Not in my state, it isn't. There is no legal requirement for concealment nor is there a legal penalty for a lack thereof anywhere in this state. Which means that in ALL places within Pennsylvania you are wrong. Period. Since this is where I live, this is the only state laws I care about. And no, I don't really give a shit if it gets someone's panties in a wad. As long as it doesn't land me in legal trouble, the hand-wringers can just get over it or die from the shock. If a business asks me to leave, so be it as that is their right. They're free to run their business as they see fit. None of that changes the fact that I'm free to walk down the street with it strapped to my leg in a tactical thigh holster, right out there for all the world to see, if it tickles my fancy. Hell, I've seen a guy walking down the street in downtown Pittsburgh wearing dress slacks, a white dress shirt, and a brown leather shoulder holster before. Contrary to popular opinion, the world did not come to an end and he did not end up in jail. Go figure. |
+1 checked my book, nothing in the corporate policy book from what ive read. I think that the poster, and any of you other sheeples that are over reacting to this incident should ask your self a few questions. First, did this happen at any other stores? Is this corporate policy? (no) Could it simply have been some anti-gun managment ass? Bloody well possable if you anwsered no to the other questions. That being said, quite a few people either CCW or open carry into my store, and several times I have either asked about the weapon in particular, or simply reminded the customer to cover up. honestly this isnt really a big deal, maybe just a lot of chest thumping and over reacting. Calm down, think, and realize you shouldnt get all worked up over one guys mistake, and another's over reaction. ~poet |
| I was always under the impression that open carry was allowed as long as you could legally be in posession of a handgun, and that concealed carry was just that...the right to conceal the fact that you have a gun. I was also under the impression that brandishing, like the other poster mentioned, meant drawing from the holster or in a threatening manner. I'm sure if some people created a scene in the supermarket because they freaked out because you were open carrying they would have a right to ask you to leave, but I don't see how you should get into "trouble" for inadvertantly flashing your concealed weapon. |
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I just wanted to report in... I had to go to Lowes today (HomeDepot is way out of the way for quick trips). I was carrying and even stoped at the front door, customer service, AND the exit, plus checked the walls around the registers while I was ringing up for any posting that any weapons were banned. Didn't see anything. There was a gentleman behind me that had his full tool belt on picking up replacement blades for his utility knife. I could clearly see a non folding blade on his batman setup and no one said anything to him. Ironically, I was picking up Drywall mudd. Do guns and wall repair just go together??? |
Me thinks some Marines shouldn't be complete fucking morons... especially in criticizing other Marines. I tend to be of the school of thought that a captain of Marines deserves the benefit of the doubt... even if they are an officer... part of the dark side side of the force. Some of us CHOOSE to carry a full-size pistol for various reasons. It is IMPOSSIBLE to ensure that while it is concealed all regular movements are immune from keeping it concealed. I carry using SmartCarry, as well as a pocket holster for my leather jacket. Once while taking off my jacket, the holster shifted and showed the butt end of the pistol grip poking out just a bit. Luckily, the person who saw it is not of the gun-phobic type, but if he had been, I would have been in a very similar situation to the good captain here. An accidental display of a firearm while carrying concealed does NOT constitute brandishing. What part of that does not compute? |
Ah yes, on that topic of car accidents... If you are involved in, or even the CAUSE of an accident, you don't get your license revoked for a mistake while driving where no wrecklessness or intoxication was involved. Like those car accidents, this guy did not intentionally display his firearm, he did not "brandish," and basically, someone having the fortune to see his weapon was not robbed of life, liberty, or property without due course of law. Stop being such a pussy. |