Wal-Mart workers on pistol patrol as law lets Texans tote guns

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/wal-mart-workers-on-pistol-patrol-as-law-lets-texans-tote-guns/ar-AAgqIY5?li=BBnb7Kz ^ | 1/6/2016 | Lauren Etter and Shannon Pettypiece

[saleman]

Managers at Wal-Mart stores in Texas have a new task to add to their list of duties: asking customers if they have a permit to carry a handgun.

To comply with state liquor rules, the world’s biggest retailer sent a written notice last month to stores that sell alcohol, telling managers to ensure that customers who openly carry firearms under a new law have licenses. Cashiers or door greeters who see someone with a gun are to alert the highest- ranking employee, who is to approach the customer and ask to see the paperwork.

[saleman]

Funny that cops continually stress how dangerous their job is because they have to deal with people who may be armed. And WalMart greeters are stopping people carrying firearms and asking to see their papers!

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Wouldn’t happen in Minnesota. If you aren’t Johnny Law, you can ask all you want. I don’t have to tell you ANYTHING.

[Graybeard58]

Tell them to f### off.

[BenLurkin]

And the one person for whom the answer is know — will make Sally Walhartworker his or her first victim.

[The_Victor]

People who open carry according to the law are not even a little bit of a risk to the safety of a WalMart manager/greeter.

[PAR35]

Well, to be accurate, it isn’t the Greeter (and the WalMarts around here don’t seem to have Greeters any more) that asks for the paperwork. The Greeter tells the manager on duty, and he or she asks for the paperwork.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Yeah, well, the law actually applies to businesses that derive 51% of their revenue from alcohol sales...and even then, to Ethanol sales specifically (so, rubbing alcohol doesn’t count).

Wally=world is barking up the “politically correct” tree.

[dware]

HAHAHAHA!!!! And here I thought Texas had finally done something right. You can open carry a pistol now, but you gotta have a permit???!!! Figures...Texas...home of Sheila Jackass Lee. Apparently, everything IS bigger in Texas, including the statists!

[thackney]

Wouldn't happen in Minnesota. If you aren't Johnny Law, you can ask all you want. I don't have to tell you ANYTHING.

You don't have to show in Texas either, but inside the store, they can also ask you to leave. If carrying under a permit, you have to comply or risk your permit.

[fwdude]

I don’t darken the doors of TrashMart if at all possible, so this doesn’t apply to me.

[Responsibility2nd]

So WalMart should just stop allowing Open Carry. Period.

Either that - or quit selling liquor.

I kind of feel bad for WalMart and HEB. They are trying to operate under poorly designed OC laws here in Texas.

[fwdude]

Flip off?

[RKBA Democrat]

Sad that Texas can’t simply allow for open carry.

For comparison, here is the law in Va and most open carry states.

1. Take handgun.

2. Put in holster.

3. Put on belt.

4. Go about business.

[saleman]

That’s a little detail that is left out. An important one too.

Walmart seems to think that their “liquor license” can be revoked if they don’t check for permit.

Which is news to me as I did’t realize you needed a liquor license unless you could drink at the establishment.

[Blue Jays]

Seen in an earlier article on this very same topic.
They are likely doing the best they can with cards they're dealt:

"....Wal-Mart's position is unusual because many of its stores sell beer and wine. That's put the company in the cross-hairs of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which prohibits unlicensed handguns in establishments that sell such products for off-premises consumption. An establishment can lose its liquor license if it 'knowingly allows' a person to bring an illegal firearm on the premises, said Chris Porter, spokesman for the agency..."

...Wal-Mart, which itself sells rifles and shotguns, says it's asking customers to show a pistol permit only in Texas stores that sell alcohol. When it comes to allowing guns in stores nationwide, the company says its policy is to follow all local, state and federal laws, said Nick..."

[moovova]

Will the greeter still give the open-carrier a smiley face sticker?

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

My understanding is that they have a legal right to eject anyone from their store, for any reason (except trannies, I would imagine). So a Walmart worker doesn’t have a legal right to see your paperwork, but they have a legal right to throw you out of their store for any reason including, per store policy, not showing your paperwork. It’s nothing to do with Texas, per se, and it’s not statism.

[BlueLancer]

"That's put the company in the cross-hairs of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which prohibits unlicensed handguns in establishments that sell such products for off-premises consumption."

I thought there was something in the law about that the business had to make 51% or more of their revenue in alcohol sales ...

[saleman]

Same here in Alabama. You can open carry. Only problem is you can’t transport your pistol in your vehicle unless you have a permit. Kinda a little “Catch 22”.

Oh, you can. But it has to be unloaded, in a locked compartment, out of reach of occupants. Which kinda precludes the glove box.

Why do they call it a “glove box” anyway?

[Fai Mao]

It looks like it is time for some floor space renovation.
Take beer and wine out of open aisles build a display area separated from the rest of the store with its own entrance.
Then they can check easily