TX:Denny's and Gun Signs in Dallas

Gun Watch ^ | 19 March, 2017 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

On a Saturday morning in Dallas, Texas, my daughter and I decided to eat breakfast out. My grandson mentioned pancakes, so my daughter decided on a Denny's that was reasonably close, at 4567 Frankford Road.

It took about five minutes to load up a one year old and a two year old into the car, in the proper car seats, and another five minutes to drive to the restaurant.

On the way in, I noticed the 30.07 sign that banned open carry in the restaurant. The 30.07 sign is required by Texas law, if a private property owner decides to restrict open carry on their property. Of course they may allow people to carry on an individual basis, with their explicit permission.

The 30.07 sign only restrict open carry.  In Texas, people who can legally open carry modern handguns also have the right to carry concealed handguns. The 30.07 sign is simply saying "please cover your handgun when on our premises".

I made sure that my vest was covering the Glock 17 in a Fobus retention holster when we entered. With a one and a two year old dining with you, a breakfast can be fairly busy.

Our waitress, Lois, was superb. She immediately brought a good quality high chair for my granddaughter and a coloring book for my grandson, She asked about and brought grapes for him, and volunteered and brought yogurt for my granddaughter. My daughter had mentioned my grandson's name, once, on entering the restaurant.  Lois remembered his name and used it when she referred to him.

She was, quick, polite, attentive, and accurate. I have eaten in a lot of places, and Lois' professionalism, familiarity with children, and attention to their needs, was of the highest order.  The food was very good, the prices reasonable, the atmosphere family friendly. I will be going back.

I found the 30.07 sign to be an interesting compromise, if mildly offensive. On the way out, I let Zahid, who was near the register, know that I found the sign to be offensive, even though the food and service were excellent. Zahid was courteous and very helpful with this review. I gave him my card for Gun Watch.

The positive part of using the 30.07 sign is that it strikes a compromise for all customers.  In Texas, an open carrier need only cover their legally carried handgun.  For the small number of Texans, or visitors from states that have numerous infringements on the Second Amendment, the sign may be of some reassurance. I doubt that many will read beyond the red circle and bar over the 1911 silhouette.

The wording on the sign is in English and Spanish, as required by law. The sign takes up valuable space that could be used for advertising.

I doubt if even the 30.07 signs will stay up for very long.  The number of customers who are offended by the open exercise of Second Amendment rights is dropping daily.

Lois only works at the Denny's on the weekends. She has another job she works during the week.  I am sure that she is very good at that job as well.


©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

[Reno89519]

Good that open carry is becoming maintstreamed and not so fear-inducing by the public. I don’t do it, except when hiking. If I did so in town, it’d be more of a political statement and I would concealed carry as well since my open carry gun itself could be or would make me a target.

[real saxophonist]

‘Best’ is subjective, of course. The two I mentioned are just bad designs. I like Raven Concealment. If you like leather, can’t go wrong with Milt Sparks or Tucker Gunleather.

[Reno89519]

I just looked up Fobus and Serpa, both look rather complicated. I have a Blackhawk, different style, that is good. I've also got a large drawer full of holsters tried and set aside as not quite right. L.A.G. Tactical makes a simple molded holster--I have one of theirs for each of my pistols. These are not unique as it appears lots of other companies make similar Kydex molded holsters.

I'm hoping to team up with several people to get a table at an upcoming gun show to try and sell off all those extra holsters. Could buy another gun or two with all the money tied up in them.

[Chode]

so mexkins, that can't even read English, can get gun permits in tX???

[Charles Martel]

Good question - I don’t recall whether the CHL application was available in español. My CHL class was certainly not bilingual, but I can see where that would be the case in El Paso or San Antonio.

[Reno89519]

Spanish? No way! If someone cannot speak English, I don’t figure they are American-enough to be carrying a gun, definitely not CCW. Sorry, but I conclude that anyone speaking Spanish, Mexican Spanish, is illegal alien.

[Chode]

that's just wrong on several levels

[Chode]

100%

[Charles Martel]

Spanish? No way! If someone cannot speak English, I don’t figure they are American-enough to be carrying a gun, definitely not CCW. Sorry, but I conclude that anyone speaking Spanish, Mexican Spanish, is illegal alien.

I happen to agree, but I have seen ads for CHL classes in Spanish (around Austin), though I can't find the source at the moment.

Here's one in Conroe (note the last sentence).

I think it invites trouble for someone possessing a CHL to have a poor command of the English language. Things could turn ugly for some guy who's carrying and can't explain the situation to law enforcement (if stopped). Communication is critical if he was ever in a situation where he may need to use a weapon.

Problem: some years ago, the Texas legislature revised the state Government Code, mandating that its agencies provide information on their websites in Spanish to assist residents who have limited English; so being helpful to non-English speaking residents now has legal precedent which can be used to compel such "helpfulness". More than a third of the residents in the state now speak Spanish, it is not clear how many of those individuals also speak English as well (to varying degrees).

I would suggest that Texas legislators first mandate that the 30.06 and 30.07 signs be displayed in Vietnamese, Chinese, Hindi, Korean and Tagalog (in addition to English and Spanish). That suggestion might cause enough of a backlash that the legislature goes the opposite direction and shuts down the non-English CHL instruction.

[Chode]

far as i’m concerned, no citizenship/no habla ENGLISH, no permit.

[Sans-Culotte]

I’m sure it’s more convenient to OC, but no point in advertising the fact that you’re armed in most cases.

I live in Texas and always carry my gun, but it is always concealed. I see no reason to advertise to would-be perps that they need to take out the obviously armed guy.

[T-Bone Texan]

The day the open carry law went into effect here in TX (that is, concealed carry permit holders were now allowed to carry openly), the flashing aspect became 100% moot, as flashing is simply “momentary open carry”.