Obviously those are extreme examples, but my point is that private property rights don't give property owners carte blanche to do whatever they please.
Should a consumer be forced to prove ownership of everything they are wearing or carrying in their handbags? Should you have to prove that the cash in your wallet wasn't stolen from the cash register or carry around receipts for all the clothing, watches and jewelry you are wearing?
There is also a burden of proof issue. It does sort of set a bad precedent when an individual is compelled to prove he did not steal his own property. Shouldn't the burden be on the accuser to prove or at least show probable cause that it was stolen?
If state law says a consumer cannot be compelled to show receipts stores should comply, while possibly trying to get the law changed or considering whether it is viable to do business under that law.
All that said I do sympathize with the store's need to prevent theft and understand that receipt checking is not horribly burdensome.
If it really was against the law in VA someone would have played the Lawsuit Lotto on Wal-Mart by now and they wouldn’t be checking receipts at the door anymore. You will note that Rick didn’t cite the law in his screed.