Posted on 07/08/2014 3:40:09 AM PDT by Abathar
In 35 years in law enforcement, said the Takoma Park Police chief, he's never had this happen.
He's never had a store tell him that he would have to leave his service weapon in the car or leave the store -- especially when he was in his police uniform.
But that's what happened July 4 in the Ikea in College Park, where Takoma Park Police Chief Alan Goldberg had stopped in with his daughter. Goldberg was in uniform because he had worked that morning at the city's July 4 parade, and would be back on duty that night for fireworks.
In between, he stopped at Ikea to shop for furniture for his daughter's new apartment. And that's when a loss-prevention officer at the store approached him.
"He says we have a no firearms policy, and you're either going to have to leave or you can lock your gun in the car," Goldberg said.
The store has signs posted on the front door that read "Weapons Free Environment."
Neither of those options seemed a good one to the officer.
"It isn't the most prudent thing to do to walk around the store in uniform with an empty holster," Goldberg said. "And I am not going to lock my gun in a commercial parking lot, with people watching me put it in there. That's just ludicrous."
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcwashington.com ...
Well, at least you have to admit that when they take a stupid stand on something they are consistent with it.
Yeah, like the chief didn't arrange that little safety inspection to drive his point across...
This is a failure of management to not make clear from the beginning that uniformed police officers are an exception.
I bet he was shocked to be treated like regular folks instead of being treated like a police.
“This is a failure of management to not make clear from the beginning that uniformed police officers are an exception.”
Nonsense; the cop isn’t on duty (and probably broke regulations by shopping in uniform while off duty). If he isn’t working, why should he be any more “safe” than you or me? When cops and their loved ones run the same gauntlet as everyone else, then they’ll stop pushing the gun-control line.
Bless that sign. Now those who will commit mayhem will have to shrug their shoulders and kill in a different establishment.
It’s a stupid policy all the way around.
Why would you make that exception?
Other non-shoppers, like North Mountain, said that retailers' no-gun policies should maybe have an exception for citizens. Government employees are less to be trusted.
“Goldberg was in uniform because he had worked that morning at the city’s July 4 parade, and would be back on duty that night for fireworks.”
If the guy was on the job for 35 years, sounds like he’s getting ready to cash out so he’s racking up the OT. A town to the north of me (Rutherford NJ) had a chief retire; at the time he was owed $400K in unused sick time/vacation (on top of his pension). The town, with famously high property taxes already, had to work out an arrangement where he would get that money over three years (all the while paying his replacement as well).
The guy had no reason to 1) be in uniform while he wasn’t working, and 2) openly carry a handgun.
Same treatment as the peasants - shameful just shameful. Doesn't Ikea managment know that police are to be worshiped?
“Its a stupid policy all the way around.”
No, it is legalese to protect them from lawsuits if there is a shooting in the store. Twenty years ago they wouldn’t have needed the sign, but now with so many un- and underemployed lawyers running commercials all day asking if someone looked at you funny, businesses have no choice.
Look at all the warnings everywhere in a business; they aren’t trying to be killjoys, but rather are often meeting an insurance company’s requirements.
I see nothing wrong with Ikea’s policy. Keep in mind that Ikea is a European (Dutch) company. I frequently shopped at one in Slovakia. Much of my furniture came from that store. The advantage is that most of their furniture breaks down and fits into flat boxes. The computer work station that I am now using, as well as much of my furniture and kitchen goods came from that Ikea. It was very easy to ship all to the Philippines.
I wish I didn’t think Ikea was overpriced junk already. Now I don’t have them on my list to cross off. Wait...okay I put them on the list...now lined through.
in some states, during the time I was a state trooper - you HAD to carry off duty - maintain your badge - and did so without any complaint from stores...
Liberals are setting up the foundation for social mayhem where law abiding citizens will follow the law for fear of prosecution - while the criminal will have free reign out on the public streets.
It’s what the liberals want - an excuse to seize freedoms and marshal in a police state. I see why the Hunger Games is so popular!
I carry concealed - and gamble when I walk in to store that have that policy - not being in LE anymore - but one has to be ready for the welfare zombies ready to launch a emotional outburst! Then again, those stores are where I limit my time in or just not go to anymore. Again, I think that plays in to the liberal agenda of crippling these economically strained stores and will push the “police state” agenda to come sooner than later...
A GUN FREE sign is an open invitation to anyone who wants to hold it, or its customers, up. I will NEVER shop at Ikea.
“The store has signs posted on the front door that read “Weapons Free Environment.”
Brilliant.
Of course, they wouldn't want them getting shot all over the store.
Bad for business...
(;^D)
“Oh, your dog is SO dead...” Was the officers response.
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