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 ...
I see, a silly costume. When I worked a graveyard and was coming back on a few hours later I wore my costume around town to run errands as by definition I was on duty 24/7. Piss on anyone that wanted my weapon while I was in uniform.
“No, it is legalese to protect them from lawsuits if there is a shooting in the store. Twenty years ago they wouldnt 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.”
A common misconception. I have never seen an insurance policy or lawsuit to this effect.
There are, however some states that grant immunity from lawsuit if you allow legally armed citizens in your store. Wisconsin is one, I will have to research for others, but they exist.
In general, I'm very much against DWI roadblocks and "license checks". However, one in front of this particular IKEA, say....for the next three Saturdays.....well, I could make an exception for that.
That is correct. And the owner had every right to enforce this policy. Was a crime being committed? Leave it outside.
Do you have a warrant? No? Leave it outside.
Shiny badges do not grant exceptions for law enforcement.
Try this, you don’t like their policy, don’t shop there.
(I don’t either)
Ikea has the right to do what they did, it’s their property. I agree exercising that right is a very stupid thing to do.
I would love to see video of the rent-a-cop telling the police chief he can’t carry his gun in the store.
Piss on anyone that wanted my weapon while I was in uniform.
Yes, piss on the rights of your employers and masters. Great attitude there. You have the right not to do business with them, to honor their request that you not bring your weapon on to their property ... however misguided you or I might think that request to be.
Why? So that irritated public SERVANTS can vent their ire on their employers and masters? Really?
(s) so is ikea now a shoplifting friendly zone?(/s)
If they do find out you’re carrying all they can ask you to do is leave. If you refuse, then they get you for trespassing, but until then you just say you didn’t see the sign and walk out.
At least that is how it works here in Indiana, where my wife works at a Big Box chain with that policy.
Agree completely, and especially in uniform whether off duty or not.
Around here no cop is ever completely off duty either.
Maybe honor that request the next time someone is beating the crap out of an Ikea worker/customer or robbing the place or the next time the police are called to a home invasion, sorry no weapons allowed. There lies the #1 reason people choose to not get involved in anything that does not effect them.
Fascinating ... you would refuse to do your job, to serve your employers and masters, because of some personal affront and vendetta?
Well, now.
This is all very revealing.
Yes, I quit doing my job years ago and moved on. I enjoy my limited interaction with the public.
Splendid! Seems like probably a better situation for all of us.
Per local PD, yes, it is probably a much safer place to shop lift than it was previously.
The PD may want to wait for a warrant allowing entry into the store with weapon for all non emergency calls, and emergency to be determined by somebody who is currently at lunch.
That is what I have always said, a couple of guys watching a parking lot could collect a large number of pistols, in fact, if they only needed one for a job, it would be easier to harvest one after watching shoppers park and remove them from holsters and purses, than to buy one in a store.
“Why not? We should all be carrying openly. It is a God given right that has been bastardized through the years.”
Sure, but here in NJ it is hard for us “little people” to do it. Believe it or not, cops aren’t our overlords, but our employees.
Nah, the crooks will simply chew pop tarts into gun shapes and then go ahead and rob.
“Maryland is THE Freak state.”
So you’re saying that IKEA and their European Sociaist/Marxist management will fit right in. The only one here in the San Francisco Bay Area is in Berzerkeley, where it fits right in with the Commies that infest the area.
We just had a Black guy in Oakland die from shooting a gun into the air “celebrating” the 4th, causing a 12KV electrical distribution line to drop on him electrocuting him. His “half brother” (and now aren’t they all) damn near killed himself trying to “save” his “sibling.” Power was out for hours because the utility was afraid to go into the area until the local cops had secured it. Maybe he will become a “celebrity” on The Darwin Awards.
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