Lynchburg Area - OC reports

[mbhudson]

Major issue carrying this weekend

My wife and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary this weekend on friday. We decided to go to one of our favorite places for dinner BENJAMINS on 221 in forest. We have eaten there a few times before and enjoyed the atmosphere and food. I have always open carried while eating there and not had any problem until friday. We arrived at approx 530pm were greeted and sat immediately and then the problems began. Almost immediately after seating us the hostess turned to me and said sir I think I have to ask you to leave your gun in the car because we have a bar here. I responded telling her that she did not have to ask that because thats not the law and ive carried here multiple other times and am quite sure that its not there policy and asked her to have Ben come see me. She told me that he was not there but that she thought it was law and policy but then said (I guess telling me to stay there and armed) in front of several people loudly "well please just dont shoot anybody while your here i guess". I was very agitated at this point so we decided to dine elsewhere. I did walk back in long enough to hand her a open carry info card with my number on the back of it. I said to her here are the basic laws and my phone # have Ben call me. She said she would Ive not gotten a call yet. On the brighter side we went to the new london steak house had no issues with oc infact had some good convo with the host about guns etc. I will be posting on all available websites that BEJAMINS is anti gun if I dont receive a response within the next few days. Oh I forgot BENJAMINS is not posted in any way concerning guns and Im sorry to say that without resolution from the owner we will not return. I dont choose to visit GUN FREE ZONES.

 

[nuc65]

Mbhudson, I'll have to wait and see what jmelvin has to say. It sounds like the owner may not have received the card you gave the hostess. I think that I have heard that Benjamins was not anti, and that the hostess that made the snide comment is in for some training not only in the policy of management but also in how not to be rude to a potential paying customer. Either that or she won't be working there much longer.

 

[love4guns]

We went to the Layman's Farm in Montvile. We did the haunted corn mazes and all. It was a lot of fun and yes I OC the entire time. Too dark for anyone to even notice but there were no sign prohibiting carrying a firearm. As for Benjamin's, I must say I am surprised but it sounds like the hostess was some dumb kid. I've OC there without incident a few times.

 

[jmelvin]

I've been going to Benjamin's for about 4 years now and both my wife and I OC there every time. We've been there with other friends who OC there as well. In all that time I've never known them to have a hostess since one of the wait-staff usually seats folks, so maybe if they have a hostess now she's new and has no idea how the place runs. I've never had any issue with my sidearms nor have I ever heard of anyone else having issues prior to today. Every time we're in there we carry ourselves comfortably and bring no undue attention to our sidearms. I'd tend to think that when Benjamin calls a calm polite conversation pointing out that there are other regulars who carry as well may help keep the place on the friendly list.

Given that the issue was purely with the hostess I'd be quite hesitant to represent the places as "carry unfriendly" as I've dealt with a few wisenheimer hosts / hostesses regarding firearms carry in my times and have found they don't represent the thoughts and intents of the operators. Perhaps the wifester and I will need to go there this week just to see what happens. If anything happens, we're only out some time.

New London House is another of our favorites and we've never had any issue with OC there either.

 

[mbhudson]

I've been going to Benjamin's for about 4 years now and both my wife and I OC there every time. We've been there with other friends who OC there as well. In all that time I've never known them to have a hostess since one of the wait-staff usually seats folks, so maybe if they have a hostess now she's new and has no idea how the place runs. I've never had any issue with my sidearms nor have I ever heard of anyone else having issues prior to today. Every time we're in there we carry ourselves comfortably and bring no undue attention to our sidearms. I'd tend to think that when Benjamin calls a calm polite conversation pointing out that there are other regulars who carry as well may help keep the place on the friendly list.

Given that the issue was purely with the hostess I'd be quite hesitant to represent the places as "carry unfriendly" as I've dealt with a few wisenheimer hosts / hostesses regarding firearms carry in my times and have found they don't represent the thoughts and intents of the operators. Perhaps the wifester and I will need to go there this week just to see what happens. If anything happens, we're only out some time.

New London House is another of our favorites and we've never had any issue with OC there either.

jmelvin by hostess I meant the girl seating us and i have seen her before there. I was equally as surprised at her action and disapointed as I believed it to be friendly as well to date I have not received a phone call from ben

 

[Grapeshot]

jmelvin by hostess I meant the girl seating us and i have seen her before there. I was equally as surprised at her action and disapointed as I believed it to be friendly as well to date I have not received a phone call from ben

The message my not have been passed on to him. The employee may be doing a little CYA.

You may need to initiate the contact/conversation.

 

[jmelvin]

Ah I see. I realize I'm not you, but I've been in similar situations at one or two other places. When I thought about bringing up the issue (even though I didn't appreciate the rude treatment) I decided to let it slide and I didn't force the hand of the owners who now years later welcome my wife and I as well as other OC diners whenever we can make it in. Admittedly, it wasn't my anniversary, but I figured I could take a slight from a low level nincompoop here and there rather than force someone who may not yet know me well to make a ruling on carrying in the restaurant, especially if I was unsure of the outcome. I am not talking about multiple offenses though.

 

[nuc65]

New Unicorn Sighting

Went to pick up some milk and cookies at the local Kroger's and noticed someone I did not know carrying openly. It left a warm fuzzy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

 

[love4guns]

Went to pick up some milk and cookies at the local Kroger's and noticed someone I did not know carrying openly. It left a warm fuzzy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

If it was Timberlake it was probably me..

 

[nuc65]

If it was Timberlake it was probably me..

Nope, I was at the one on Boonsboro.

 

[nuc65]

I am OCing in Lynchburg but with the storm approaching

http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201210262102/NEWS01/310260017

I wish I were closer to this college OCing of course. This is a daughter of a friend of mine.

 

[nuc65]

I am OCing in Lynchburg but with the storm approaching

http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201210262102/NEWS01/310260017

I wish I were closer to this college OCing of course. This is a daughter of a friend of mine.

I have never before been so closely affected by something like this. My exuberance and fear have gotten the better of me. I repeated the same post in various threads as a way of reaching out and finding some help. I'll apologize to those who find it offensive that I did so and that might think it was spam.

It is a very real, personal plea to people that I know are out and about. I am unrepentant so if the moderators wish to ban me for spam, fine. Still unrepentant.

 

[love4guns]

und

I have never before been so closely affected by something like this. My exuberance and fear have gotten the better of me. I repeated the same post in various threads as a way of reaching out and finding some help. I'll apologize to those who find it offensive that I did so and that might think it was spam.

It is a very real, personal plea to people that I know are out and about. I am unrepentant so if the moderators wish to ban me for spam, fine. Still unrepentant.

I hope they find her..it is dangerous to be a college age female now a day. Remain positive and pray she is found uninjured.

 

[scouser]

I am OCing in Lynchburg but with the storm approaching

http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201210262102/NEWS01/310260017

I wish I were closer to this college OCing of course. This is a daughter of a friend of mine.

I have never before been so closely affected by something like this. My exuberance and fear have gotten the better of me. I repeated the same post in various threads as a way of reaching out and finding some help. I'll apologize to those who find it offensive that I did so and that might think it was spam.

It is a very real, personal plea to people that I know are out and about. I am unrepentant so if the moderators wish to ban me for spam, fine. Still unrepentant.

If it was my friend's daughter I'd feel exactly the same way. I hope she is found safely.

 

[Grapeshot]

I have never before been so closely affected by something like this. My exuberance and fear have gotten the better of me. I repeated the same post in various threads as a way of reaching out and finding some help. I'll apologize to those who find it offensive that I did so and that might think it was spam.

It is a very real, personal plea to people that I know are out and about. I am unrepentant so if the moderators wish to ban me for spam, fine. Still unrepentant.

No ban forthcoming. It may help to get her picture out there.

 

[jmelvin]

I'll have to drop by nuc's desk tomorrow to see if he or his co-workers have any news. Hopefully there has been positive news made!

 

[love4guns]

shooting range

Is there a place that will allow shotguns at on the range? Anywhere in Roanoke or Richmond maybe

 

[jmelvin]

Love4guns I'm not sure where you could go to use your shotgun, but you could go to the hunt club with me sometime and shoot to your heart's content. Let me know what you're looking to do and I'll see about getting us out to shoot.

The wifester and I have been out and about OCing as usual. No place unusual or new comes to mind, but we did eat at Benjamin's tonight and had no issues. I know my sidearm was seen since I had to walk through the whole restaurant, sat strong side out and was carrying a 6 1/2" barrel revolver in a big leather holster. Other than one of the gals who's been there the years we've been eating there joking about me scaring everybody out at 9 (about the time they usually die down in winter) there was not the slightest hint of any issue.

 

[mbhudson]

Love4guns I'm not sure where you could go to use your shotgun, but you could go to the hunt club with me sometime and shoot to your heart's content. Let me know what you're looking to do and I'll see about getting us out to shoot.

The wifester and I have been out and about OCing as usual. No place unusual or new comes to mind, but we did eat at Benjamin's tonight and had no issues. I know my sidearm was seen since I had to walk through the whole restaurant, sat strong side out and was carrying a 6 1/2" barrel revolver in a big leather holster. Other than one of the gals who's been there the years we've been eating there joking about me scaring everybody out at 9 (about the time they usually die down in winter) there was not the slightest hint of any issue.

glad to hear that i have still not heard from Ben so Im not planning to go back there

 

[love4guns]

Love4guns I'm not sure where you could go to use your shotgun, but you could go to the hunt club with me sometime and shoot to your heart's content. Let me know what you're looking to do and I'll see about getting us out to shoot.

The wifester and I have been out and about OCing as usual. No place unusual or new comes to mind, but we did eat at Benjamin's tonight and had no issues. I know my sidearm was seen since I had to walk through the whole restaurant, sat strong side out and was carrying a 6 1/2" barrel revolver in a big leather holster. Other than one of the gals who's been there the years we've been eating there joking about me scaring everybody out at 9 (about the time they usually die down in winter) there was not the slightest hint of any issue.

Thanks JMelvin! I'd love to go on any weekend that you can.