A sign on a restaurant door that reads “No Guns Permitted” isn’t likely to turn many heads at most restaurants.
But when the other, bigger sign heralding the name of the establishment reads “Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill,” you can bet a few feathers are getting ruffled.
And indeed that’s one of the biggest reactions since the country music star’s restaurant opened last week in Woodbridge, Va., a Washington, D.C. suburb about a half hour south of the nation’s capital.
The big sticking point is that gun-rights advocates note that Virginia law lets citizens enter restaurants and bars with openly visible weapons; while state law is silent on drinking while openly carrying a gun, it allows most citizens legally carrying concealed weapons to enter bars or restaurants as long as they don’t consume alcohol, WTTG-TV in Washington, D.C. reported.
But Toby Keith’s is a private establishment, WTTG reported, and can prohibit firearms on the premises if it wants to.
Not lost in the dust-up is the contention that Keith seems like the last celebrity to advocate a “No Guns Permitted” policy, given his decidedly pro-America, pro-military stances and statements supporting carrying firearms like the one he gave to the Boston Herald in 2011 (subscription link):
The title of this tour and last year’s CD, “Bullets in the Gun,” suggest Keith likes his firearms. He laughed heartily at Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s line about gun control meaning one should use both hands. Keith is legally licensed to carry and does so where permitted.
“I’m all about good people, licensed and trained, carrying a concealed weapon,” Keith said. “The bad guys are always gonna be carrying guns. There are so many guns in the U.S., and so many bad people that do harm with ’em. If just 1 percent of the non-felons would go get their concealed-weapons license and carry a gun where they can, 1 percent puts you in a pretty good position of being somebody that could save a bunch of people’s lives.
“If somebody asked me, ‘Why do you have one? What are you afraid of?’ I’d say, ‘I ain’t afraid of nothing. I carry so I don’t have to be.’ ”
Last week more than a dozen individuals posted protests about the “no guns permitted” rule on the restaurant’s Facebook page, but the next day all of those posts were reportedly deleted, said InsideNova.
Clearly it’s not terribly easy to keep up with public outcry on social media, and similar protests (and some kudos for the rule) were posted Friday on the bar & grill’s Facebook page:
WTTG interviewed customers outside Toby Keith’s to get their take on the “No Guns Permitted” rule.
“Well, I think it’s a great idea,” said Jayne Marconi, a visitor from Ohio. “Anywhere there’s an establishment that serves alcohol, I’m going to tell you right now, alcohol can make you do funny things. So that [pointing to the “no guns” sign] absolutely makes me feel more comfortable.”
Clator Butler of Woodbridge told WTTG that the posted policy should be a non-issue.
“It’s a private business,” said Butler, “and [the business] has the right to set the rules that it wants.”
TheBlaze on Friday contacted the manager on duty at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill in Woodbridge, but he had no comment.
Here’s a report from WTTG:
(H/T: Breitbart)
2nd Article: “The right of the people to keep and bare arms, SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED”!!! No “if”, “and’s”, or “but’s” !!
I agree NC.
A local store in my state tried this as well. All it took was a lawsuit and the problem was solved. I guess that is how this will be solved as businesses cant make laws. Idiot owners.
Toby Keith, neo-con, warmonger, flag-waving psuedo patriot and I am sure just another Israel-firster, is just being his traitorish self. Why should anyone who comments on here be surprised? I know I’m not!
Toby who? Just another fool that isn’t smart enough to protect himself.What you want to bet that the security around him at events are armed? Maybe Uncle Ted will go have dinner there.
Oh well this guy wants to be a jerk so just go steal his crappy music and f#@k his concerts. hurt him in pocket book=picket his greasy spoon
What moron opens a choke-n-puke in VIRGINIA???………..i say we getta rope!
this idiot sings about everything american- baseball-apple pie and chevrolet. etc. but when it comes to peoples God given right to carry, he says to hell with that. well i will borrow a verse from this idiot: we’ll put a boot in yer ass, cuzz its the american way!. boycott this nwo tool and his restaurant.
What do you expect from a guy who buys into the war machines daily puke?
Just another bought and payed for celebrity without ability to think for himself , and full of himself .. He’d be perfect for the front lines , get that man a uniform
In my humble opinion, Toby Keith is a CFT (Complete Fukking Tool) spouting Americana propagandist BS out of one side of his mouth while working within the corporate controlled slave system that has taken over the country.
I would bet 5 fiat paper debt notes that TobyCorp. gets a huge insurance reduction by posting “no guns allowed” on the front of his crummy restaurant.