After the OC lunch at Theo & Stacy's I went by Gander Mountain to browse - No issues.
I then went to Celebration Cinema in Portage. As it was snowing, I waited until I got to the door and tucked my coat behind my gun so I was OC when I stepped inside. (Yes, I have a CPL.)
I bought a ticket and hit the restroom before the show, then I got a soda.
I was early, so I was the first customer in the theater. One employee was doing a last minute scan for trash.
After the movie, Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, I hit the restroom just outside the theater, then I got a refill on my soda. I was carrying my heavy coat and had my hoody tucked behind the gun.
No one said a thing and there were no looks that I noticed.
I got outside, set my drink on the steps and put on my coat. As I pick up my soda to go down the steps to my car the manager comes out and tells me I can't have my gun in the theater.
I pointed out that since they have a sign on the entrances, lettering on the glass between the doors, saying occupancy 2500, that I have to OC. The guy does not understand the law and thinks I can't have a gun at all because it is an entertainment facility. I explain that someone with a CPL must OC in this scenario, but because it is private property, they can ask me to leave. He did not seem to get or care about this difference.
I found it very odd that he was asking me to leave as I was already outside and headed to my car.
He said that an employee saw my gun and told him because the employees "know that no one can have a gun in the theater."
I told him that I have OC'd there multiple times and no one ever said anything.
I pointed out that there is no sign saying no weapons, or did I miss it? He had no answer for a lack of signs. I also pointed out that there are no metal detectors or armed guards to keep me safe, so I have to protect myself and my loved ones. I was actually by myself.
He said that he thought it was safe there and came across as thinking that I must be out of my mind. I mentioned nut jobs look for places like that. I did not immediately recall the name of the "Aurora Theater shooting."
I told him that if I could not protect myself then they did not want my money. That got his attention and he said as long as I kept my gun in my car, I was welcome. I told him that if they did not guarantee my safety, then they didn't need my money. I told him that I would tell everyone I know not to go there anymore.
He then said, "I'm sorry you feel that way."
That set me off. I was polite but I am sure animated, when I replied, "You don't need to apologize for MY feelings. They are my feelings and I can feel anyway I want." He looked very sheepish and uncomfortable as no one must have ever called him on that B.S. statement before.
I asked him if it was corporate policy and he said yes. So I asked him if it was corporate policy to ban a legal activity. He obviously wasn't paying attention, because he looked puzzled and asked if I said "illegal activity."
We continued back and forth a few times and I could tell what I said did not matter to him. He just did not want the scary gun in his theater, but he did want my money. So I gave up trying to get him to understand and left.
I should have taken Adam's last tri-fold after lunch. I don't know if he would have accepted it, but I would have at least had some information to give him.
Two more important things:
- I should have asked his name.
- I should have made sure my voice recorder was on, I turned it off for the movie so I wouldn't get in trouble for illegally recording the audio. In addition to documenting the encounter, I could have learned from it and improved on how I handle future negative encounters. I would like to verify that my tone was a civil as I wanted it to be.
So once I got home and let the dog out after being gone all day, I typed this up while it was fresh on my mind.
This was my first truly negative OC encounter. I was angry and frustrated. It felt like the end of a good day, in spite of the weather was ruined. I used up come of the frustration scraping the frozen snow off my windows and shoveling part of the drive when I got home. Writing this out also helped.
