TABC inspector strong arming business
Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 6:17 pm
So i went into a liquor store today and had a conversation with the owner. After which I sent this email to the TABC 'question' and 'internal affairs' email addresses. I will post the reply if I get one. My idea here was to take the response to the business owner and let him use it against the bully TABC agent if he chooses. Makes me sick -
Here is the email I sent to TABC -
Hello and thank you for your time. This email is in response to a conversation I had today with an owner/manager of a local liquor store that I visit near my neighborhood. I live in north central Houston. I walked in today to pick up an item and noticed out front in his window he had posted a 30.06 and 30.07 sign advising me that I was not allowed to carry my firearm into his shop. While it is his right to do so, I disarmed and walked in anyway to ask him why he decided to post said sign.
When I ask he said this (and I am paraphrasing) - "One of the local inspectors told me I had to put those up, and I told him I was not required to and didn't want to. Then the inspector said 'maybe it's not the law' but that I 'need to anyway' and I told him I didn't want to. He then said 'well they better be there by my next visit'."
The owner then went on to explain to me how he understands the signs and does not agree with them being posted in his store, but felt threatened by the inspector when confronted and didn't want to cause any trouble with his livelihood. He said he posted some signs and a few days later the inspector came back and told him his signs were not legal and that he would have to buy the correct signs from the state. Which he did as well and posted those.
My question to you - if this the policy or practice of your commission to force, convince, persuade, or otherwise push any opinion on a business that otherwise would not post a conceal/open carry sign? I understand that your officers are entitled to their opinion on the matter, but to express this opinion while operating within their assigned duties of the state is not fair (or legal) and should be addressed. An opinion expressed by an authority of the Texas government, while performing their duties, will to most people be interpreted as the law.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to your timely response. Please feel free to contact me through this email if you have any further questions.
Addison Bryant
Here is the email I sent to TABC -
Hello and thank you for your time. This email is in response to a conversation I had today with an owner/manager of a local liquor store that I visit near my neighborhood. I live in north central Houston. I walked in today to pick up an item and noticed out front in his window he had posted a 30.06 and 30.07 sign advising me that I was not allowed to carry my firearm into his shop. While it is his right to do so, I disarmed and walked in anyway to ask him why he decided to post said sign.
When I ask he said this (and I am paraphrasing) - "One of the local inspectors told me I had to put those up, and I told him I was not required to and didn't want to. Then the inspector said 'maybe it's not the law' but that I 'need to anyway' and I told him I didn't want to. He then said 'well they better be there by my next visit'."
The owner then went on to explain to me how he understands the signs and does not agree with them being posted in his store, but felt threatened by the inspector when confronted and didn't want to cause any trouble with his livelihood. He said he posted some signs and a few days later the inspector came back and told him his signs were not legal and that he would have to buy the correct signs from the state. Which he did as well and posted those.
My question to you - if this the policy or practice of your commission to force, convince, persuade, or otherwise push any opinion on a business that otherwise would not post a conceal/open carry sign? I understand that your officers are entitled to their opinion on the matter, but to express this opinion while operating within their assigned duties of the state is not fair (or legal) and should be addressed. An opinion expressed by an authority of the Texas government, while performing their duties, will to most people be interpreted as the law.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to your timely response. Please feel free to contact me through this email if you have any further questions.
Addison Bryant