My first OC hassle - You won't believe where!

[SSCUSTER]

I've been OC'ing almost everywhere I go for some time now and never had a problem until yesterday. The last place I thought would give me a hassle about carrying in their store is the place that I bought much of my arsenal: Cabela's in Hamburg!

Yesterday, I just got through with picking out a Remington 798 and while the PICS check went through, I went to get some 30-06 ammo. An employee came up to me and asked if I was an LEO. When I said no, he pointed to the 1911 hanging on my hip and said “They asked me to tell you that you can’t have that thing in here. It’s against store policy.”

I told him that he needed to go to the front door and re-read the store policy. There are prominent signs that say firearms must be checked with the greeter and right on the same sign it says “This does not apply to persons with a concealed weapons license.” He said “I’ll be right back.”

When he returned he said “They told me it is illegal to open carry in PA, so I’ll have to escort you out.” I tried to straighten him out on that bit of misinformation, but he wouldn’t have any part of the truth. He just kept saying “I can’t let you open carry a loaded gun in here.”

Since I knew that his verbal request trumped the sign on the door, I decided to give in at that point and lock the 1911 in the car. I still had my Kel-tec in my pocket when I went back in to pick up my new rifle; the guy’s only complaint was that he could see my pistol. I guess, in his warped way of thinking, a gun you can see is more dangerous than one you can’t.

Maybe this just this proves that Cabela’s is an equal opportunity employer – they don’t just hire gun loving people, there’s room for sheeple too. I’ve OC’ed at that store many times before and my pistol was either ignored or started a friendly conversation.

[USMC SGT]

Originally Posted by SSCUSTER

I've been OC'ing almost everywhere I go for some time now and never had a problem until yesterday. The last place I thought would give me a hassle about carrying in their store is the place that I bought much of my arsenal: Cabela's in Hamburg!

Yesterday, I just got through with picking out a Remington 798 and while the PICS check went through, I went to get some 30-06 ammo. An employee came up to me and asked if I was an LEO. When I said no, he pointed to the 1911 hanging on my hip and said “They asked me to tell you that you can’t have that thing in here. It’s against store policy.”

I told him that he needed to go to the front door and re-read the store policy. There are prominent signs that say firearms must be checked with the greeter and right on the same sign it says “This does not apply to persons with a concealed weapons license.” He said “I’ll be right back.”

When he returned he said “They told me it is illegal to open carry in PA, so I’ll have to escort you out.” I tried to straighten him out on that bit of misinformation, but he wouldn’t have any part of the truth. He just kept saying “I can’t let you open carry a loaded gun in here.”

Since I knew that his verbal request trumped the sign on the door, I decided to give in at that point and lock the 1911 in the car. I still had my Kel-tec in my pocket when I went back in to pick up my new rifle; the guy’s only complaint was that he could see my pistol. I guess, in his warped way of thinking, a gun you can see is more dangerous than one you can’t.

Maybe this just this proves that Cabela’s is an equal opportunity employer – they don’t just hire gun loving people, there’s room for sheeple too. I’ve OC’ed at that store many times before and my pistol was either ignored or started a friendly conversation.

when you came back in after locking your 1911 in the car you should have asked to talk to a manager and had the situation sorted out, it sounds like a sheeple working there that just wanted to be a prick.

[Pa. Patriot]

Employee is wrong about both the law and Cabelas corp policy

Report the store to corporate for "straightening out"

Good Afternoon Mike

Thank you for the recent email. I am very sorry for the confusion that took place at our retail location.
Our corporate office has taken action in regards to the below mentioned issue and here is what has been decided.
We have made the decision to comply with state laws in regards to open carry. We do not ask customers to check concealed or open carry weapons where the state has laws governing this situation. Our signs refer to firearms that are being returned or sold to Cabela's.

If you are still having problems please feel free to let us know

Thanks again

Becky
Lead Associate
Cabela's Retail Information
1-800-905-2731
retail.contactgroup@cabelas.com

[XD45]

i would most def. call and write to cabelas corporate.. maybe ask permission from pa patriot to us the email he sent and recieved and quote those, and say how you had a friend write to find out how they deal w/ it and such... maybe they,ll toss ya some gift cards or something, atleast show them what they did was wrong.. either way they need to know their stores arent following corporate policy

[Punisher]

time for me to make a trip there (was planning on it anyway) and i'll OC to see if they really resolved the issue.............

[RocketFoot]

At the least, I would contact Cabela's Corporate and explain to them how there are tons of other outdoor specialty stores that honor our 2nd Amendment rights that deserve your hard earned money for products!

[Pa. Patriot]

Originally Posted by XD45

i would most def. call and write to cabelas corporate.. maybe ask permission from pa patriot to us the email he sent and recieved and quote those,...

No permission needed. That letter is from a recent public posting of another person.
In the stores defense, the corp policy decision outlined in the letter I posted is only about a month or two old so the store (the people that know OC is legal) may not be aware.

I would write corporate, at the email in the letter, explaining what happened. Tell them it was your understanding that Cabelas policy was to follow state law and that you would appreciate clarification and or corrective measures at the store in question, as appropraite.

[Pa. Patriot]

Originally Posted by RocketFoot

At the least, I would contact Cabela's Corporate and explain to them how there are tons of other outdoor specialty stores that honor our 2nd Amendment rights that deserve your hard earned money for products!

I don't think that haranguing them over that would be prudent. They have apparently (we have a letter from what I consider a trustworthy source) already changed their policy for the better. What we need is clarification and/or correction of the actions of the individual store in question.

[Skuggi]

I would have told them "Since your going to think you know the law, I won't be making a purchase here." In that case, but I actually would have just came back in with the open carry training memo from Pa Patriot, I keep a small folder of them in my car

[gnbrotz]

This is clearly uncalled for. I've been wanting to get up to Hamburg again myself and planned on OC'ing for the trip, since I'd assumed this issue had been addressed. Perhaps I should contact them prior to my trip and clarify with the store manager if I'll be welcome. I'll remind him that I have to pass a very nice Bass Pro Shops, and almost double my travel time to come shop at Cabela's. Since I also just transferred my Cabela's card balance to an NRA card, perhaps I should just close the account out completely. NO money from me in any form.

Much like we shouldn't have to educate the occasional ill-informed LEO, we shouldn't have to know corporate policy better than the management that actually works for the company!

Maybe we alse need an organized OC event after corporate clarifies that they support us exercising our rights.