Of all the assumptions in the thread you want to bring that one up?
I'm surprised you're acting like I said that out of the blue, when I specifically responded to your mention of the owner's presence, an assumption itself. It's actually pretty rare for a restaurant owner to man the place all the time, have you never worked in one before?
Why do you assume he isn't? Why do you assume that he doesn't leave a shotgun under the counter for whoevers in charge?
Personal experience with restaurants and firearms spanning decades, since you asked. Owners often do keep a firearm of some variety in their place of business, but only the naive and/or stupid ones look at it like it's some kind of communal resource where everyone from the manager to the dishwashers is made aware of it and encouraged to grab it if a robbery commences. You're from the UK, so I can't blame you for not realizing a few things that many Americans learn or know instinctively about guns. If you keep one for the express purpose of saving lives, making others aware of it's presence is a great way to compromise that purpose. Suppose a disgruntled employee comes in after hours, intoxicated helps himself to it with the aim of settling some scores. Suppose the hippy peacenik waiting tables takes it upon herself to unload it because she's absolutely sure it will never be needed and doesn't want it going off accidentally. Suppose the owner isn't comfortable with the idea of a headstrong young waiter or cashier picking it up and trying to be the hero, making themselves a target in the process? In the states we don't expect employees to die for their job, but there is nothing wrong with a business owner protecting their business, employees and customers if they are put in the that position. Do keep in mind that a 9mm concealed on your hip, or a .38 strapped to your ankle, represents A LOT more defensive ability than a shotgun hidden away behind goods on a shelf, in addition to being easier and quicker to draw and fire. Seconds count when the guys in ski masks storm through a door, and it's not like the notion of a shotgun behind the counter is a new idea either. In the likely event there isn't time to reach it, I seriously doubt jumpy thugs are going to allow anyone to get upright and do anything beyond kiss the ground. Sounds like a good way to get shot or pistol whipped to me, either way you lose.
...And the point is the criminal cant either. So the whole point of criminals relying on the place being unarmed is nul.
Criminals aren't in the habit of making sound choices, and I doubt any of them consider their chosen path devoid of risk to their wellbeing - which is why they look for things that indicate an easy job. Criminals shooting people and getting shot themselves is something of mainstay in American history, both past and present. Ours is a gun culture, and I can pretty much guarantee you that the average American criminal in a gun loving state has a completely different set of concerns than your average pikey nicking tellies from a shop in Cardiff.
I presume you are a gun owner?
Correct.
You're completely comfortable with you having guns on your property. What if you were having a party? Would you be comfortable with all your friends turning up to your house with guns as well?
What about if their friends turn up? People you don't know coming onto your property with guns? OK with that?
Even if you are can you not see why some property owners might not be?
Sorry old boy, but that is all irrelevant. Not only is my home not a place of business open to the public, I have never once said or implied that I feel business owners shouldn't have the right to make the 'house rules' as they see fit (there are exceptions of course- customers can choose not to strap on the iron, but they can't choose their ethnicity, for example). My friends know that their safety is guaranteed on my private property, and if any of them were in the habit of bringing complete strangers over without my invitation they wouldn't be my friends in the first place, regardless of guns being involved. People that I don't know simply don't come onto my property, for a variety of reasons I won't derail into. Can you see why comparing a place of business to the place where my wife and kids live and sleep is more than a little silly? The rights of property owners is not the issue here, but if it was you wouldn't be hearing me argue against them. I think some of you are confusing my views on the practicality of that owner putting up the sign with the owner's right to put up the sign.
Don't worry though, you're still my favorite taffy.
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