Outback Steakhouse apologizes after uniformed officer told to leave ‘gun-free zone’

[WingNot]

Bloomin’ Brands Inc., the parent company of Outback Streakhouse, has apologized to a uniformed officer who was told to leave its “gun-free zone.”

Andrew Ward of the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency was eating with his wife in Cleveland, Tennessee, last Friday when an Outback Steakhouse manager approached. A customer who claimed to be “scared for her life” wanted the officer — and his gun — out of her presence.

“I was approached by the manager and asked if I would put my gun in my truck,” Mr. Wardwrote on Facebook, a local ABC affiliate reported Saturday. “I let her know that I couldn’t because I was in uniform. She then went and made a call and came back and we were asked to leave because Outback is a gun free zone. Note: I don’t blame the manager … but this is ridiculous and we will never go back there ever again.”

“What is this country coming to?” the officer continued. “A uniformed Law Enforcement Officer who is sworn to protect and serve the public, is refused service because they have a firearm! I am disgusted and have no other words!”

Media attention prompted an apology from Bloomin’ Brands shortly afterward.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/5/outback-steakhouse-apologizes-after-uniformed-offi/

” Mr. Ward added. “Folks, we need to turn our attention to people like this who try and push their agenda on all those around them. When an entire restaurant full of other happy people were completely fine with my presence. As a country we need to stand up for each other as so many who have shared this post have done. I am truly humbled by the support we received.”

[/b]

Well said Officer Ward!   

[XenaLee]

Bloomin’ Brands Inc., the parent company of Outback Streakhouse, has apologized to a uniformed officer who was told to leave its “gun-free zone.”

Andrew Ward of the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency was eating with his wife in Cleveland, Tennessee, last Friday when an Outback Steakhouse manager approached. A customer who claimed to be “scared for her life” wanted the officer — and his gun — out of her presence.

“I was approached by the manager and asked if I would put my gun in my truck,” Mr. Wardwrote on Facebook, a local ABC affiliate reported Saturday. “I let her know that I couldn’t because I was in uniform. She then went and made a call and came back and we were asked to leave because Outback is a gun free zone. Note: I don’t blame the manager … but this is ridiculous and we will never go back there ever again.”

“What is this country coming to?” the officer continued. “A uniformed Law Enforcement Officer who is sworn to protect and serve the public, is refused service because they have a firearm! I am disgusted and have no other words!”

Media attention prompted an apology from Bloomin’ Brands shortly afterward.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/5/outback-steakhouse-apologizes-after-uniformed-offi/



Well said Officer Ward!   

Well just damn.... that's a shame.  I really loved their Bloomin Onion and Sugar Plum Martini.  But.... if the Outback in my area is a "gun free zone" too, I won't be back.  Ever.

[WingNot]

Damn.  These bastards own Fleming's Prime Steakhouse too. 

[edpc]

Bahaha....

An Outback in KC is like a Sbarro's in NYC.  The only locals are employees.

[txradioguy]

Outback will never whether I'm carrying or not when I eat there.

As long as I'm not violating the 51% rule or the specific ordinance saying you can't carry in that specific business I have mine on. That little red circle with the gun in it and the red line through it means nothing to me.

Just sayin...

[truth_seeker]

The left have had free reign for decades spreading their nonsense.

In part I blame the business, for adopting the "gun free" theme. Obviously in adopting the policy they were responding to ONLY a loud minority of potential customers.

[SZonian]

Ward said the chain told him “there was another customer that was ‘scared for her life’ who was seated across” from the couple, and said “she was afraid because ‘police are shooting people.’”

According to Ward’s post, “This customer went on to demand to be escorted to her vehicle out of fear of being shot.”

 

http://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/2018/02/05/uniformed-officer-asked-to-leave-gun-free-outback-steakhouse-because-service-weapon.html

[WingNot]

Ward said the chain told him “there was another customer that was ‘scared for her life’ who was seated across” from the couple, and said “she was afraid because ‘police are shooting people.’”

According to Ward’s post, “This customer went on to demand to be escorted to her vehicle out of fear of being shot.”

Well doesn't that just give "triggered" a whole new meaning...

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Outback seemed to feature mediocre steaks, but I found out one reason to eat there is they shipped Blue Bell across the US for its ice cream desserts.

Don't know if they still do.

[Applewood]

The left have had free reign for decades spreading their nonsense.

In part I blame the business, for adopting the "gun free" theme. Obviously in adopting the policy they were responding to ONLY a loud minority of potential customers

And in the process alienate the larger potential majority. 

Most restaurants chains of late have been doing a poor business and a number of restaurants have closed.   But if the economy is really improving, people will become inclined to eat out more.  Restaurants will have a golden opportunity to increase their business and in turn, their profits.   Catering to a noisy minority at the expense of the majority is a good way to go bankrupt.  Even I know that and I don't operate a business.

[Night Hides Not]

Bloomin’ Brands Inc., the parent company of Outback Streakhouse, has apologized to a uniformed officer who was told to leave its “gun-free zone.”

Andrew Ward of the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency was eating with his wife in Cleveland, Tennessee, last Friday when an Outback Steakhouse manager approached. A customer who claimed to be “scared for her life” wanted the officer — and his gun — out of her presence.

“I was approached by the manager and asked if I would put my gun in my truck,” Mr. Wardwrote on Facebook, a local ABC affiliate reported Saturday. “I let her know that I couldn’t because I was in uniform. She then went and made a call and came back and we were asked to leave because Outback is a gun free zone. Note: I don’t blame the manager … but this is ridiculous and we will never go back there ever again.”

“What is this country coming to?” the officer continued. “A uniformed Law Enforcement Officer who is sworn to protect and serve the public, is refused service because they have a firearm! I am disgusted and have no other words!”

Media attention prompted an apology from Bloomin’ Brands shortly afterward.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/5/outback-steakhouse-apologizes-after-uniformed-offi/



Well said Officer Ward!   

This is only my take, but since when does a game warden have to carry a weapon into a restaurant?

Did the customer overreact? Yes, but so did the game warden.

[Gefn]

I've never eaten at Outback. I've always been told their food is horrible, except for the bloomin onion.

[driftdiver]

I go to outback occassionaly.    Not a fantastic steak but good enough.    Better then most casual restaurants.

I've seen armed cops in them most of the time eating.  No fuss.

So it must be something with this one location.

[WingNot]

I go to outback occassionaly.    Not a fantastic steak but good enough.    Better then most casual restaurants.

I've seen armed cops in them most of the time eating.  No fuss.

So it must be something with this one location.

One location. One snowflake.

[thackney]

This is only my take, but since when does a game warden have to carry a weapon into a restaurant?

Did the customer overreact? Yes, but so did the game warden.

The game warden was in uniform and therefor required to carry the weapon.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

This is only my take, but since when does a game warden have to carry a weapon into a restaurant?

Did the customer overreact? Yes, but so did the game warden.

In Texas at least, game wardens are the same as any other uniformed law enforcement officer.  They are required to carry their weapons if in uniform.

They do not just go after poachers.  They also assist the Border Patrol and provide disaster and emergency relief as well as officers of the law.

[Night Hides Not]

I've never eaten at Outback. I've always been told their food is horrible, except for the bloomin onion.

My son and I had lunch at the local Outback this past Sunday. We had the steak and lobster, it was a fine meal. However, the restaurant was only half full, perhaps due to it being SB Sunday.

[Night Hides Not]

In Texas at least, game wardens are the same as any other uniformed law enforcement officer.  They are required to carry their weapons if in uniform.

They do not just go after poachers.  They also assist the Border Patrol and provide disaster and emergency relief as well as officers of the law.

I hear you. IMO it was the customer that overreacted. I read in another article where the LEO was offered a $100 gift card. Seems to me that the restaurant tried to soften the blow on top of the apology.

Perhaps wait staff and management could be trained to handle such situations. My response would have been to politely show that customer to the door, stressing that LEO's in uniform will not be prohibited from carrying their weapons on the premises.

[Bigun]

My son and I had lunch at the local Outback this past Sunday. We had the steak and lobster, it was a fine meal. However, the restaurant was only half full, perhaps due to it being SB Sunday.

WAY overpriced and mediocre at best!  IMHO!

[Applewood]

I've never eaten at Outback. I've always been told their food is horrible, except for the bloomin onion.

Used to have one about a block from where I worked.  It closed down several years ago, along with a few others.  i think there might be just one Outback left in my neck of the woods. 

The food was OK and of course, the blooming onion was a sinful pleasure.  Depending on which website you believe, calories for the whole onion can be as high as 3,000.   Not sure if that amount includes the dips.

[Neverdul]

Used to have one about a block from where I worked.  It closed down several years ago, along with a few others.  i think there might be just one Outback left in my neck of the woods. 

The food was OK and of course, the blooming onion was a sinful pleasure.  Depending on which website you believe, calories for the whole onion can be as high as 3,000.   Not sure if that amount includes the dips.

@Applewood

One time I made a blooming onion at home, only once because it was a bit tricky and messy to make. I used an electric deep fryer and used a recipe from one of those websites that gives you restaurant knock off recipes.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/17351/blooming-onion-and-dipping-sauce/

[XenaLee]

I go to outback occassionaly.    Not a fantastic steak but good enough.    Better then most casual restaurants.

I've seen armed cops in them most of the time eating.  No fuss.

So it must be something with this one location.

I have two 'now retired' cops, both good guys, in my family and I trust the police implicitly.... with the caveat that there are bad folks in every line of work.  Anyone that doesn't feel safer if/when there's an armed cop in an establishment is a complete brainwashed-by-the-left moron, IMO.

[XenaLee]

@Applewood

One time I made a blooming onion at home, only once because it was a bit tricky and messy to make. I used an electric deep fryer and used a recipe from one of those websites that gives you restaurant knock off recipes.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/17351/blooming-onion-and-dipping-sauce/

I'm getting hungry for one now....

Here's an excellent vid showing how to cut the onion....

! No longer available

[WingNot]

I'm getting hungry for one now....

Here's an excellent vid showing how to cut the onion....

! No longer available

A waste of time.  Just do it. 

[roamer_1]

This is only my take, but since when does a game warden have to carry a weapon into a restaurant?

My kid was a warden for years. If he is in uniform, he is armed.
Wardens are sworn state cops, capable in any way that a regular cop is
Except they also deal with grizzly bears, and are usually alone.

Absolutely. If you're sworn, and in uniform, you are packin.