Second Amendment Activism at Denny’s in Wisconsin

by Dean Weingarten October 02, 2019

Denny's Diner Restaurant — Denny’s Diner Restaurant. IMG Istock-TennesseePhotographer

U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- A correspondent I have known since his childhood spends a large part of his time overseas as a missionary.

Coming back to Wisconsin, he was surprised to find a “No Firearms Allowed” sign at a Denny’s. I believe this is a local policy, decided by each local manager of the franchise. My correspondent gave me permission to edit the account of his reaction. His overseas experience has made him appreciate the freedoms Americans take for granted. His account:

Returning to America after having been gone half a year, lends itself to re-entry culture shock. I recently returned to the USA. I am extremely politically active as well as up to speed on currant issues. I was still shocked by the the anti freedom advances the leftists have made in rural America.

Driving north into Wisconsin on the Interstate, I decided to pull into a Denny’s for one of their breakfast specials. I was shocked to see a “No Firearms” sign!

I was traveling with my father, who said: ” Well, I guess we better find another place to eat, one that loves freedom”.

I replied “Yes, but I won’t just walk away in silent defeat”.

We went in; a friendly waitress asked if only the two of us would be dinning. ” No”, I replied, “neither of us would be staying.”

I asked if the manager was available. I was informed the manager was not there. When that happens I ask the employee to deliver a message to the manager. The waitress assured me she would. I asked her to let the manager know they had lost two customers because they did not embrace our God given rights, protected by American Constitutions’ Second Amendment. I told her they had made themselves a soft target for the next would be mass murderer.

Criminals typically (and wisely so) do not target establishments where they know they may be stopped by a good guy with a gun. By denying me the right to protect myself and family in their establishment, we become a vulnerable target. I will not put myself or loved ones in such a position of helplessness.

I realized I was talking to one of many uninformed Americans. This waitress responded with a “deer in the headlights” look. She replied, “I’m sorry you feel this way”. I again asked her to share this with her boss. She assured me she would.

I was polite, I did not yell or raise my voice. I simply explained reality. We drove to the next exit and stopped at a restaurant that did not discriminate against armed Americans. My father and I had a good meal. As I paid the bill, the waitress said, ” I’ve never seen you here before, what brought you in?” I happily replied, “Liberty, the fact that you do not have a statement against freedom on your door. You are not anti-gun.”

She looked at me and said: “No, if someone wants to carry a firearm, good for them. We need people to show support for our rights.”

Restaurants often operate on slim profit margins. It doesn’t take many aggrieved customers to affect the bottom line. The general consensus used to be, commercial establishments were best served by avoiding political fights.

I find many travelers appreciate the United States more, after they have visited other countries. The United States is unique in many respects. One of the most obvious is the right to keep and bear arms. Switzerland used to be close; the European Union has used economic pressure to push Switzerland to impose more restrictive gun laws.

We at Ammoland would like to know if others have learned to appreciate the Bill of Rights in their travels to other countries.

About Dean Weingarten:

Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of constitutional carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and recently retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.