We met Rick Ector back in April at the NRA convention. He’s the motor city NRA-certified firearms instructor and LAID main man. And now he’s got his back up over Detroit area IHOPs that choose to exclude legally carried firearms in their establishments. When you think about it, it’s way too hot this summer for belly-bombing flapjacks anyway. Be we’re guessing Rick wants folks to stay out of the joints permanently, or . . .

until they change their gun-free zone policy. Come to think of it, there must be other restaurants gun owners can frequent when they want to satisfy their pancake hankerin’.

Here’s Rick’s press release:

Detroit, Michigan — July 18th, 2012 — Detroit Gun Rights Advocate’s Protest Site Against Local International House of Pancake Restaurant (IHOP) Nets 1,000th Supporter.

The “Boycott The Detroit IHOP – Crime Empowerment Zone” Page, a pro-gun page on Facebook has just netted its 1,000th supporter. The boycott site was created by a local Michigan Concealed Pistol License Class Teacher, Rick Ector, in response to that local restaurant’s active ban on the possession of all legally carried firearms – openly carried or lawfully concealed carried with a state of Michigan Concealed Weapons Permit.

In the state of Michigan, the open carry of a pistol in a visible holster is legal without a license, as long as the carrier is 18, the carrier is on foot, the carrier avoids pistol-free zones, and the pistol is registered to the carrier.

Ector supports the local IHOP management’s right to ban gun-toting patrons from its premises. He stated, “I am an ardent supporter of private property rights. However, I am also a strong supporter of the First Amendment, as well as the Second Amendment. If they don’t want lawful firearms owners dining there, I will get the word out and encourage them not to patronize that establishment. We now have 1,000 supporters; the message is reaching our market.”

Additionally, Ector is currently promoting the 2012 “Legally Armed In Detroit” Second Annual Open Carry Dinner in Detroit on Monday, August 13th. It is an event designed to not only educate the public about the legality of open carry in Michigan but to also provide a gun friendly environment for Second Amendment advocates to fellowship. Pastor Kenn Blanchard (Urban Shooter Podcast) and Mr. John Pierce (OpenCarry.org Founder) will both be speaking.

Rick Ector is a National Rifle Association credentialed Firearms Trainer, who provides Michigan CPL Class training in Detroit for students at his firearms school – Rick’s Firearm Academy of Detroit. Ector is a recognized expert in firearm safety and has been featured extensively in the national and local media: Associated Press (AP), NRAnews, Fox News Detroit, The Detroit News, WJLB, WGPR and the UrbanShooterPodcast.

For more info about the Detroit IHOP boycott and the L.A.I.D. 2nd Annual Open Carry Dinner, please contact:

Rick’s Firearm Academy of Detroit
Web: http://laid2012dinner.eventbrite.com/
Web: http://www.facebook.com/BoycottTheDetroitIHOP
Web: http://www.detroitccw.com
Phone: 313.733.7404

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

31 COMMENTS

  1. I’ve openly carried there without a problem. If an establishment will not let me OC or CC I CC anyway. I nullify their stupid rules and they’re better off for it.

    • Um, there is a difference between an overbearing state passing “laws” that violate people’s rights and a private property owner exercising his legitimate authority over his property. You have no right to disregard his rules just as he has no right to force you to eat at his restaurant.

      He obviously doesn’t want your business, why give it to him?

      • Correct, Henry, and Rick Ector seems to agree with you 100%. Anyway, I know that I do. I’ll also note that in some states, “no firearms” signs have the force of law, while in some states they do not.

        • States like SC have VERY specific dimensions for lettering and graphics on their “No firearms allowed” signs. If you snap a picture of the sign while holding a dollar bill beside it, most of the time you can get the charges dropped.

      • and since there were no metal detectors and by Missouri law, you could have carried concealed in Missouri. just saying . . .

        • Missouri law says you can not carry either concealed or open in an arena with over 2000 capacity. So if you want to take the chance, go ahead and break the law, but don’t cry when you get to talk with the friendly police officer.

        • Bruce – you may want to re-read the statute. First of all, it is stadiums of 5,000 not 2,000, but more importantly, under 571.107.1(16), it is NOT A CRIME. Your permit just does not authorize. Under 571.107.2, you have to leave if asked. Not starting a flame war, but in Missouri, the no guns signs don’t have any force or weight of law.

          http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C500-599/5710000107.HTM

      • It seems slightly ironic that the NRA would choose a venue that bans carrying, but I know NC bans guns in any place that charges for admittance, such as stadiums and conventions. Is it the same way in many other states?

  3. Well, it does have the word “International” in it, so why wouldn’t it be anti-gun?

    I can honestly say it’ll be no chore boycotting that place…if I feel like punishing myself with crappy, unhealthy slop, there are closer places to me.

  4. vote with your wallet. don’t use ihop. the manager of a walmart where my dad lives in kentucky lost so much business banning cc in his store that he had to print an apology and invite to cc folks in the papers.

  5. I cc and as much as it pisses me off to see a no guns sign, the private owners have the right to restrict firearms, if they choose. But, may I humbly request they use the proper wording, “No Legal Guns Allowed”.

  7. “pistol-free zones”

    Does that mean you can openly carry a long gun and disregard the sign? Or did the author replace gun-free zones with his own terminology?

  8. Didn’t the just run a commercial touting what’s great about this country and they included the 2nd A? Or, was that another rest?

  9. Yeah, the mall where I work says ‘no firearms or other illegal weapons’ in tiny print on a sign practically hidden by vending machines. Since the ‘other illegal weapons’ part technically refers to firearms as illegal, I have no choice but to assume this refers to weapons or firearms carried illegally. Since there is nothing illegal about my firearm, I carry there all the time, as do others. The mall cops don’t carry, but I’ve never seen them hassle anyone carrying either.

  10. The links at the bottom of the article all go to an article about the Denny’s pro 2nd amendment commercial instead of where the text indicates they should go to.

  11. Would that I lived there (horrors) and could say that I’ll never go into one of Yhose Places again…but….the fact of the matter is I’ve NEVER been in one of Those Places and never will…..

  12. I was at the NRA convention 3 yrs ago in Phoenix and there were OC and CC all over the place. No problem.

  13. Well The Original Pancake House is much Much MUCH better than the IHOP. Southfield, Birmingham & Grosse Pointe. IHOP isn’t much above McDonalds for the quality of their food.

    • Agreed. OPH would probably be a little more OC friendly too, although more expensive to eat.

  14. IHOP, Waffle House, KFC…hell no. I can’t imagine needing cheap food so badly that I’d be willing to get it from a war zone.

  15. In Utah, I have only seen one NO GUNS ALLOWED sign, anywhere – that was at the Trolly Square Mall in Salt Lake City – you know, where that dude shot up the place and the off duty copy kept the shooter distracted

    • I assume you mean the 2007 Trolley Square shooting. When an off duty cop ignored the sign saying no guns & used his to keep the death toll down.

      If anyone posts one of those signs they are just saying they don’t want my business. Which also means that the company I’m starting will have nothing to do with them either.

  17. He picked an interesting venue for the 2nd Annual dinner, The Upper Room …a christian night club…might stop by…

Comments are closed.