Safeway Policy

I got a chance to talk to the head of LP for Safeway stores of Washington. He is a very intelligent guy who knows the exact background of 9.41.270 and how it relates to the Black Panthers back in 1969. Safeway does not have a written policy except for their employees. I spoke with him at great length about their stance on firearms in their stores and open carry.

It all boils down to the fact that they follow state law but they do give their managers some discretion and will trespass someone from their store if they are open carrying and they get complaints from other customers. They believe that if others are concerned enough to bring it up with management then management needs to follow up. He knows very well that a CPL is required for loaded car carry, concealed or not, and that if asked if the carrier has a CPL that the answer is most likely going to be yes. The person the complaints are about will be asked to conceal and if they refuse they will more than likely be asked to leave. He also did note that he is well aware that Washington is an OC state but that the majority of his customers do not and that it is likely to generate some comments or complaints to management.

Like I said he is a very intelligent guy and very knowledgeable of our firearm laws, he is a retired LEO. He understands people coming in to the stores with a pistol in a holster is much different than a guy walking in with a 12 GA slung over his back. He was also aware of the case law behind the two differences.

So if you are in a Safeway and are Open Carrying, for the sake of their policy and not getting trespassed from the store, please conceal if asked to. Do not get into a pissing match with the management and tell them that it is Safeway policy to follow state law and Wa. is an Open Carry state. Comply with them as it is the managers discretion.