Outback Steak House

[jaurelio]

Here in Tennessee the Outback Steak house bans concealed carry. That is their right to do so, however it is my understanding that they do not ban in Texas or in other states that have Restaurant Carry. I e-mailed Outback and received this note from Joe Ruberto signed by Bruce Doucette an unidentified person at Outback corporate.

"from Joe Ruberto - JVP 0031 <JosephRuberto@outback.com>
to "joeaurelio@gmail.com" <joeaurelio@gmail.com>
date Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 2:29 PM
subject Outback Steakhouse
mailed-by outback.com

hide details Aug 6

Dear Mr. Aurelio;

Thank you for your recent email concerning the newly passed gun law in the State of Tennessee. While we respect the right of all citizens to bear arms, it is our decision to not allow people to do so in our restaurants. This is a corporate decision. We are not disrespectful of the rights of gun owners, we merely want all of our guests to feel welcomed and safe, and frankly see no need for guns to be brought into restaurants.

Please feel free to call me if there are any additional concerns or questions.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely

Bruce Doucette
Outback Steakhouse
615-661-8555

Since it is their corporate policy for ban concealed carry, I would like all of my Texas friends to avoid Outback SteakHouse until they either ban in all of their locations or join us so we can enjoy their steaks.

Thanks
Joe

[frazzled]

I'd boycott but already can't stand the place and haven't been there in years (but will remember). Thats seems about right. Shucks I never get to boycott anything...

[A-R]

We are not disrespectful of the rights of gun owners, we merely want all of our guests to feel welcomed and safe, and frankly see no need for guns to be brought into restaurants.

Bruce Doucette
Outback Steakhouse
615-661-8555

* note: bold/underline emphasis added by me

Has this corporate flunky never heard of the Luby's Massacre in Killeen, TX in 1991? Or of Suzanna Hupp? You should email these links (below) to this moron, and then carbon copy them to Suzanna Hupp. I betcha she'd get right into Outback corporate's face and tell them VERY CLEARLY why law-abiding citizens NEED to bring their lawfully concealed handguns into restaurants

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luby's_massacre" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanna_Hupp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiz__JEcpzA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for letting us know this. I don't often eat at Outback Steakhouse (only when my mother in law visits - she's a big fan). But I'll be staying out of their restaurants from now on.

[nitrogen]

Their loss. Yet another reason for me to avoid their expensive, yet subpar food.

AMC sends me mailers wondering why I dont use my moviewatcher card anymore. I guess they didn't believe me when I wrote them explaining why I would not use it anymore.

[chamberc]

Good to know... but with my favorites steak places being Al Biernat's, III Forks, and Kenny's Wood Fired Grill, I can't imagine stepping into an Outback for steaks. Consider them boycotted by me, as I haven't been in one for years and never will!

[USA1]

we merely want all of our guests to feel welcomed and safe,

this is the part i don't get

[The Annoyed Man]

Your first mistake was going to Outback for a steak.

Seriously though, thanks for the update. I don't go to Outback restaurants (there are better steaks elsewhere for roughly the same prices), but you've helped confirm for me the wisdom of that decision.

[quidni]

I prefer the Texas Roadhouse, Cattleman's Steakhouse, and home grilling for my steaks.

I've never eaten in an Outback Steakhouse because I can't stand their radio commercials with the heavy fake accents. (I've got a Kiwi friend - and she sounds nothing like that!)

[joe817]

Hi jaurelio and welcome to the forum! Nice to hear from you, and thanks for the post.

We stopped eating there some years ago when Saltgrass Steakhouse opened up on our side of town.

[fickman]

Did you call him? I think it'd be worth it - you just might educate him. I'd recommend calling 1x and then sending a follow up email with the details you were able to explain over the phone.

Off topic:
. . . I prefer the luxury steakhouses, too. . . Chamberlain's, Bob's, III Forks. . . but I don't always have $120 to drop on a meal for two. I'd take Outback over Saltgrass, though. The only thing I like there is the prime rib.

Texas Roadhouse is only comparable for the same price if you explain to the cook how to prepare a steak (they make you order it "Pittsburgh Style" in order to get it seared and seasoned on the outside. If not, you'll get an IHOP looking brownish gray sickly piece of meat). You can get a reasonable piece of meat (ribeye or NY strip) for a decent price that includes the sides at Outback. I'm not a huge fan. . . but I can usually count on them for consistency.

[Purplehood]

I tried Outback twice. The second time was years after the first in the hope that things had changed or improved. They didn't. So don't worry my friend, I am not patronizing them.

[Keith B]

Doesn't Outback serve alcohol? If so, any restaurant in Tennessee that serves alcohol is off limits automatically per the state statutes.

They tried to get the law set to 51% like Texas, and it passed the House and Senate, but the Governor vetoed it. If you read this moths American Rifleman there is an article on this issue in Tennessee and the push to get a lot of businesses to prohibit concealed carry.

So, bottom line, whether the restaurant wants it or not, if they serve alcohol you can't carry in Tennessee.

[Mike1951]

Doesn't Outback serve alcohol? If so, any restaurant in Tennessee that serves alcohol is off limits automatically per the state statutes.

They tried to get the law set to 51% like Texas, and it passed the House and Senate, but the Governor vetoed it. If you read this moths American Rifleman there is an article on this issue in Tennessee and the push to get a lot of businesses to prohibit concealed carry.

So, bottom line, whether the restaurant wants it or not, if they serve alcohol you can't carry in Tennessee.

Incorrect.

http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInf ... ber=HB0962" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

*HB 0962 by *Todd ( SB 1127 by *Jackson)
Show Co-Prime Sponsors
Firearms and Ammunition - As enacted, allows person with handgun carry permit to carry in restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages as long as such person is not consuming alcoholic beverages; defines restaurant for purposes of this authorization. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17.

[Keith B]

OK, my bad. Thought that the veto by the Governor squashed it. Thanks for the clarification for me Mike. I did find this: http://www.nrn.com/landingPage.aspx?men ... &id=370316" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Looks like there is a big drive by the businesses to prohibit concealed carry now, so time for the letter writing campaign to the restaurants.


Keith

Doesn't Outback serve alcohol? If so, any restaurant in Tennessee that serves alcohol is off limits automatically per the state statutes.

They tried to get the law set to 51% like Texas, and it passed the House and Senate, but the Governor vetoed it. If you read this moths American Rifleman there is an article on this issue in Tennessee and the push to get a lot of businesses to prohibit concealed carry.

So, bottom line, whether the restaurant wants it or not, if they serve alcohol you can't carry in Tennessee.

Incorrect.

http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInf ... ber=HB0962" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

*HB 0962 by *Todd ( SB 1127 by *Jackson)
Show Co-Prime Sponsors
Firearms and Ammunition - As enacted, allows person with handgun carry permit to carry in restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages as long as such person is not consuming alcoholic beverages; defines restaurant for purposes of this authorization. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17.

[Luggo1]

The first capital murder case I defended involved the execution style murder of 3 Outback employees in Texarkana, Texas. They were herded to the back of the restaurant, which had closed for the night and were executed. I wonder if any of the 3 (one was pregnant too) wished they had some other alternative to being shot down like cattle? I suspect that they would have. Outback was also sued civily over the incident, I don't know the current status of that suit. I think you should send the Outback rep a letter back and ask him about whether or not he would like to have some other option, that the Outback employees in Texarkana did not. Ask him if that quadruple homicide is one of the "benefits" of their policy? Perhaps he could maybe see one reason in that example that someone other than criminals carrying guns into an Outback restaurant might be a good thing?

Silly me...