A soldier in uniform from the Kentucky National Guard was refused service at a Nicholsville, Kentucky Waffle House restaurant because the soldier was wearing his side arm.
National Guard soldier Billy Welch entered the Waffle House fast food joint in suburban Lexington with his family and began to order. But it wasn’t long before a waitress told him he wasn’t welcome because the chain has a strict no firearms policy.
The incident went viral, though, because someone sitting in another booth witnessed how the soldier was treated and posted about the whole thing to her Facebook.
After ordering his food, he said a waitress signaled for him to come over.
“I got up and I walked over to them, asked them how they were doing and stuff, and they said I’d have to take my firearm outside,” Welch told WLEX. “I don’t feel comfortable taking my firearm away from me. I always keep it with me and they said, ‘it’s one of our policies.’”
At that point, Welch told the waitress he was going to leave.
One witness at the restaurant posted the details of the event on Facebook, and it has since gone viral.
“I have a bunch of family members and friends who have been active military and in the military and retired and it hurts my feelings when people disrespect them,” said Micaela Shaw, who was sitting in a booth nearby. “I just wanted to stand up for him.”
As to the restaurant, they are unapologetic. They have a no guns policy and that is that as far as they are concerned.
The restaurant released a statement that reads: “For many years we have had a ‘No Firearms’ policy in place in our restaurants. We continue to believe this is the best policy for the safety of our customers and associates.”
Do you agree Waffle House’s decision not to serve this soldier?