We have written before on the conflict between the Second Amendment and private property rights.
Most states allow concealed carry of handguns with proper license or permit. Some allow firearms to be carried openly.
But some property owners do not want guns on their premises. Maybe they feel allowing guns is a safety concern. Maybe it's a liability issue. Maybe they just don't like guns.
Gun owners often argue that allowing law-abiding citizens to exercise their Second-Amendment-on-private-property rights actually makes things safer for everyone there. It's a good argument but it doesn't override the rights of a property owner determined to banish legal firearms.
And there's the conflict. In this case between private citizens. But what about those who must carry firearms to keep the rest of us safe? The police, for example.
Last week Conroe, Texas, Police Chief Philip Dupuis went to a doctor's appointment. He was in uniform, with his badge prominently displayed, and as usual armed with a handgun in a holster.
But upon arriving, the receptionist told him he would have to leave his gun in his car. He said he couldn't do that. So he was asked to leave.
The incident made the news. The doctor's office apologized to the chief and in a statement posted on Facebook saying, "Our company values law enforcement officers and first responders for their selfless service and will serve them and our communities with the utmost respect."
The post ended with a promise "to ensure this does not happen again in any of our locations."
We should hope not.
The idea of refusing service to an armed police officer is ridiculous. These men and women put their lives on the line to protect us. It's important to remember their sidearm is for their own protection as well. And sometimes the danger comes when they least expect it. It was just over a year ago we found that to be tragically true when five officers lost their lives and nine others were wounded after being ambushed while protecting protesters in Dallas.
We don't want our officers unprepared. Anywhere.