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Yesterday I took my in laws to Rink's Gun & Sport. I wanted to introduce shooting this very American sport to them.
I walked in and ask to use the range, the front cash register clerk pointed me to a register near the range door.
There the clerk asked me if I want to use the range and I answered yes.
I took out my wallet and was ready to pay, my wife walked in with my kids and asked me in Chinese: “孩子要peepee，你问问厕所在哪里 (Kids want to peepee, please ask the clerk where the restroom is.”
Totally unexpected, the clerk yelled at my wife: "English Only！”
“what？？？” Me and my wife were shocked and looked at him, kids were scared。
I said：“I can speak whatever language with my family."
The clerk said in a very rude tone: "Not in my store."
I said: "You want English? I have an English word for you, FUCK YOU!"
The clerk said: "Fuck you."
The manager heard our argument and asked me what happened.
I explained what happened, and the manager said: "This is America, you need to speak English. It's our policy, it’s on the door."
I said:" I am American and I can speak whatever language I want to speak, especially with my family."
...
Kids were scared and my in laws were very nervous. Me and my wife were really mad.
We walked out and look at the policy and I took a picture.
I told the manager, I will let my lawyer talk to him, this is not ending like this.
After coming back, I talked with some friends who knows the law, apparently the chance to win is quite small if I go to court.
But I have been thinking, what if I bring someone who is deaf, who only use sign language, so this deaf can't be in their store?
Someone like my mother in law who is American citizen but speak very little English, can't be in their store with a translator?
My kids are scared and got the impression speaking Chinese is going to getting them in trouble, I now need to take them to see counseling. I always told them Dad is very proud to speak three languages English, Chinese, and Russian. And I hope them to be bilingual at least and maybe speak three or more languages.
My fellow brothers and sisters, anyone with legal experience, please help me with advice.
Even with small chance to win, I am taking them to court.
I am going to show them who is the real American.
Update 08/25/14
Thank you for all your support on this matter.
I got quite some valuable advice. Many friends with law experience feel sorry for me but see no case here. I appreciate their opinion, which help me to practice my argument once I go to court.
Some people see a case here, but see no economic gain and most likely no lawyer will accept this kind of case. Go to court is expensive and time consuming.
Those who see a possible case has these key point.
1. English only is not a legal requirment for purachsing a gun, as a matter of fact, the legal paperwork ATF 4473 form has a Spanish version.
2. violate of public accimodation. Federal Protections Against National Origin Discrimination
http://www.justice.gov/crt/legalinfo/natorigin.php
PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS
* In a restaurant, a group of Asian Americans waits for over an hour to be s
erved, while white and Latino customers receive prompt service.
* Haitian American visitors to a hotel are told they must pay in cash rather
than by credit card, are charged higher rates than other customers, and are
not provided with the same amenities, such as towels and soap.
These examples may be violations of federal laws that prohibit discriminatio
n because of national origin, race, color, or religion in places of public a
ccommodation. Public accommodations include hotels, restaurants, and places
of entertainment. If you believe you have been denied access to or equal enj
oyment of a public accommodation where there is a pattern or practice of dis
crimination, contact the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at (202) 514-
4713. You may also write to:
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Housing and Civil Enforcement Section, NWB
Washington, D.C. 20530
3. violate Illinois fair housing law
4. Discrimination against race and origin.
5. Complain to news media, Chinese and Spanish etc.
Here are some comments:
"On one hand, it's private property and the owners have their rights to set whatever policies they wish, on the other hand, you are right to say you can speak whatever language especially with your family. Both seem to be very basic American values. Is there a case here that in a private business can an individual or family have the right to speak their own language without being threatened/denied service? See if you can find some attorney or organization to bring this all the way to the Supreme Court. English Only is unconstitutional in public places although some conservative members of congress or some local governments would try to make it law then and now, but can similar restrictions be tested and challenged in places of private business?"
[size=11.818181991577148px]
[size=11.818181991577148px]"- was thinking about this last night and I think my original assessment was wrong. You probably have a real case against them - that sign is probably illegal. it is essentially denying service based on a non-legal criteria. i.e., it isn't any better than a sign that says: "We don't serve food to dogs, blacks, gays and Chinese". I will ask my lawyers about it this morning and see what they'd say. However even if you do have a case it will probably be an expensive one - one that may be difficult to prove in terms of damage."
08/26/2014
今天要和几个懂法律朋友讨论一下我的official complain。
回了mitbbs一些网友。奇葩真多。还好有枪友网可以说说正常话。
“A gun store is nothing special, just like a Walmart store.
Actually Walmart is the number one gun seller in America.
It is open to public, anybody can walk in and do business with them.
Therefore it violated Public Accommodation law.
This is confirmed by several lawyers.
想象一个中餐馆在美国有policy：”中文only，我们不懂别的语言，你们可能在讨论恐怖袭击。“
而且，他们可以礼貌的解释这个policy，但是他们故意用充满敌意和歧视的语气叫喊。
他们只是想用这个policy做借口来insult他们不喜欢的种族。
Google review上另一个人给他爸爸当翻译也被歧视骚扰。”
8/25/2015
最新进展。
今天收到州人权部的信。
会立案，会charge。
Great news!
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[size=11.818181991577148px]
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发表于 2014-8-24 09:42
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