Stories of stabbings and brawls at Popeye’s have made headlines in recent weeks, but a brawl at a Texas Raising Cane’s isn’t getting nearly as much attention for some reason. Perhaps it’s because an armed citizen was able to stop the attack, and we know how reluctant the mainstream media is to ever portray gun owners in a positive light.

Gun owner and concealed carry licensee Eric Holder (yeah, I know) was grabbing a quick bite to eat with his family at a Raising Cane’s in Temple, Texas last week when a guy walked over and asked if he could use Holder’s phone. Holder agreed, but held on to the device and used the speaker to try and help the guy make a call. Frankly, it was nice of him to even do that, but the guy got angry and accused Holder of being racist. He then walked out of the store, but came back moments later with a friend named Charlie Watts. That’s when the punches started flying.

Holder said Watts attacked him and hit his wife in the head during the fight.

“I dislocated my shoulder. I got bruised ribs from it,” Holder said. “All because I didn’t hand over my cellphone.”

What Watts didn’t realize is that Eric Holder didn’t just have a phone. He had a gun.

Holder drew his pistol and held Watts at bay until deputies arrived. Watts is now facing assault charges, and Holder actually retained an attorney in case Raising Cane’s tries to come after him.

Holder said he was angry with the way the restaurant’s management handled the situation.

“The manager was standing there in the middle of the floor as I was fighting this individual, begging him to help,” Holder said.

Holder hired an attorney to represent him as a precaution in case Raising Cane’s decided to take action against the family for violating company policy.

“It is our understanding that Raising Cane’s prohibits lawful carry of firearms in stores in at least four states,” attorney Scott Crivelli said. “Had that policy been in effect here, who knows how the situation could have concluded.”

We’ll return to Raising Cane’s banning of firearms in a moment, but first, let’s see what the company has to say.

“The safety and security of our customers and crew is our top priority. We are saddened that there was a physical altercation between customers in our restaurant.  Once our crew realized the situation our manager called 911. He ensured other customers left the restaurant quickly and followed procedure by not getting involved in the physical altercation.  We cannot imagine how this family felt having been assaulted by a stranger, especially in such a tightknit community like Temple.  We want to reiterate our sincere apology to them for what they experienced and hope they take us up on our offer for crisis counselor services. 

So, Raising Cane’s policy is if customers are getting assaulted, employees are not to get involved beyond calling 911. That means you’re on your own, at least until police arrive, if someone decides to deliver a beatdown because you wouldn’t give up your phone. If that’s the case, then the company should absolutely not prohibit individuals who are legally carrying firearms from their stores, as is apparently the case in Arizona, Nebraska, Nevada, and Oklahoma.

Thankfully, that doesn’t appear to be the policy in Texas, so Eric Holder is likely not going to face the wrath of Big Chicken for carrying in the restaurant. Perhaps the corporate office will even view this as a teachable moment and get rid of the “no guns allowed” policies that may be in place in other locations.