A National Guardsman in uniform was kicked out of a Waffle House franchise because he refused to leave his gun outside the restaurant.

Billy Welch, the Guardsman in question, always carries his holstered weapon when in uniform. He was thus surprised when a Waffle House manager employee and manager took him aside and requested that he leave his weapon in his car. It is Waffle House’s nationwide policy to prohibit firearms within its franchises.

Welch complied with the rules and left without issue. “You know, if I can’t have my firearm, then I can’t be here,” Welch told reporters. “I walked inside to the other waitress. I said, ‘thank you, but no thank you ma’am. I’m gonna have to leave.’”

The Guardsman heard little of the incident until the media started knocking on his door. A local resident named Micaela Shaw had described the incident on Facebook and consequently whipped up a social media frenzy condemning the breakfast establishment.

Shaw felt it was her duty to bring attention to Waffle House’s treatment of Welch because of her ties to the military community.

“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,” Shaw said. “I just wanted to stand up for him.”

Waffle House stood by its decision. “For many years we have had a “no firearms” policy in place in our restaurants,” the franchise owner wrote. “We continue to believe this is the best policy for the safety of our customers and associates.”