Crime

Doctor Says Barnes & Noble Kicked Him Out for…Being a Man Alone in the Children’s Section

Dr. Omar Amin Escorted Out of Arizona Barnes and Noble for Being Unaccompanied in Childrens Section

(Photo via the Daily Mail)

With the recent wave of news stories involving cannibals and zombies, it is certainly understandable for people to clutch their children a little tighter.

But is it possible to take it too far?

In Arizona, a 73-year-old grandfather and world-renowned medical researcher was escorted out of a Barnes and Noble for being in the children’s section by himself, while buying gifts for his grandchildren.

(Related: Fair? Married Father Charged for Offering Girls a Ride Home During IL Snowstorm)

Dr. Omar Amin, who is originally from Egypt but is an American citizen, says he was in the middle of looking for the books when his phone rang, so he sat down by the windows and talked to his friend quietly.

Though the area was nearly empty, a female shopper proceeded to tell a store employee that she found the man’s presence uncomfortable– not because he was talking in the bookstore, but because he didn’t have any children with him.

In Amin’s words, he was subsequently “[escorted] out as a potential sex offender.”

“I left the store I was upset like hell because I’ve been so insulted and humiliated…” he recalled.

However, according to a local news site, the store has had problems with sex offenders in the past.

“Men alone cannot be by themselves in the children’s area,” the employee reportedly told Amin, denying his request to speak with the woman who lodged the complaint.

“This is an insult to all men not just to me,” he noted, adding that he did not knowingly break any rules, and there were no signs posted indicating that unaccompanied men are not allowed near the children’s books.

Watch an interview with Dr. Amin, via azfamily.com:

Dr. Amin was further offended last week when the company issued a statement saying its employee “acted appropriately,” but the vice president amended today: “It is not our policy to ask customers to leave any section of our stores without justification. We value Dr. Amin as a customer and look forward to welcoming him in any of our stores.”

So the question remains, are we going too far in not letting men go near children’s books unaccompanied, or is it worth it, if it keeps our children safe?

Fox News contributor Dr. Keith Ablow commented on the matter: “People should not always bury their instincts…Like it or not, most child abductors and sexual predators are male. While many people object to profiling anyone, a man who frequents the children’s section of a bookstore alone is worth a second look.”

(H/T: Daily Mail)

Comments (91)

1 2 3
  • Buddynoel
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 6:25pm

    Man alone in the children’s section? Woman alone behind the steering wheel? Both are threats to the community.

    Report Post » Buddynoel  
    • deerfawn
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 6:44pm

      funny, my hubby would agree with you on the women behind the will thing. :)

      Report Post »  
    • deerfawn
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 6:56pm

      wheel sheesh

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 7:04pm

      A “potential”… is Not a Real… rather an Imagined… and a failure in Human Reasoning… where people are fired for the Loss of Potential Profits!

      IDIOTS Rule!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • Lucy Larue
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 7:19pm

      @BUDDYNOEL
      WOW! It is amazing that you have managed a post that addresses NOTHING…,yet managed to get DEERFAWN to post that her HUBBY would agree.
      Our nation is in deep doo doo!

      Report Post »  
    • FNGRNFAN
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 7:28pm

      Whats gonna happen when some women some where in a sporting goods store is caught browsing through the boys clothing section with that look in her eye YOU KNOW THE ONE.

      Report Post » FNGRNFAN  
    • UncleKenC
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:25am

      Especially if one is talking on a cell phone, all intelligent thought goes out the window. Too many close calls for me not to comment.

      Report Post »  
    • AKeptWoman
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 8:04am

      hahahaha — that really did make me LOL!!!

      Report Post »  
    • CABERNETQHS
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 8:17am

      Hey buddy, maybe you should go to Barnes and Noble and get a book on misogyny. Nice way to change the subject from male pedophiles. Maybe yould stay out of the kids section.

      Report Post »  
    • lugger2010
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:37pm

      @ cabenatqhs And of course, ALL the reported and PROVEN cases of CHILD-RAPE commited by female teachers is a conspiricy by “Mens Rights Activists” to further victimize youre poor, down trodden sister-hood right? You rancid feminazis just cannot stand hearing the truth because until recently, youre filth (manifesto) went unchallenged, and now society“s new found voice against the ”WAR ON MEN” must be silenced, right??? BTW- What do you say to the legions of WOMEN who dont agree with you?

      Report Post »  
  • face.chewer
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 6:25pm

    Men, do anything alone and you will be watched. I work 150 miles from my home so I go to sporting events and fairs by myself when away from home. My advice is to treat children like they are lepers, don’t look at them, don’t interact with them in any way. If you see one coming your way, walk the other way. If they need some sort of help, that’s their parents job, not yours. Actually this advice goes for women of any age.

    Report Post »  
    • From Virginia
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 8:55pm

      I hate a society that has made grownups treat children like lepers – but you’re right. I feel he same way and I’m a woman.

      This has to be hurting our children more than the small amount of kids that do get molested. And I’m sure it is a small amount and NOT the huge numbers the media makes us believe they are.

      Another fact the media keep silent about is that most of the molesters are from countries whose culture thinks it’s just fine to diddle little kids – which includes all Asian, African and South American counries.

      Report Post »  
    • RamonPreston
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:26am

      Exactly. When a man is accused of something they go get a rope. How about that man a few months ago who saw two girls in inclement weather and asked them if they needed a ride. They said “No” so he left. The next day the police came and arrested him for making the girls “feel uncomfortable.” Stand out there and get pneumonia, dumba$$e$. You deserve it.

      Report Post » RamonPreston  
  • semihardrock
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 6:24pm

    So the store has Security Officers trained to catch a thief (stolen book)….but not to watch a man who may or may not be a child molester for a few minutes on the video camera who is shopping???

    Its ALL about the money and NOT about the morally correct thing to do for society or a child!!!!!

    Sue the Store! We should all save trees and read online anyway….Buy a Kindle! No wonder Barnes and Noble are going out of business….Karma

    Report Post » semihardrock  
    • From Virginia
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 8:57pm

      NO! Don’t sue the store. They apologized and now the geezer is whining that it’s not enough. He now wants his stolen reputation and dignity back. In other words, he smells money!

      Report Post »  
    • Kenszen
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 2:28am

      So, Virginia, what is wrong about wanting his reputation back? Maybe your reputation means nothing to you, but for most of us, that is precisely one of the things that is lacking in today’s society–integrity, which means that there are a lot of people (especially in power) that do not care about their reputation and certainly are more than willing to abuse and throw out other people’s reputations. Are you one of them?

      Report Post »  
  • wordweaver
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 6:23pm

    As a male over 55, I find it extremely sad that in America I may not be able to go certain places without being profiled as a pervert. Where else can’t I go? ToysRUs? Theme Parks? It’s a weird world when you work as a school teacher and spend every day working with children, and then get the evil eye out in public when strangers don’t know you. I understand that we all need to be extra vigilant today for child predators, but are we really to the point where mature men have to start second-guessing which public venues they can visit without an escort, at the risk of being given the bum’s rush?

    Report Post » wordweaver  
    • deerfawn
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 6:42pm

      yea I feel bad for my brother often, He is a single dad and really has to be careful as well. Guilty until your proven other wise.

      Report Post »  
  • woebegone
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 6:13pm

    This story is so sad it’s unbelievable. That men are now pedophiles until proved otherwise is just astounding, but the truth is I would have been suspicious too. Dr. Amin looks like a nice man, the problem is all pedophiles look like nice men, that’s the point. That men are all suspect at all times in any and all dealings with children, is just so damaging to children and ultimately the culture. How did this happen? For me it has a lot to do with men being so free to leave their children, though I suppose it has always been this way (particularly if there was any suspicion of paternity); that having many children by multiple women became a sort of sick game for men of the lower classes; that the most trustworthy of men, the Catholic Clergy, were revealed to be regularly sexually abusive of children. I can’t help thinking that I long for some old time justice taken up by men themselves. I simply can not believe that men aren’t able to read each other in this way but we have been so distorted by “understanding for the abuser as the once abused”, and the threat of “prejudice against the minority” that we all just seethe and watch it all go along afraid to act because the courts are decidedly not on our side. Personally, to me, any pedophile eliminated from the population constitutes “good work”. That men don’t seem to police themselves this way is mysterious to me–I long for good men, to bad it’s become so hard to tell.

    Report Post »  
  • homekeeper
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 6:00pm

    Due to my own personal experience of having creeps hang out at our local parks watching our children and one incident where a man followed us throughout the park and upon calling 911, they said they can’t do anything unless he touches or harms us – I’m all for being extra vigilant against anything suspicious with men and children. There have been incidents locally where a man showed himself to a child in the children’s section of the bookstore while the father was nearby. It just isn’t safe anymore and a man hanging around with no children, would make me uncomfortable as well in this society we live in today. However, I would have probably just left myself, which sadly we have had to do in different situations. What is a mother to do?

    Report Post »  
    • brother_ed
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 6:15pm

      @HOMEKEEPER

      Stopping a crime that hasn’t actually happened is on my list of stupid things.

      Report Post » brother_ed  
    • Patriot of My America
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 9:09pm

      Mommy get a concealed carry permit and then get a handgun you can handle. Everyone is in the mental state of being a Victim. I say be proactive. If some one is of dubious intentions they will not want any conversation with an adult. they will vanish as fast as water on a hot day. Keep your posterity in a safe position but also be not afraid. And also remember to be observant and if need be aggressive. But as a Dad of two children I shopped for all needed things kids require. My daughter is now grown as my son. I am also a Grandpa. I read books to my Grandchildren, that I purchase from book stores and garage sales. This seems to be one really medicated woman that spoke with a really medicated store clerk. I find this story actually fiction, and some ones personal paranoia !
      I deal with the public daily and from all walks of life. It seems to me that a young mother or young woman was afraid of single men in an area where they were. And were there any other people being so alarmed by this fellow in a store selling books of all types. I think the situation was so over reacted to it is disgusting. Barns & Noble never was a store I thought much of as most of the clerks I encountered were overtly homosexual. And who do you think really molests children..

      Report Post »  
    • AnAmericanToo
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 10:51pm

      What is a parent to do? 1) keep your children with you in public; 2) they should either be able to yell loudly (which I find most kids these day do very well) or have them wear / carry a whistle to use if they encounter a problem with a pervert); 3) teach your children to pay attention to their environment and who is around them; 4) make sure that you teach your kids to not bother strangers; 5) kids should not have social network pages (not if you really don’t want bad actors to get in contact or observe your kids); and 6) don’t allow your kids to use public restrooms without an adult to check the restroom FIRST as well as store changing rooms. You bemoan having to leave areas where you felt ‘uncomfortable’ well that goes for what others who are ADULTS have done. We have left restaurants; ended shopping at mall because of roving gangster kids in the mall. Common sense and the ability to be rational have disappeared. MEAN time — there are all these parents who willfully offer their children up to go through the TSA body searches.

      Report Post »  
  • loafer4952
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 6:00pm

    Time to stay out of Barnes an Noble. I like children they are cute. And I am not apedifile. I think we watch to much to TV>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    Report Post »  
  • Dougral Supports Israel
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:55pm

    Apparently a B&N VP has already apologized for the incident so company executives believe this man was not treated properly.

    Report Post »  
    • brother_ed
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 6:05pm

      @DOUGRAL SUPPORTS ISRAEL

      Too late, damage done.

      The war on women is a myth. The war on men has been going on for 40 years.

      Report Post » brother_ed  
  • SouEu
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:55pm

    I work next door to Barnes & Noble. I am also a man. Many days, during lunch, I will take a stroll through the store to see if any new books have come out, or if anything is on sale. I always stroll through the children’s section, because I have a couple of young girls, and I buy them lots of books to read. I never thought that anyone would consider that strange or suspicious. No one has ever approached me and told me that, “a man alone can‘t be in the children’s area”. Maybe things are different elsewhere, but it’s not like that where I come from.

    Report Post »  
    • AnAmericanToo
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 11:10pm

      Ahhh, but you have not yet been eyed by a hysterical, irrational woman. If any woman reports you to a clerk as making HER uncomfortable there seems to be a secret store policy to treat male shoppers differently than women shoppers.
      So, now you know SOUEU that the bookstore you thought was customer friendly to all actually has a secret corporate bias policy against men. One has to wonder at what age does this discriminatory policy kick in? Are 12 year old boys a problem? 16 year olds? 21? 40?
      We will no longer be visiting this bookstore chain — never want to be in an establishment that is hostile towards members of our family members.

      Report Post »  
  • lemkete
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:54pm

    Does that mean I can no longer shop alone for my children without being eyeballed as a perv?

    Report Post »  
  • SouthernVoice1
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:51pm

    Dude from the Middle East.
    Gets Profiled, for Child Molester not a Terrorist????
    And there is nothing said.
    P. C. is Unconstitutional.

    Report Post »  
    • Joe Bonham
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 6:40pm

      How many Egyptian terrorist attacks have there been against the United States?

      Zero.

      Report Post »  
    • The Knave
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 8:36pm

      Joe, Mohamed Atta was on Flight 11 during 9/11 and he was Egyptian.

      Report Post »  
  • CommonSensetoMe
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:48pm

    As a man, I have been to Barns and Nobles multi times and have spent much time in the children section. I buy many childrens books, which then i hand to my soon to be wife for our kids we will have. My reason is as innocent as this man. Am I going to get arrested next time I go to buy a children book?

    Report Post » CommonSensetoMe  
  • deerfawn
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:45pm

    yep guilty until proven innocent, we live in such a great country.

    Report Post »  
  • jcldwl
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:42pm

    I’m confused. Are they saying they regularly have parents who let their small children roam unattended in their store? And if so then they must endorse that unsafe parenting practice in their store.

    Report Post » jcldwl  
  • Joe Bonham
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:36pm

    Nobody here finds this story even slightly ridiculous?

    Report Post »  
  • redbone007
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:34pm

    “Though the area was nearly empty……when his phone rang, so he sat down by the windows and talked to his friend quietly.’

    1) you are in a book store, talking on the cell phone should have been taken outside.
    2) we do not know for sure what he was thinking.
    3) what if a kid comes up missing, then what…no one did anything because he was talking on the phone.
    4) he an educated man with grandchild and should have known better.

    Report Post » redbone007  
    • LibsAndCopKillersALoveStory
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:54pm

      #4: good point.

      Report Post » LibsAndCopKillersALoveStory  
    • AnAmericanToo
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:57pm

      Your list makes no sense whatsoever.

      Dr. Aman did nothing inappropriate. He was a customer in the bookstore and some irrational woman who is hysterical runs to point out a man who showed no inappropriate behavior. Shame on the irrational woman and SHAME upon the store clerk who demanded that man leave the store. Words cannot come to mind to describe the utter absurdity of asking a gentleman to leave the store based upon hysterical claims. How does this hysterical woman think children are created? Many families are comprised of a biological male and a biological female who are husband and wife and the parents of the children that they procreate. So fathers and subsequent grandfathers are not allowed to shop for their own children?

      And the bookstore has a secret policy about where patrons are permitted to shop? FIRST I have heard about it but now that I know they have such a disturbing policy — my family and I will NOT be visiting any of their book stores. Unbelievable that the VP tells the embarrassed patron that they ‘value his patronage’ of their store — they have a bizarre way of showing it. No, I wouldn’t want to risk the shame and embarrassment of being escorted out of their establishments based upon the hysteria of another customer nor upon one of their secret internal store policies.

      I will buy my books else where and we will enjoy a cup of coffee at a patron welcoming location.

      Report Post »  
    • Rayford
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 2:36am

      I agree the list makes no sense. Its a book store, not the library, so theres no hush hush rule. Although, I do find it rude when people talk loudly on the phone in any public place. maybe it was hot outside and he didnt want to go out there. Being a doctor, I am sure he was talking quieter than the ghetto rats that want to look important hollering into the phone.

      I go to many stores by my self and BN was one of them. I have two pre-teen kids so I go into that section, full of teen children. They have not escorted me out yet.
      BUT..anyone with a 1/2 a brain can tell if someone is leering at children or being a perv.

      There was no reason for the store to confront this man. If they took the complaint seriously, then have their security watch him, and react appropriately.
      They are lucky if he does not sue them and the stupid lady that said something.

      We should always be on the lookout for this type of thing but use discretion and dont accuse until you see it. If you do, then go to town on the pervs. talking on the phone is not a green light for me.

      Report Post »  
  • yanki161
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:30pm

    Thanks, Dr. Keith Obvious. He is worth a second look. The question before you is “Should he be escorted from the store?”

    Report Post » yanki161  
  • NeoFan
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:28pm

    Simple, don’t go into a Barnes and Noble store.

    Report Post »  
    • Joe Bonham
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:35pm

      That’s ridiculous.

      Report Post »  
    • AnAmericanToo
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 11:27pm

      We aren’t going to the bookstore any more. We don’t like stores with secret bias policies. We used to go to Barnes and Noble for a restful, pleasant atmosphere but now knowing that any males in our group will be treated as sexual predators by company secret policy — well, we will take our business else where. Barnes and Noble is entitled to their company policy but we have to honor and respect the men in our family, or friends that we met at the bookstore.

      If Barnes and Noble has problems with sexual perverts in their stores, why are the children’s section placed in the back of the store? The kiddie sections in the stores we have been in have them in the back and near the restrooms. The company should lower the stacks and move the section to the front of the store with staff assigned to walk through the section on a regular basis. And how about a policy that prohibits children from running around the store without being attached to their parent?

      Report Post »  
  • PointBreak
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:27pm

    In their defense, the dude does look like a total ped.

    Report Post »  
  • hi
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:26pm

    Until pedophiles get life in prison, this is a good idea.

    Report Post » hi  
    • Doctor Nordo
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 6:19pm

      Plenty of female sexual predators out there too, nitwit. So why is this a male only policy? This absolutely reeks of sexism. It’s disgusting, and it’s even more disgusting that you, as an alleged conservative, support it. You should be ashamed of yourself.

      Report Post » Doctor Nordo  
  • Sue Dohnim
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:25pm

    Wow,

    what will do with all the Liberals in the Fanasy section

    Report Post » Sue Dohnim  
    • Sue Dohnim
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:29pm

      typo..

      what will they do with all the Liberals in the Fantasy section

      Report Post » Sue Dohnim  
  • Blacktooth
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:25pm

    *Sigh*

    I am so fed up with this evil world and it’s perversions that make life so hard for decent people.

    Report Post » Blacktooth  
  • redbone007
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:25pm

    I will escort him out too.

    Report Post » redbone007  
  • NHwinter
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:24pm

    Oh my gosh, we live in a very strange and frightening world.

    Report Post » NHwinter  
  • ChiefGeorge
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:22pm

    All men are now really victims!

    Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
    • Blacktooth
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:35pm

      Yes, victims because going into a store, I stay away from any children that might happen to be there. I do not talk to them or even look at them for fear of being perceived a predator or some kind of pervert.

      Is this any way to live? Afraid of being nice to a kid? I‘m glad I was a kid in the 50’s, back when we didn’t concern ourselves with this kind of tragedy to men.

      Report Post » Blacktooth  
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