concealed weapons not allowed on premises...?

[Sam]

What do you do when you run across these signs? They seem to be at many important places - the grocery store, doctor's offices, hospitals, schools, the bank...

Do you go put your gun in your glove compartment? Do you carry it anyway?

 

[Lisa]

Here in Canada it isn't much of a problem since we are not allowed to conceal carry, but I have heard from friends in the states that refuse to shop at these stores any longer because of that policy.

 

[Sam]

I think you would be hard pressed to find a bank which allowed concealed handguns on the premises...?

 

[Bigshadow]

There are some locations that conceal carry is forbidden by law, then there are places that post signs like that, but unless it falls under the forbidden types of locations under the law, I don't believe it carries much weight. I will carry unless it is illegal by law.

EDIT: Here in Florida, Banks, government buildings, schools, establishments that (primarily) serve alcohol, football games, and others, are off-limits by law to carry concealed.

 

[Sam]

There are some locations that conceal carry is forbidden by law, then there are places that post signs like that, but unless it falls under the forbidden types of locations under the law, I don't believe it carries much weight. I will carry unless it is illegal by law.

Interesting. So the signs are empty threats?

 

[Bigshadow]

Interesting. So the signs are empty threats?

I *believe* so. I have never read anywhere that the law states I cannot carry where posted signs say I cannot (other than the list in the statutes).

Basically, if it is a grocery store or retail store, I am going in packing if I have it on me.

EDIT: IMO, the signs are liability on their part. It is my responsibility to protect myself. If I choose to carry to help ensure this and I encounter a sign at a store like that, they are assuming liability for my protection by forbidding me to carry there. Now of course I do not think they realise this. The first time they fail to protect, I see a big legal problem for them.

In any case, I will carry if I want to, regardless of the signs.

 

[Grenadier]

I think you would be hard pressed to find a bank which allowed concealed handguns on the premises...?

Not necessarily. It simply varies from state to state, and within states that do not forbid it, from place to place.

As to what to do, some states' laws simply say that if you are caught carrying in those areas, then you must leave the premises. Others make it a crime to do so.

In places where a specific sign is required, and if they do not have the correct sign posted, I simply stay quiet, and disregard the sign. This isn't always the case, though, since some states just require any kind of scribbling to be "correct."

For cases where it's blatantly, and unquestionably unlawful, such as post offices, gov't buildings, etc., and where there are no alternatives, I simply leave the gun in the glove compartment of my car. The way I figure, such places usually at least have some modicum of security, but if I can go elsewhere, then I will.

A bit of a chuckle:

When I was getting my dissertation ready for printing, the nearby print shop had a "No Weapons Allowed" sign on it that I hadn't seen before. I was standing at the door, holding several boxes of 100% cotton bond paper in my hands, and simply walked away. The owner wondered what was wrong, and when I told him about the silly sign doing nothing to stop criminals while hindering law abiding folks, he said "Oh! I only meant for the bad guys!" and changed it to "No Unlawful Weapons Allowed."

 

[arnisandyz]

EDIT: Here in Florida, Banks are off-limits by law to carry concealed.

Bad advice.
You CAN carry in banks in Florida. (Unless you go to Federal Reserve bank), bank roberries are under FEDERAL jurisdiction ONLY because the banks are FDIC insured. Banks ARE NOT Federal Property. I think of all places you would want to be armed is in a bank! Unless the bank has a posted sign saying you can't...you can. Nowhere in Florida law does it specifically say you can't carry in BANKS. Think about this...a robber is casing out banks for a robbery. Given the choice, do you think he will chose a regular bank or a bank that has a NO Carry sign? Thats why most banks don't post a no carry sign here in Florida.

READ 790.06 below and show me where it says BANKS are off limits?

790.06 (12) License to Carry Concealed Weapon or Firearm

Any place of nuisance as defined in s. 823.05
any police, sheriff, or highway patrol station;
any detention facility, prison, or jail;
any courthouse; any courtroom, except that nothing in this section would preclude a judge from carrying a concealed weapon or determining who will carry a concealed weapon in his or her courtroom;
any polling place;
any meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality, or special district;
any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof;
any school, college, or professional athletic event not related to firearms;
any school administration building;
any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to such purpose;
any elementary or secondary school facility;
any area vocational-technical center;
any college or university facility unless the licensee is a registered student, employee, or faculty member of such college or university and the weapon is a stun gun or nonlethal electric weapon or device designed solely for defensive purposes and the weapon does not fire a dart or projectile;
inside the passenger terminal and sterile area of any airport, provided that no person shall be prohibited from carrying any legal firearm into the terminal, which firearm is encased for shipment for purposes of checking such firearm as baggage to be lawfully transported on any aircraft; or
any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law

 

[arnisandyz]

I *believe* so. I have never read anywhere that the law states I cannot carry where posted signs say I cannot (other than the list in the statutes).

If you carry at a location tha has a No Carry sign posted and are caught, most likely you will be asked to leave the premises or store your gun in your vehicle. If you refuse, the establishment can/will call the police and you will be cited for something equivelent to tresspassing and the police will remove you from the establishment.

 

[Bigshadow]

Bad advice.
You CAN carry in banks in Florida.

Oops! Well, I thought I had read that. At least it was an error on the side of caution. Thanks for posting the entire statute.... :lol:

 

[arnisandyz]

Oops! Well, I thought I had read that. At least it was an error on the side of caution. Thanks for posting the entire statute.... :lol:

No problem. The more good guys with guns in banks the better!

 

[Carol]

If you carry at a location tha has a No Carry sign posted and are caught, most likely you will be asked to leave the premises or store your gun in your vehicle. If you refuse, the establishment can/will call the police and you will be cited for something equivelent to tresspassing and the police will remove you from the establishment.

Excellent summation of the issue.

There are carry rights, and there are private property rights. Ownership of private property comes with the ability to say, within bounds, who is and is not welcome on one's property.

 

[theletch1]

I think the big thing here for me is that it is a CONCEALED weapon...the whole point is that no-one knows you're carrying in the first place. So, as long as you are truly carrying concealed no one will even know that you have a weapon on the premises. Carry on (pun intended) and should you find yourself in a position to actually need the weapon then it's there for you and you can deal with the consequences later...don't carry and you may not be around to deal with the consequences.

 

[Xue Sheng]

Quick related story and I will try not to bother you again

I will not name the state or the person involved for obvious reasons.

A friend of mine was once arrested at his home early one morning as he was getting read for work by 2 state police officers. He was being arrested for delinquent parking tickets. He gave them no problems and went with them to lock up where he waited in a cell for a judge so he could pay the fines and go to work (self employed).

He then realized as he was sitting in the cell (fortunately by himself) that he had his gun in his shoulder holster. (He deals with large sums of money in a rather large city so he carries a gun.) Everything was legal but after much thought he decided it was best not to tell them. Judge came he paid the fines and left

 

[SFC JeffJ]

Here in Indiana, the only places we can't carry is in state and federal buildings, and the casinos. Churches, bars, and banks are fine.

If it's someplace with a no weapons sign posted, I will ignore it if I have no choice but to go there. Otherwise, I find someplace else to get what I wanted from there.

JeffJ

 

[Bigshadow]

If you carry at a location tha has a No Carry sign posted and are caught, most likely you will be asked to leave the premises or store your gun in your vehicle. If you refuse, the establishment can/will call the police and you will be cited for something equivelent to tresspassing and the police will remove you from the establishment.

I wouldn't refuse, I would just leave, go somewhere else. But until caught I will ignore. I don't pack it very often. Most of the time my only weapons are a CRKT M16 EDC and kubotan. I really have gotten out of the habit of carrying my .45.

 

[Bigshadow]

Quick related story and I will try not to bother you again

I will not name the state or the person involved for obvious reasons.

A friend of mine was once arrested at his home early one morning as he was getting read for work by 2 state police officers. He was being arrested for delinquent parking tickets. He gave them no problems and went with them to lock up where he waited in a cell for a judge so he could pay the fines and go to work (self employed).

He then realized as he was sitting in the cell (fortunately by himself) that he had his gun in his shoulder holster. (He deals with large sums of money in a rather large city so he carries a gun.) Everything was legal but after much thought he decided it was best not to tell them. Judge came he paid the fines and left

:rofl:

 

[Xue Sheng]

:rofl:

I'm not sure what this response means.

But the story was true.

 

[Bigshadow]

I'm not sure what this response means.

But the story was true.

No, it wasn't what you think. I was chuckling at the whole incident that the police actually never noticed. Actually, I should have put a frown as that is a shame.

 

[jks9199]

If you carry at a location tha has a No Carry sign posted and are caught, most likely you will be asked to leave the premises or store your gun in your vehicle. If you refuse, the establishment can/will call the police and you will be cited for something equivelent to tresspassing and the police will remove you from the establishment.

When you enter private property, you agree to be bound by the rules of the property. If they post that no guns are allowed, you could be charged with trespassing.

In many states, there are also particular places that you may not carry a concealed weapon, unless you fall into a narrow set of exemptions. (In VA, those exceptions basically amount to your own property or being a law enforcement officer.) Liqour establishments, for example... Also, speaking only for VA, it's illegal to carry a concealed weapon to a church or school. (18.2-283 and 18.2-308.1)

Bluntly... If you're in doubt, you probably ought to secure the gun before you go in.