No weapons allowed

southoftheboarder said:

When a sign is posted No Weapons Allowed, and you are carrying what do you do? Go in or bring your weapon to the car.

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I would respect their wishes and not carry.

Freedom applies to everyone.

I'd mention my disappointment, but if they sold a good product, I'd continue to shop/eat/etc there, though I'd continue to tell them I dislike their stance.

I have some cards to hand to these kinds of places. And thank you cards for those who respect my 2A rights.

@stonecutter 2

It would be a very sad day that you chose to go unarmed --- and that "gun free zone" sign did not work and a bad person came in WITH A GUN,and took your life.

Just my 00.02 cents.

If it's one of the two variations of a legal sign, I don't go in. If it's not, I assume it's just there to placate bedwetters, and carry past it.

Vern Humphrey wrote:

That's the zebra-at-the-waterhole philosophy -- "the crocodiles and lions will get some other zebra, not me."

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Don't scoff -- that's actually a viable defensive strategy, and one that's taught to our government employees overseas. Try to put yourself into the mind of the predator, and (a) don't stand out above the crowd, and (b) don't look like a victim. That means being assertive, but being inconspicuous. Dress and act like a local, but on the other hand don't look like a vulnerable weakling. Situational awareness is paramount.

I have to admit that I violated these rules one time (overseas), and got mugged for several thousand dollars. Having a gun wouldn't have made a bit of difference in that situation. (Actually the gun would have been stolen too, if I had had one.) These muggers are professionals at what they do, and I have to grudgingly admire them. Not that I wouldn't kill them if I could.

So under such circumstances you get used to not carrying and you adjust your behavior accordingly. This is actually somewhat liberating.
Funny you should mention that.
It took me 3 months to get my carry permit when I retired from the NYC court system.
I had carried a gun for nearly 33 years but had to voucher them until my license came through.
And for those 3 months I felt very liberated--go figure.

Texas, of all places. Is a little weird. Weve got the 51 percent sign which indicated a business derives 51 percent or more of its profits from the sale of alcohol. That sign carries the force of law. Theres also the 30.06 sign. This also carries the force of law, which is stupid, because there's no requirements needed for a business to put this sign up. They can just do it. Being caught with an otherwise legally carried weapon in one of these stores can land you a nice class A misdemeanor. Many Texans don't give a single damn about these signs... personally I leave it in the car... then there's this other sign that we see here that states something like "the unlicensed position of a handgun on this premises is a felony" which is a very redundant and stupid sign, because any unlicensed person carrying a handgun outside of their home, car, or place of business in the state of Texas is committing a felony.. So my answer is, it depends on the sign.

51 percent sign- Don't carry, I don't agree with it, but I can at least understand the ideology behind that sign.

30.06 Sign- If I need to I'll go in but leave the gun in the car, after I notice the sign ill take a picture of it, post it on a local gun group and attempt to make other potential patrons aware of the discriminatory acts.

Unlicensed possession sign- Going in, don't care, doesn't matter. These things are usually on convenience stores. Those get robbed all the time. Ill take my gun thank you

If it's law I go in unarmed. After all, I would need to be in there or I wouldn't be there in the first place. If it's "policy" I go in armed. Who's gonna tell them? I'm not.

Oneounceload, at the high school I attend in Iowa there is a law stating that a person can not be within some many hundred yards with a gun. The school is surrounded completely by street, so one can park on the street and have a gun right next to the school. The law is somewhat pointless in that specific case because if everyone followed that law the houses around the school could not have guns.

I don't normally read signs on places other than to make sure I am in the right place.

oneounceload reminds me:

Med you can have a gun with you on school grounds IF you are in your car waiting to pick your kid

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Yes, this is true, and I do pick up and drop off my child on the days I'm off work. I also keep my gun on when doing so.

Simple. Wife and I are both licensed and we just don't buy from places who announce no guns allowed. Too many friendly places to support.

Conversely, if we know of a place that has taken a position of being gun friendly, we support them as best we can.

Don't scoff -- that's actually a viable defensive strategy, and one that's taught to our government employees overseas. Try to put yourself into the mind of the predator, and (a) don't stand out above the crowd, and (b) don't look like a victim. That means being assertive, but being inconspicuous. Dress and act like a local, but on the other hand don't look like a vulnerable weakling. Situational awareness is paramount.

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The fact that the government teaches it doesn't mean it's effective. After all, in an active shooting event or a terrorist attack, it automatically means SOMEONE dies -- and the rest of us hope it won't be us.

Teachu2 - “As for me. I find having alternatives liberating. Sometimes I choose a 9mm, others a .45acp.”

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Too, too funny! My concession to the 9mm is the 9x23 Winchester, otherwise I’m in lock step with you.

I am a retired LEO and while my contact with perps was generally of short duration, the correction officers and other personnel are exposed to them their entire working day - and for the most part they are not armed! Something I would not do.

I admire all of you for your courage.

In Arkansas signs carry the weight of the law, so I've been known to slip my sidearm in the glove box and go in an establishment before.

I don't get into the whole boycotting thing. Hell, if you were really consistent with that, there wouldn't be many places you would go. I don't like it necessarily but P.F. Changs is so freaking good I just leave it in the car.

Bangswitch, unless something has changed, "no guns" signs do carry the weight if the law.

However, they did put that word "conspicuous" in there... If its posted in the same area as the "no smoking" and "no pets/service animals only" I go elsehere 90% of the time, and leave it in the car for the other 10%.

If it isn't posted with the other signs, I don't look for it. If I have to look for it, its not conspicuous. I'm sure I've carried in a few gun free zones that had the "no guns" sign posted in a corner of the door or swimming in a sea of fliers.

I don't like it necessarily but P.F. Changs is so freaking good I just leave it in the car.

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And when you come back to the parking lot and find the window of your car smashed?

Leaving a gun in a car is a good way to get it stolen. So I simply don't go places where I can't carry.

I think that carrying weapons routinely creates a kind of psychological dependency.

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<SNIP>

This is actually somewhat liberating.

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Hey, I don't judge. Too each their own. I've had some bad crap happen to me in my last 50 years, so I'm wired differently. If it works for you, thats fine, but I'm guessing most of the folks who CC on a daily basis will disagree with you.

And when you come back to the parking lot and find the window of your car smashed?

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I would feel the same way as if I got burglarized any other way, but I sure as hell wouldn't blame myself for getting my car, house, health club locker, office...etc...etc...burglarized. I just don't understand the blame-the-victim-mentality.

If you do something you know is likely to end badly, you can hardly call that "blame the victim" mentality. You KNOW it's wrong to leave a gun in an unattended vehicle.

I honestly do not read what's on the door and outside wall of a store before I enter. If they have information that they feel is that important, they should have someone outside either handing you a paper or giving you information verbally, not relying on the chance that you are a door and wall reader.
I don't normally read what's on doors before entering a store or restaurant, especially at night.
It's foolish to assume that everyone who enters your business is going to read everything on the door, they don't even read the hours of operation, having owned several small businesses, and having the hours of operation right on the door, every day someone would come in and ask when we were open.
Is it just me or aren't people busy doing other things when entering a restaurant with a group of people at night to say hey let's all stop and see what the door has to say.

Out of sight out of mind... Most of these "no guns allowed" signs are only there to appease those who do not have experience with guns and to keep the people who want to open carry from scaring the other customers away... This is one on the main reason why these signs started going up in the first place...

I just keep my firearm concealed and no one cares, and everyone is happy. If someone starts shooting or tries to rob the place at gunpoint, I'm willing to bet they'd welcome me with open arms... At least until the police get there.

The only place I've ever seen these signs are in just about every movie theater. I go in anyway...

I agree whole heartedly, no one there will be coming to my funeral, or that of my family or friends. When they can guarantee my safety I will leave my guns at home.

The problem is, Illinois has the force of law behind those signs, as stupid as that is. Hopefully that can be fixed. I'll just avoid the places that have them, and work to change the places that voluntarily post.

As long as I am not violating a federal law I casually ignore the sign and carry on. The only exception is if the business provides me with a written affidavit assuming the responsibility for my personal protection and that they agree to provide for my safety by any means necessary. I have never received such a letter to this day so I provide for my own safety.

Blanket.....

For now I'm using a cheap plastic/foam Plano case for my Glock 21 gen 04 .45acp when I secure it in my SUV. I put a cheap fleece blanket or stack a few junk mail flyers over it to distract any crooks or a thief.
It's not perfect but it works.