Carrying concealed at a gun show

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Short sighted, what's to prevent you from buying a magazine and ammo for the pistol they just handed back to you? Except in CA where I'm sure everyone follows the law to the T. :rolleyes:

Based on several articles I've read about accidental discharges at gun shows, and some of the yahoos I see there, don't hate me but I actually feel safer knowing some of these people are not brandishing, showing off, trying on holsters, etc. with a loaded firearm in a crowded venue. Bad enough when someone sweeps you at a range, but you'd never see it coming at a show.
 
There's always some jackass that's going to try out holsters with his loaded "concealed" gun. How many times have we heard news reports or stories on here about a gun going off at a gun show? Too many.
 
In some thirty years of having a table at gun shows--or in just visiting and gawking--I somehow never felt that I was in any sort of danger of being mugged or threatened with violence.
 
I love gun shows and have seen this issue for many years. It does not bother me even slightly. I'll continue to attend as long as they are fun. I missed going to a KC show this weekend because of honey-do projects. Now THAT is a real problem!!!!!
 
ALL, the guns that I've heard about that were part of a ND at a gunshow were either brought in and set out loaded by vendors or pulled from a vendors belt.
That's not to say that others don't have a different experience but that is mine, three I have witnessed, 1 I pointed out loaded on the table prior to opening the doors to the public, the rest have been second hand repeated to me or read about in the news.
I recently attended a show in San Antonio and here it seems the state has taken the responsibility and it is a felony to just walk past the sign like many have said.
Seems the effort spent on the signs and the law could have simply been directed toward those who actually behave stupidly rather than the whole public in general.
Any show I've ever attended in any capacity allowed vendors to bring in guns by the truckload and are completely self regulated with regards to the status of their guns (lately most require zip ties but the enforcement is spotty).
Simple rules for carry anywhere should be to keep it in the holster until you get home or need to use it. Break the rules and someone gets hurt and you go to jail. Beyond that concealed means concealed.
 
. . . I could keep my BHP, but had to surrender my ammo and have the action ziptied open . . .
You had to surrender your ammo? Was it returned when you left, or did they keep it?

If their policy is to keep it . . . eventually someone will make sure the ammo they take and keep is really, really special.

As for NDs at gun shows . . . I know of two at local Austin shows. In the first, an off-duty cop was monkeying with a holster and negligently shot someone in the leg. In the second instance, I was present when an exhibitor discharged one of his pistols into the floor - fortunately, nobody was injured. Turned out he was a retired sheriff's deputy. He was bundled up, removed from the show, and banned for life within 10 minutes. By the time I made a circuit of the show, someone else was in his spot.

Note that neither one of these was a "mere" mortal with a CHL, both were "Traned Professhunuls."

X-Rap said:
I recently attended a show in San Antonio and here it seems the state has taken the responsibility and it is a felony to just walk past the sign like many have said.
Nope - it's actually a Class A Misdemeanor
 
Nope - it's actually a Class A Misdemeanor

I wish I would have taken a picture but I didn't want to draw attention to myself with the two officers sitting in front of it but it definitely said felony and the wording was similar to a sign I've seen elsewhere here.
So far as I know I've seen 3 signs in Texas referencing carrying weapons and felonys, the 51%, one without a license, and one with or without a license. I believe the one posted at the gunshow was the with or without.
Frankly I've yet to see the popular 30-06 sign, only ones I've noticed down here were Felony with Ten Years, $10'000 maximum penalty. Seems a little steep to me.
 
No loaded guns, period, is the standard at shows in this area. There have been several negligent discharges, all by idiots, mostly dealers, who were doing something stupid. Based on what I have observed when I've been there I'm not at all surprised. Generally speaking dealers at the shows around here are ignorant, rude, and exhibit unsafe handling of weapons regularly. There are exceptions of course but that seems the be the general rule. All that being said, I carry concealed and loaded for a reason. It's concealed so people, all people, don't know I have it and it's loaded so that it's useful as more than just a blunt force tool. I'll let you infer from that statement what you will.
 
I don't think I would be very comfortable in a show where everyone was packing.
It would take just one guy to whip out his carry piece because of a perceived threat. (That's why he was carrying in the first place, right?) Then someone else sees him waving a gun around and perceives him as a threat. Just carry it on from there and very shortly there would be one of the biggest furballs around. If anybody ends up firing a shot it could get real messy, real fast....:banghead:
 
You have to carry Millions of dollars in insurance to have a Gunshow. The insurers make the rules.

Without the insurance, no show.
 
If anybody ends up firing a shot it could get real messy, real fast....

I've been to that show a couple times and it's nothing like you're thinking.
 
I have a simplistic approach. Don't attend gun shows, thus you'll have no problems with the restrictions imposed at that venue.
 
ALL, the guns that I've heard about that were part of a ND at a gunshow were either brought in and set out loaded by vendors or pulled from a vendors belt.
That's not to say that others don't have a different experience but that is mine, three I have witnessed, 1 I pointed out loaded on the table prior to opening the doors to the public, the rest have been second hand repeated to me or read about in the news.
I recently attended a show in San Antonio and here it seems the state has taken the responsibility and it is a felony to just walk past the sign like many have said.
Seems the effort spent on the signs and the law could have simply been directed toward those who actually behave stupidly rather than the whole public in general.
Any show I've ever attended in any capacity allowed vendors to bring in guns by the truckload and are completely self regulated with regards to the status of their guns (lately most require zip ties but the enforcement is spotty).
Simple rules for carry anywhere should be to keep it in the holster until you get home or need to use it. Break the rules and someone gets hurt and you go to jail. Beyond that concealed means concealed.
The 30.06 and now 30.07 signs still carry the weight of law, but the punishment has been reduced in the open carry bill that goes into effect 1/1/16
 
X-Rap said:
I wish I would have taken a picture but I didn't want to draw attention to myself with the two officers sitting in front of it but it definitely said felony . . .
Wish you had a pic, but I understand your desire to maintain a lower profile. I've seen "non compliant" signs from time to time, occasionally referencing some obsoleted law - I suspect they may have put one of these up. Or perhaps they assume that lying about carrying to one of the sworn LEOs they have up front would be a felony?
 
Well if I go again I won't have a pistol in my pocket, fact is I was on a Motorcycle and had to piss like crazy so when I saw the sign I had to make a calculated choice.
Piss my pants, walk back out to the bike and try to lock up the gun in one of the bags without being charged for brandishing or marked for theft or proceed and take my chances.
Next time believe me I'll get a picture, maybe even have the officers pose with me.
 
Every gun show I’ve been to prohibits loaded guns inside. There’s always a table outside the door for guns to be checked and a zip tie put on the action. Only one show promoter says no ammo and you write your name on a baggie for any ammo to be reclaimed when leaving. I always thought that was kind of stupid with thousands of rounds available inside, but whatever.

Although I don’t like it, I understand (and agree) with the no loaded guns inside. And if you want to know why, just watch the way a lot of attendees handle them. There have been a number of incidents of ND’s at gun shows. Also, a gun show is about the only time I get to show off a BBQ gun and I always have someone, usually sellers, who want to see it and make an offer. Loaded would not work!
 
I know when I go to expect the zip tie but never have been questioned about ammo. Mags stay out of sight unless they are empties with a gun Im looking to sell/trade.
 
What percentage of guns are carried in by the public? Then what percentage of them are CC?
I don't deny there are idjits who will pull loaded guns from cover but consider the vast majority of guns will be brought into that venue by the same people that are criticised to no end for being crooked lying, thrives without the brains to tie their boots.
 
I've been going to gun shows for a lot of years and have seen the signs prohibiting the carry of loaded firearms at the shows here in Tennessee and other states where I've attended gun shows. It's definitely nothing new. Just like your home is your castle and you are the king making the rules , the operator of the gun show is in his castle and he is the king. Don't like his rules, don't go to the show. Your rights aren't being violated because you have the option of not entering. Just because you have a permit to carry doesn't make you anyone special.
 
Do you hear yourselves? Same arguments the antis use. Blood in the streets...what if an accident occurs.... Blah blah. Selling the "they wanna take er guns" propaganda while paying for space in an arena that actually prohibits carrying. Hypocritical.
 
BK said:
No, insurance companies do not require the disarming of everyone, everywhere. They are businesses just like ours, and realize that there is a market available in the gun-owning community.
I was just following that logic to its conclusion. If an insurance company can demand I surrender my rights at a gun show, as a condition of coverage, because somebody may do something stupid; then it logically follows that they could (under pressure from whomever) decide that if you own a gun at all, then you risk losing coverage of your car, your home, or your life. I wasnt saying thats what is, just that the "sensible" argument can be just as easily applied to other areas that require insurance.
 
pittpa said:
Did you have to surrender your knife (so as not to defeat the zip tie) and your wallet, so as not to buy any additional ammo?
Nope, sure didnt. Kept my gerber folder, and the officer never asked to sneek a peek in the bag i was carrying (stuff for sale)
 
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