Carry at gun shows.

Bazoo said:

I have been to one gun show and I was required to unload my carry gun, and relinquish my ammo to enter.

I don’t go places I can’t carry.

I could carry a gun concealed well enough not to get caught, and be legal in ignoring the no carry policy in my state.

It left a bad taste in my mouth and I have declined other gun shows since.

Is this common policy for gun shows?

I’m curious also as to what others do. Do you disarm to attend or do you conceal and carry anyway?

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Are they using metal detectors? If not, then don't say anything when they ask... IMNAL so take that with a grain of salt...

I have never been to a gun show that allowed carry here in MI. That being said, don't ask, don't tell.

How can you "be legal in ignoring the no carry policy in my state"? If you are aware of them and decide to ignore them, how does that make your choice legal?

The last time I went, they had a metal detector and would zip-tie your gun open and ask you not to insert the magazine.
I might not agree with it, but I can't remember the last year without hearing about someone's negligent discharge at a show in the state, so I get their point.

I will say if something went down, a whole lot of Leathermans would be out in a hurry. They sure got handed around between the rope and exit doors.

rperyam said:

How can you "be legal in ignoring the no carry policy in my state"? If you are aware of them and decide to ignore them, how does that make your choice legal?

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They can trespass you but no other legal issue I believe.

hso said:

Yes

If you want to bring your gun in you get it zip tied.

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That's the nature of the beast in Ohio also.

All that I have been to in Maine require that you are unloaded and zip tied open if inside the show. Has been like this for years. Probably a liability issue so they can get insurance for putting it on.

Same in Indiana, went to one today, left gun in the truck

The big Tulsa show doesn't allow carrying loaded. That said they an idiot fire a round into the floor a couple show back.

Note: it's at a state fair grounds

Also like that at the big show in Tulsa. Wannamacher. But no metal detector and in OK, a mere sign does not carry the weight of law. Here in Oklahoma, only if they discover you're carrying, and ask you to leave (and you refuse), only then have you broken the law. I.e., trespassing.

Posted after the above post and, yes, they've had numerous "accidents." One show, about ten years ago? I arrived and a row on the bottom level was cordoned off with glass and blood on the floor. But that gun belonged to a dealer who handed it to a gawker who fired it into the glass case. The blood was the dealer's who got cut by the glass.

The dealer failed to check his inventory and, hence, failed to unload the gun. He was permanently banned from the show.

Bazoo said:

Is this common policy for gun shows?

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Yep.

It's based on history. A long, sordid history of egregious negligent discharges (many from "unloaded" firearms) throughout the nation at gun shows big and small. I've personally witnessed (well, in one case, heard from close-by) two in the past twenty-five years. At WAC shows that prohibit carry of loaded firearms inside the venue, with only members allowed to even bring their zip-tied guns in...

Bazoo said:

I have been to one gun show and I was required to unload my carry gun, and relinquish my ammo to enter.

I don’t go places I can’t carry.

I could carry a gun concealed well enough not to get caught, and be legal in ignoring the no carry policy in my state.

It left a bad taste in my mouth and I have declined other gun shows since.

Is this common policy for gun shows?

I’m curious also as to what others do. Do you disarm to attend or do you conceal and carry anyway?

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Good evening and welcome to the school of hard knocks.

I worked for a gunshow promoter in the state of Kentucky for two years as a firearms safety check in agent. I CHECKED every gun and secured each weapon with a zip tie for two things 1. Insurance requirements 2. PERSONAL SAFETY. I have had everything from 22 to a magnum rifle come through the door loaded and every owner just stared at me in amazement as I ejected a loaded cartridge from their "unloaded " gun and all I got was a blank stare of stupidity.

Did you hear about the shooting in Lexington ky at a gun show last year where a dealer's wife took a 380 round through the hand and up the arm because someone had a "CONCEALED" pistol that was not checked and proceeded to sell it to a dealer and when the "SELLER" was handing said "unloaded" pistol over the dealers wife took the round. I personally witnessed and spoke with the wife at other shows in the following months.

Now onto the I WON'T COME IF I CAN'T CARRY A GUN group...... I have been yelled at and called everything but a nice white man when I said a person may not carry in the show. I am not a jack booted tool of the state as many have suggested I am there to ensure all arms are safe for handling in the avenue of commerce.

A concealed firearm is just that concealed, if I can't see it I can't be held responsible as that is ON YOU and NOT THE PROMOTER.

No one is treading on your rights and this is a common INSURANCE POLICY REQUIRMENT.

If you do not attend the show it's your lose not ours.

Signs in Minnesota typically say “No Loaded Guns” allowed.

I have always carried concealed. Most guys I know also are carrying concealed. No one has ever asked. Most dealers I know are carrying concealed at the shows. They have asked if I have anything in the bag I carry.

Gun shows are essentially a 'special circumstance' when it comes to gun handling. There is essentially no safe direction to point a firearm, and it's difficult to follow most of the four rules of gun safety at a show.

That being the case, unloaded firearms make it safer (but not completely safe) when folks handle, point and otherwise fondle guns in a crowded room. I don't like it, but I get it.


Larry

Ironically, the vendor and their insurance frown upon carried firearms in gun shows. When the entire space is full of firearms, ammo, and knives.

Every show I've gone to, except very small local shows, forbids carrying loaded guns. It can seem paradoxical at first since the large ones like Tulsa are filled to the rafters with guns and ammo. But when you think about it we are all taught from early age to unload our weapons after hunting, during transport, before entering cars, homes, etc. If you can't leave your guns in the car to attend a gun show, it's your loss. As my mom used tyto tell me, "don't cut off your nose to spite your face."

I am not sure why I should feel obligated to disarm because of some corporate policy.

Is the same tassled-loafered legal goon squad personally providing security in the venue parking lot as the slammed Civic does a slow rolls through the aisles asking about "whatcha buy?", something that I personally witnessed at one of the Denver Metro shows?

Any weapon I plan on interacting with at the show will be fully complaint with regard being unloaded/zip-tied/cased/etc. However, I will retain a loaded compact carry gun on my person at all times, and that gun will not see the light of day at the show.

Sorry, I just don't accommodate patronizing stupidity.

Bazoo said:

No reason to be upset with me. You sound like I’ve insulted you and it wasnt my intent.

It’s not my fault someone else shot some guys wife. I had not heard about that. I don’t hear about much unless I read it on a gun forum.

If I attend any gun shows in the future I’ll know to be darn sure I keep it concealed and to myself. Noted.

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No one is upset Bazoo, I simply lack tack.

I am spear heading this topic, I have had this conversation with 1000s of people who simply feel I or the promoter am some how treading on their rights.

I have observed this situation as being emotionally charged and for the most part the people who blew up only came for a verbal fight. Call it a test of 2nd amendment man hood if you would.

No one simply believes the truth based on the facts, a average policy for liability event insurance for 12 shows is around 3000 dollars a year and after 5 years of no incidents the rate drops. This policy and price is based around NO CLAIMS. If a claim is made it is easy to pay 10 to 20 thousand dollars a year for a policy with the same coverage.

People simply feel they should be able to come and go and do whatever they like in gunshows. These same people object to paying admission at the gate, show rules, etc. A gunshow is a business that is only there to make a promoter money and anything that takes away money must be dealt which swiftly and directly.

People do not understand how close to death they really are when they stand around inside a gunshow due to 1qty person's POOR decision and actions.

KY DAN said:

No one is upset Bazoo, I simply lack tack.

I am spear heading this topic, I have had this conversation with 1000s of people who simply feel I or the promoter am some how treading on their rights.

I have observed this situation as being emotionally charged and for the most part the people who blew up only came for a verbal fight. Call it a test of 2nd amendment man hood if you would.

No one simply believes the truth based on the facts, a average policy for liability event insurance for 12 shows is around 3000 dollars a year and after 5 years of no incidents the rate drops. This policy and price is based around NO CLAIMS. If a claim is made it is easy to pay 10 to 20 thousand dollars a year for a policy with the same coverage.

People simply feel they should be able to come and go and do whatever they like in gunshows. These same people object to paying admission at the gate, show rules, etc. A gunshow is a business that is only there to make a promoter money and anything that takes away money must be dealt which swiftly and directly.

People do not understand how close to death they really are when they stand around inside a gunshow due to 1qty person's POOR decision and actions.

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Sounds just like what people say who want to restrict carry in all public or private areas.

So I am perfectly responsible to carry in a crowded Walmart, but become irresponsible if I carry inside a gun show?

.455_Hunter said:

Sounds just like what people say who want to restrict carry in all public or private areas.

So I am perfectly responsible to carry in a crowded Walmart, but become irresponsible if I carry inside a gun show?

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Yes we want to take away all guns and forms of carry and usher in the new world order...... you busted us.

Gun shows are places of commerce and items must be examined and they only way to do this is to establish a standard that all weapons entering the show are unloaded and safe. If this was anything else I would agree with your comments but it's not.

The more loaded guns going back and forth in the hands of sellers and buyers means a greater chance of a negligent discharge.

If you can't accept this answer then let's leave it at that and be friends on the internet.