Cabela's St Louis Not CCW Friendly

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Archer1945

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I was out at the Cabela's in the St Louis Mills Mall this evening and found out they have become CCW unfriendly. As a rule I generally have one of my camera bags with me and today was no exception. Now I have been going into this store and have spent a fair amount of money out there since shortly after this store was opened, nearly always with a camera bag on my shoulder. Up until just about a week ago I was never asked as to what I had in the bag. The first time I was asked I told the person it was a camera, this time I told him he really didn't need to know. To which he said he would notify management and have a me tracked constantly.

I was over looking at the shotguns when a couple of management people approached me. When I told the one he didn't have a need to know his comment was, "Well you might have a conceal weapon". Of course I replied that concealed weapons are legal in the state of Missouri and besides they do not have any signs saying they are not allowed in the store. His response was they were not legal but when the other manager spoke up and said they were he sort of shut up but said he would notify security.

I will be notifying Cabela's that they just lost themselves a customer and that I was planning on buying a couple of new handguns and, possibly, a shotgun but will now take my business to Bass Pro because they are very CCW friendly.
 
1. Before you give up on Cabelas, write management a letter. Be sure to include the manager's name. It sounds like he needs to be educated on the store's customer base and the law. Also, considering that CCW classes are held at many different Cabelas stores, they will probably want to communicate their displeasure to this employee.
2. As far as asking about the camera bag, they do have a good reason to ask about it having nothing to do with concealed weapons. A camera bag is the perfect place for a shoplifter to hide expensive items.
 
Sounds like the bag was the issue not the CCW. One idiot manager can make for a bad afternoon if he decides to call the PD. Eventhough it's legal with a permit, they can still get the PD involved and ruin your day. I personally don't use the fanny pack/bag carry in stores. Draws to much attention. Learned that lesson as a teenager with a motorcycle and stopping off at the store with my gym bag. Manager followed me out the store and searched my bag. Nothing was in it of course it just caught their attention. As for Cabelas, around here they have on sign on the door to check firearms at the desk, but they state it does not apply to CCW permit holders. They want to check the firearms that are going to appraised. The funny part is they walk you out the door with your firearm. That's funny when you've been carrying for the last 1hr through the store. I would not give up on Cabelas.
 
I believe there is a sign out front that says all guns must be cased and unloaded,except legally concealed handguns. I would almost swear to it. Bogie,look for that sign would ya?
 
Sounds like the management were idiots and you were maybe looking for trouble.

That Cabela's (I've been there multiple times), although in a mall that is posted as per MO regulations at the mall entrances, specifically allows CCW. Their door sign says something to the effect of "Firearms for trade or repair must be checked at the customer service desk. This does not apply to legally carried concealed weapons." While they aren't the best place to shop for firearms (good selection, bad prices), their own sign states they allow CCW.

Bags tend to be good for shoplifting, and if it is obviously out of place (most people don't haul camera bags with them), then that will raise awareness. Was there some reason why you felt you needed to be coy about the camera? I can understand privacy issues, but you also need to understand that they have a need to safeguard against theft.
 
Yeah, sounds like dumb manager to me. Besides, I would think of a better carry system if they picked you out so easily.
 
A camera bag is the perfect place for a shoplifter to hide expensive items.
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A purse is a good place to hide merchandise, too. Somehow I doubt that they stop and question all women as they enter the store, though. What about cargo pants, with all those pockets just waiting to be filled with stolen goods? Baby strollers? Diaper bags?



Say, Archer... your, ahem, "camera bag" wouldn't happen to be one of these, would it?
0403k_1784_detail.jpg
 
Near as I have been able to gather, Cabela's is more shooter friendly than Bass Pro. I base this on the two stores in Chicagoland, which I have visited about three times each. Of course, neither has to "worry" about CCW.
 
Cabela's managers tend to be very EBR-unfriendly in my experience, and have issues with the whole CCW thing. Frankly, they hire FUDDs.
 
For the information of you people that say I was asking for trouble by carrying my camera bag I would like you to know I have been carrying camera bags in St Louis Mills Mall since it opened and also in Cabela's and not once has anybody said anything about it, until this incident. I did not get the manager's name, I should have, but even when he was informed by another member of management who was with him that CCW is legal in Missouri his attitude was pretty much. it isn't in THIS store.

Btw, the sign on their front door says nothing about conceal weapons because the malls owners would not approve since every other entrance has a no weapons sign.

As for Bass Pro, the store in St Charles is very CCW friendly, even says so on their door. The Cabela's in Kearney is ccw friendly because that is their main store and is not in a mall, unless it is owned by Cabela's.
 
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The Cabelas coat I am wear daily is very CCW friendly! I carry a holstered S&W 6946 in the right pocket concealed and ready.
I'm in agreement that they probably had more of an issue with you coming in carrying a man-purse....errrr "camera bag", than a legally concealed handgun. Athough, the employees need education.
I personally would not carry in a bag of any sort. It screams "CCW" and is an easy target for a snatch, with your gun inside.
I have bought a couple of clothing items online which were a bit small, and they accepted the returns with no problem. Most recently I've purchased a jacket and a coat from Cabelas which fit perfectly, exactly the size stated, a nice generous fit.
Jack
 
For the information of you people that say I was asking for trouble by carrying my camera bag I would like you to know I have been carrying camera bags in St Louis Mills Mall since it opened and also in Cabela's and not once has anybody said anything about it, until this incident.
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While YOU might do it regularly, it is not a common thing, and many retail managers can't find their rears with both hands, a map, and a native guide. More common things to be carrying would be a purse or diaper bag (well, a man with a purse might get attention for other reasons...), and they would be used to those.

You might want to contact Cabela's corporate and inform them that their STL store management needs a little education. I'm quite sure that they have no intent of angering the conceal carry crowd in the region; that would do a fairly good job of nuking their sales.

According to MO law, if a given set of doors is not posted, then CCW is not prohibited. Cabela's does not post their doors as per RSMO 571, or even make a token attempt (small decal apparently banning revolvers or Beretta 92s). In fact, their signage seems to imply that legal CCW is welcomed in their store. If the management is saying otherwise, then corporate needs to clarify and either educate their management or let us know so we can go elsewhere.
 
The new Cabela's here in WA will get the policy wrong from time to time. We had an Open Carry meeting last weekend nearby and were planning on meeting up at the Cabela's store beforehand. Two different employees told me I had to check my 1911 in and could not open carry in the store. The GM corrected the employees though. There were about eight of us sitting in the cafeteria carrying openly without incident. For what it’s worth, Sportsman’s Warehouse has the same policy and occasionally the same problem with misinformed employees.
 
I bought a pair of gloves from Cabela's this fall. The so-called "large" size was at best medium. Somebody figured out a way to skimp on cloth.
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Stop the presses!

Not a good thing to get your panties in a wad about....

1. Gloves were not made by Cabellas.... Probably made somewhere else, china maybe.

2. Perhaps the MANUFACTURER of the gloves got that pair wrong or were using the wrong lasts... mistakes happen. When Cabellas ordered them, they did not check every pair against the one guy in the building with exactly sized "Large" hands.

3. Did you go back and try to exchange them for Ex-large? Sizes by different manufacturers can vary.. In some shoes, I wear a 13, in some a 14....

4. Perhaps your hands gained weight? Have you been eating finger food? It is the holidays...
 
I carry the bag that RKBABob displayed. I work in Columbia, MO and these don't even get a second look. Everyone in Columbia has some kind of bag. Occasionally, like when I come to the Lou, my Maxipedition will have my 92FS just like the one showed.

I would have told them to put up or shut up. I have very little time for stupid people who try to take away my rights. I have heard friends talk about St. Louis Mills being the choice of gangs in the North County area. Any truth to that?
 
The funny part is they walk you out the door with your firearm. That's funny when you've been carrying for the last 1hr through the store.
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Same way at Sportsmans Warehouse. They also have signs to check firearms and bows with CS, and a specific exemption for lawful, secured CCW's.
 
Don't trash a store that serves Outdoorsmen just because of some prat. Write the letter requesting specific individuals be taught local laws and ordinances pertaining to their business. He was probably from another store in another state or something... or just ignorant.
Cabela's isnt' my favorite, but I do like the store.
 
When the Glendale Cabela's first opened, there was a sign that said "No loaded firearms." Period. Someone must have leaned on them, because it was later changed to say, "All firearms brought in for sale or trade must be unloaded and checked in at the courtesy desk." (Whereupon you "show clear" and then the employee puts trigger locks on the firearms and escorts you to the gun section.) "This does not apply to CCW permit holders." I don't think the new management - in all probability from another state - knew Arizona very well. ;)

Is the Cabela's in the OP's question in the mall? Perhaps it is the mall that has the CCW restriction. Unless there is a mall policy or some state or local law forbidding CCW, though, I think someone "leaning on" the Cabela's should straighten it out.
 
Cabela's in Kearney doesn't restrict ccw
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Cabela's in Kearney, NE doesn't have to. The city of Kearney has an ordinance prohibiting concealed weapons, even those carried by Nebraska CHP holders. Get caught with a CCW and be prepared to spend some time in jail and at court. LB695 is sitting in committee and will grant statewide preemption. Until then, carry with caution in the People's Republic of Kearney.

(Is the Kearney Cabela's in city limits? It's a bit out there...)
 
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