Can't carry at gun shows??????

Status
Not open for further replies.
4

4Truck

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2003
Messages
162
Location
Fredericksburg, Virginia
This morning, against my better judgement, I make the trek to the Dale City Virginia gun show to see if I can find a 6" model 29. As I start to walk in to the VFW building, I see a sign that reads-

Attention concealed carry permit holders, you may carry your gun into the show, but it must be unloaded and be tagged prior to entrance. ALL guns must be tagged.

Not verbatim, but pretty close.

Does this piss anyone else off???

Does anyone know of a problem in the past at an Old Dominion show??

I just did not mention the Kimber on my belt when I paid my entrance fee, as I am sure many others did as well.

Am I overreacting, or is this total BS.

PS- I have never seen these signs at any of their other shows, including this one in the past
 
The ONLY thing I can think of is possible theft. You walk in, with a 1911 IWB holster. Happen to find a nice pistol, slide it into the holster and walk on out.
Of course, the sign does nothing to keep some from doing this and keeps the goodguys from protecting themselves.
My thougts, the correct answer will follow.
Tony
 
Hi 4Truck,

This has been discussed a few times before. The general concensus is that you should feel free to do whatever is legal for the state you live in.

For instance, here in Texas, a "No Guns Permitted" sign is yours to ignore unless it meets the specific standards of the 30.06 law defining the precise wording required.

I've been to gun shows with signs similar to the one you mentioned and just walked right in with my concealed handgun properly concealed. Having done so, I'd better not plan on trying out new holsters with my carry gun, though! If I have any plans to do that, then I need to bring this gun unloaded and permit the guys at the door to put the zip-lock thingie on it. Of course, that would just mean that I'd have a different gun concealed!! :D

If they discovered that you were carrying a concealed gun (although I don't know how that would happen if you carry properly) then you may be thrown out, but you will have broken no laws (at least in Texas). YMMV.

Cheers,
ChickenHawk
 
I find that interesting, no guns allowed (essentially) at guns shows in states with CCW. Same deal here in Michigan. Guns not welcome at a Gun Show, but OK to carry concealed into a bank.

Hmmmmmm.....

Regards
 
It is annoying, but I think OD has been doing it that way with their gun shows since day one of CCW. I haven't heard of any problems, nor have I heard of any reason why they do this.
 
from texas makes little sense to me

i have seen the 30.06 sign at some shows here, you can walk in with a pair of nail clipers buy a gun at one table walk across the room and buy ammo, go to the bath room and come out with a loaded gun. so as usual it does nothing to protect the honest folk.:rolleyes:
 
They do the same thing here in TN. The reason given is safety. The show organizers realize that there are a lot of unsafe idiots out there, and they are trying to minimize the possibilities of negligent discharges. There have recently been two incidents locally where guys discharged their weapons while removing them from their holsters.

Imagine for a moment the number of idiots you see at a gun show with fingers on triggers, and barrels pointing God-only-knows-where. Would you be more comfortable thinking that a great number of those could be loaded? And, yes, it could happen. Some idjit pulls his gun to try out a holster, or to show why his piece is superior to the model displayed on the table. Next thing you know, he hands a loaded gun to another Darwin candidate who strokes the trigger, and BANG!, some mother or small child in the next aisle over has an extra hole in their chest.

Personally, I'm comfortable leaving my CCW out in the truck or unloading it before I go in to the show. I personally think the risk of being mugged while at a gunshow is significantly less than the risk of a moron from hurting someone.

Frank
 
Most gun shows have that sign. I personally have no problem with trying to prevent AD's. Every time an AD happens at a gun show there is the possibility of the media making it a news issue. I have been at shows where AD's have occured and no one was supposed to have a loaded weapon. If people with a CHL (me included) were allowed to carry in gun shows, it is obvious more AD's would be possible.
It is a good rule. It might even save someones life......MINE!!
Just my thoughts....load 'em up when you leave the show.

Jim Hall
 
I've struggled with this one too. However, I guess the show promoters have the right to run the show as they wish .. plus, often many table holders are carrying.

Last 2 I went to in PA were thus . I just go in with piece .. show it, clear it . and then carry on. Valley Forge show they put a tag on .. yesterday at Greencastle ... no tags ... just cleared it and that was that, back in holster.

For the duration of being in the show I don't actually feel disadvantaged as I would anywhere else ..... and if I or anyone else was really gonna be beligerant about it .. there is little to stop anyone reloading in the rest room ..... never had my ammo taken so far!

Just load up again as soon as in the truck ..... I've managed to come to terms with it now.
 
there are a lot of unsafe idiots out there
Click to expand...

I would like to think that it is because many people will be handling unfamiliar firearms. Adding loaded guns into the mix of 'consumers (some inexperienced) + unfamiliar firearms' would not be conducive to the best possible safety for the promoters who are under mandate by their insurers.

The old hands, who have vast amounts of experience, are not who this is aimed at. The novices are the ones who would be the biggest liability. You can't possibly check the amount of knowledge each participant has.
 
There have been many discharges at gun shows including a few fatalities.

The sign is there to attempt to prevent this from happening again. Playing to the idiots again--Yeehawism. Of course, if everyone understood The Four Rules the signs would not be necessary.

However, you cannot tell Billy Lee Bob anything cause he's been around guns all his life and he ain't go no use for dem dar Four Rules and dem smarmy Zen monks and. . . BANG! . . . sorry Uncle Dad! :rolleyes:
 
The last few gun shows I have been to in MI, did not have a sign anywhere in sight. They did however ask if we had any concealed firearms to declare. I wasn't going to tell them about my pistol, so I just said no. I paid the five bucks to enter, and that was that.
 
It's probably because gun shows attract some VERY strange folks.

Some.

And it wouldn't surprise me if a few have sent away for one of those phony CCW certs or BADGES and it's just a way to not have to argue with the fools.

Those who interpret the 2nd Amendment to say that ANYONE can carry whenever they want may be technically correct, but what a mess at the entry arguing the local interpretation and there could be a heated argument and that ain't good when someone is packing.

My take is that it's just to play (as usual) to the lowest common denominator and assume that everybody is crazy.

Just an "ease of maintenance" thing. As you say, if you DO carry and are legal, there ain't much the cops are gonna do.

Just housekeeping in my opinion.

:confused:
 
in GA we cant carry an gun shows because its against the law
a gun show is a "public gathering"
but ive never worried for my safety at a gun show
BSR
 
Whenever Eastman's rolls into town, there's several signs out front that say no carrying into the show, with a Columbus police officer and/or a county Sheriff to enforce it. I never really gave much thought about it myself; it is their barbeque, after all.
 
Does this piss anyone else off???
Click to expand...
Yup. I just keep my mouth shut and carry on, as it were. :)

The worst they can do is throw me out if they catch me, and I'm willing to take that chance. This assumes I'm not violating any actual laws....of course....I would never do that. Never ever ever. Perish the thought!

- Gabe
 
Here in NC you cant carry anywhere thats charged a fee for admission, so carrying at a gunshow is, in fact, illegal here. They check them at the door to make sure they're empty, add the zip tie, charge ya six bucks and you're on your way.

They dont pat ya down for other (loaded) mags or guns though. Smuggle them in at your own risk.

With the amount of uniformed, plainclothes, and off-duty LE at gunshows, along with undercover ATF agents, and armed vendors, I feel just as safe as I do at home. I would imgaine the BGs are seriously outnumbered.

Imagine for a moment the number of idiots you see at a gun show with fingers on triggers, and barrels pointing God-only-knows-where.
Click to expand...
Hollywood gunhandling sucks so much I no longer notice when they ignore the four rules, I do however notice someone following them. Gunshows are no different. Some of the worst gun-handling I've ever seen was on TV, and the Asheville Civic Center.

//edited to add that I dont do gunshows anymore.
 
Two vendors demonstrated the Law Of Idiots today at the Costa Mesa CA gun show (There Ain't No Such Thing As Idiot-Proof.)

One vendor was showing another a "CA legal AR-15" (i.e. FAB-10 type - not sure of the exact version, but a .223 AR with a 10 round magazine welded on, so it can only be loaded (via strippers or singly) through the top of the lower receiver.) Now, the gunshow rules are all weapons must be "safed" with the tie-wrap through the action - but, of course, with a welded-on magazine, there's no way to pass the wrap through the well, so they just tie it through the trigger guard and across the top of the action.

Anyway, "somehow" a round got loaded into the thing, and "somehow" one idiot pulled the trigger. The bullet fragmented on a table leg or something and the other idiot was hit in the thigh by shrapnel of some sort.

Fortunately no customers were injured, but at the very least the vendors involved will probably be barred from the show - we're just hoping the bliss ninnies don't manage to get the shows banned from the venue (Orange County Fairgrounds.)

The show has big signs posted "No Loaded Guns Inside Show", but this being CA, there's no provision for barring CCW holders - there are so few permit holders in the state they basically can carry anywhere an LEO can carry (all state law prohibitions - schools, etc. - exempt permit holders - strange Kalifornistan, hmmm?)
 
There have been many discharges at gun shows including a few fatalities.
Click to expand...
I was at a Ft Worth gun show about 4 months ago when there was a loud bang...then another bang!. That's right-two ND's! It was a vendor (not a gun dealer) fooling with a .22 he had brought in. Took about 4 seconds for 3-4 Ft Worth cops to get there, and needless to say I believe he is no longer selling anything at that show. :fire:

Thankfully, no one was hurt and to my knowledge it never made the papers or TV news. Idiot. geegee
 
There have been many discharges at gun shows including a few fatalities.
Click to expand...
I was at a Ft Worth gun show about 4 months ago when there was a loud bang...then another bang!. That's right-two ND's! It was a vendor (not a gun dealer) fooling with a .22 he had brought in. Took about 4 seconds for 3-4 Ft Worth cops to get there, and needless to say I believe he is no longer selling anything at that show. :fire:

Thankfully no one was hurt, and to my knowledge it never made the papers or TV news. Idiot. geegee
 
We have the same rule about no CCW at a place that charges money for admission.

That includes ANYWHERE that charges money for admission... movie theatres, amusement parks, museums, etc, etc, and yes, gun shows. Although banning CCW at gun shows makes a whole lot more sense than it does at any of the other places.
 
When time for such, I've worked the door, the floor and the tie-table as Safety Officer at some DFW shows. And can tell you that there would more NDs than what there are if not for such policies. You might be appalled at the number of "unloaded" guns (beyond the 30.06 sign) that have to be unloaded at the tie table. :banghead: As previously noted however, the majority of the NDs typically involve DEALERS who, like a few posters here, get to thinking the rules do not apply to them.
 
"Shall not be infringed upon" Does that ring a bell?
Click to expand...
Oh yes indeed ...... :(

But ... ''chip-chip-chip'' ........ ''nibble-nibble-nibble'' ............. ''maybe this should go'', ''maybe that should go'' ..... ''this is better regulated'' ...... '''that is better controlled'' .... etc, etc... etc!

Do we hear ''insidious'' .......... :(

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

However ... at the shows .. 'tis somewhat a case of ''being at the master's house''.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
  • Locked
Gun Show Carry Event
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
tegemu
T
S
  • Locked
Gun show, westminster md, 01/10 and 01/11
Replies
5
Views
535
Cliff
C
S
  • Locked
gun show question
Replies
5
Views
461
Mike Irwin
M
A
  • Locked
ND at the Columbus Gun Show
Replies
23
Views
1K
Big Boomer
B
Monac
  • Locked
Odd Signs at a Gun Show
2 3
Replies
73
Views
3K
old lady new shooter
O
Back
Top