Concealed carry at yard sales
- Thread starter Redlg155
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rodinal220
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If your firearm is properly concealed,how would anyone know???
Tinpig
Member
As others have said, I don't see how a yard sale is any different from anywhere else you carry concealed. If you carry concealed you most likely carry everywhere it isn't specifically prohibited. Unless there's a sign posted at the yard sale saying "firearms prohibited" it shouldn't be an issue.
In my state (Massachusetts) there is no law against open carry. However due to the "unsuitability" clause that can be used by local Police Chiefs to revoke LTCs in the event of a ruckus, I am very careful about keeping my carry firearm concealed.
As an aside, in the 47 years I've been carrying in Massachusetts and therefore paying attention, I have never seen a "firearms prohibited" sign at a private business or home. Maybe it's because I live in the swamps.
Tinpig
In my state (Massachusetts) there is no law against open carry. However due to the "unsuitability" clause that can be used by local Police Chiefs to revoke LTCs in the event of a ruckus, I am very careful about keeping my carry firearm concealed.
As an aside, in the 47 years I've been carrying in Massachusetts and therefore paying attention, I have never seen a "firearms prohibited" sign at a private business or home. Maybe it's because I live in the swamps.
Tinpig
wojownik
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If you're carrying concealed, the owner wouldn't know right?
If you're attempting to carry concealed, but are printing so badly that "it's all hangin' out", then this might present an opportunity to reevaluate your choice of concealment technique, holster, etc...
If you're attempting to carry concealed, but are printing so badly that "it's all hangin' out", then this might present an opportunity to reevaluate your choice of concealment technique, holster, etc...
beatledog7
Member
For those who have the "concealed is concealed" and/or "how would they know?" attitude, may I ask:
Why should anyone respect your right to keep and bear arms while you declare abject disrespect for their property rights? What does having such an attitude say about your character...?
Would you cheat on you spouse as long as he or she wouldn't know?
Would you steal clock time from your employer as long as he or she wouldn't know?
I could go on, but I believe the point is made.
Why should anyone respect your right to keep and bear arms while you declare abject disrespect for their property rights? What does having such an attitude say about your character...?
Would you cheat on you spouse as long as he or she wouldn't know?
Would you steal clock time from your employer as long as he or she wouldn't know?
I could go on, but I believe the point is made.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
OK...I just gotta ask as you brought this up twice, have you EVER seen a yard sale posted with a "gun-buster" sign?
Seeing as the answer to that is NO, of course, then this is a tempest in a [strike]teapot[/strike] thimble. It would be utterly inane to go around asking folks if they have a preference about your concealed carry gun before walking onto their lawn to look over their cast-offs, so ... literally, "concealed is concealed."
There's no reason for them to even have the question of whether someone might be armed cross their minds to begin with, and as no one in the history of yard sales EVER posted a "no guns" sign at the curb, there is no moral question here whatsoever.
We don't even have to beat down the hackneyed question of what carrying "against their wishes" might say about our "character."
(-- Yes, I know there are one or two states which require you to get permission before entering someone's home or whatever. I think we can ignore those aberrations for the sake of discussion here.)
beatledog7
Member
Agreed, Sam, unless there actually is such a posting, the possibility of which was part of the original post.
I have never seen one at a yard sale, but if I did, I would respect it. Many, it seems, at a yard sale or otherwise, might not, and that is a "respect of property rights" problem.
I have never seen one at a yard sale, but if I did, I would respect it. Many, it seems, at a yard sale or otherwise, might not, and that is a "respect of property rights" problem.
wojownik
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As the OP himself noted in the first post - if there is no signs posted, you're good to go. Unless the property owner somehow detects the presence of a firearm and objects, in which case I would politely - with all smiles - depart the premises. In Virginia, if you don't respect the wishes of the property owner (posted or verbal notification) you can be cited for trespassing. That is, if you are asked to leave and refuse.
Of course, I suppose there is always the possibility that a property owner is so highly sensitive/alarmed, that might call the PD rather than address you themselves (that they don't like firearms on their premises, for instance).
Which again brings back the point of concealed meaning concealed.
Of course, I suppose there is always the possibility that a property owner is so highly sensitive/alarmed, that might call the PD rather than address you themselves (that they don't like firearms on their premises, for instance).
Which again brings back the point of concealed meaning concealed.
beatledog7
Member
I agree completely that where there is no sign CCW is good to go.
The issue, as I have tried to point out, is that there are may here who would see the sign and in places where it doesn't carry the power of law would carry anyway because "concealed is concealed" and the property owner would not know. This is not how respectful people act.
If you see the sign, you can choose to 1) disarm, 2) not go on the property, or 3) violate the owner's wishes. Choices 1 and 2 are respectful; choice 3 is not.
The argument that the owner wants you to come on his property and buy stuff does not negate my argument. If he has posted a no guns sign, that clearly means he'd rather have you stay away than enter armed.
Flame me all you like, but it won't change those facts.
The issue, as I have tried to point out, is that there are may here who would see the sign and in places where it doesn't carry the power of law would carry anyway because "concealed is concealed" and the property owner would not know. This is not how respectful people act.
If you see the sign, you can choose to 1) disarm, 2) not go on the property, or 3) violate the owner's wishes. Choices 1 and 2 are respectful; choice 3 is not.
The argument that the owner wants you to come on his property and buy stuff does not negate my argument. If he has posted a no guns sign, that clearly means he'd rather have you stay away than enter armed.
Flame me all you like, but it won't change those facts.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
But that's not really what the OP asked. You're bringing into this a side issue -- that's been debated many times before -- about what you suspect "many here" might do IF.
Does that really need to be pinata-ed around again? I mean, "respectful" people might not cast stones at their fellows who don't agree about what "respectful" people would do...
beatledog7
Member
Ok, Sam, whatever. I was softening the statement by saying "might." Many here have openly declared their intent to defy property owners in various related threads.
I'm done.
I'm done.
If the owner was worried he shouldn't have opened up his property to the public. The general public includes all kinds of citizens. Tall, short, black, white, armed, hippies, atheists, etc.
If he put up a big sign that said no guns, Jews or hippies I think a lot of his customers would complain, and we might just ignore the sign anyway. Let him try to enforce his rules.
If he put up a big sign that said no guns, Jews or hippies I think a lot of his customers would complain, and we might just ignore the sign anyway. Let him try to enforce his rules.
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