Big Inch,
I'm of the opinion that I would rather have my weapon to defend myself and deal with any problem that may arise from carrying despite the property owner's misguided wishes.
I have to say that I think you are the misguided one in regard to your words on this topic, that is if what you seem to be implying is what you actually do - and that would be that you enter armed despite the wishes of the property owner. No matter what a person feels about firearms or firearms laws, no matter what side of the issue they are on, does not make one iota of difference to the property owner's right to restrict anyone from entering his/her property while armed. It is by definition that person's property - it is not your property - and the words you chose to write, in my opinion, reflect or at least hint at a high level of disrespect and arrogant disregard for another person's rights if indeed you actually disregard those wishes and enter such propert armed. I think they also speak of a along with a certain measure of irresponsibility toward gun ownership.
My guess is that you said is based on what you believe to be your rights. Your rights as granted by the Constitution of the United States apply to federal government and to state governments not to the wishes of private citizens (in general unless they violate you civil rights or violate the law). There is absolutely no violation of your rights by a private citizen keeping you off of his/her property while you are armed unless the law specifically grants you such a right and federal law does not (I cannot speak to every state's laws). I think, an attitude like the one implied in your words can potentially do a lot to screw the rest of the gun owning community who prefer to respect the rights and wishes of others just as we would hope they would respect our gun ownership rights.
Better than going into such an establishment would probably be your staying out all together when armed or not. Then make it known to the owner that you are in effect boycotting the establishment based upon your ideas about gun ownership and carrying on private property of others. Get other gun owners to do likewise. (It did a lot with regard to K-Mart when they decided, or were planning, to stop selling firearms.) If it is a business, then the business may well change the rule if enough of us are active in this regard. Activists come in all sizes, shapes, colors, religions and in all political persuasions. You don't have to be a ultra left lib to be active in trying to support your cause. Doing what you are doing or what you have said you are doing is likely to get you in trouble and to help put another nail in the coffins of legal firearms ownership and concealed carry. When you or another like you gets discovered carrying against the will of the property owner, well - it can often lead to bad press or at least to bad relations with the property owner.
You of course can do as you please, the sad thing is that the whole of the gun owning community is often negatively effected by the actions of a single gun owner. I would hope you would reconsider how you approach an establishment that prohibits firearms on the premises.
As for me I ask the owner if I can enter with the firearm because I am carrying it as a federal agent. Most times they allow me in. I have left my firearm locked away in the security office at many courthouses and also in some casinos (this was state law in the casinos and as for the courthouses it was the regulations and I was working and had to go in). I also have left it locked up in a lock box with US Customs when I went into mexico and Canada.
I was stopped at a Gun Show by local police at the door and they told me I had to unload it, have it strapped with a nylon locking tie, and carry it exposed in that manner. I was also told I could put it in my car. A brief talk with their next higher superior officer got me an apology and an explanation that the officers had been acting under a mistaken assumption. I went in still armed. This was not violating rules, nor was it taking advantage of my status as a federal agent, it was me carrying under my federal authority and, it was two cops at the door with an order and no common sense or, it was at least 2 cops without the desire to use their duly authorized and appropriate discretion. If however, the sergeant had told me I was not going in armed, I would have left. If I had been carrying a personal weapon that was not also doubling as an agency approved carry weapon, I would have had it tied or would not have entered. I probably would have left. As it was I registered my complaint with the Police Depatment and with the GunShow promoter. I found out this was the doing of the Police Department in the local community and not the promoter's wish, so I stayed and enjoyed the gun show.
All the best,
GB
