MS Open Carry Law and the Backlash

Status
Not open for further replies.
Ben86

Ben86

Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2008
Messages
3,232
Location
MS, USA
I am pleased that my home state of Mississippi has joined several other states in allowing permit-less open carry. However several businesses in my local area of South MS have recently put up "No Guns Allowed" signs (even though concealed carry has gone unhindered for many years). I would like to gather some input from other members who have perhaps dealt with a similar situation in their states as well as make a list of the businesses that put up signs with a disregard for legal carry so that other Mississippians can let them know that is not appreciated.

So far I have seen signs in the windows of JCPenny's in Biloxi and Claiborne Hill in Waveland. I'm sure there will be more to come as there is some unjustified fear about this law.
 
I just moved from NY to TN. Open carry here is allowed and many people do this...

I have not seen a single business here with a "no guns" signs...

good luck
 
Yeah, I live in South MS as well, and there are many signs. I have begun explaining how I cannot do business in a place where the only ones armed will be the bad guys.
 
Every store u go to here in Alabama has a no gun sign posted. Baffles me why this has become such an issue.
 
I don't support general "open carry" just for the reasons already mentioned. Typically, it is someone who is seeking attention or to rub it in the faces of those who don't carry. The results are almost never supported by the general public.
Why must we fan the flames? If you want to carry, be smart and get your license and carry concealed. If you just want to run into the sports store or gun shop, that is okay and not likely to cause a hubbub.
 
Yeah, but I can't really CCW as I teach in a public school. Heck, I can't even carry a pocket knife. I don't open carry for that matter except when on the farm. But I did open carry after Katrina - but that was only for a day before it was clear no looting was going to happen in my town. Even so, a right remains a right.
 
Ben86 said:
I am pleased that my home state of Mississippi has joined several other states in allowing permit-less open carry. However several businesses in my local area of South MS have recently put up "No Guns Allowed" signs (even though concealed carry has gone unhindered for many years). I would like to gather some input from other members who have perhaps dealt with a similar situation in their states as well as make a list of the businesses that put up signs with a disregard for legal carry so that other Mississippians can let them know that is not appreciated.

So far I have seen signs in the windows of JCPenny's in Biloxi and Claiborne Hill in Waveland. I'm sure there will be more to come as there is some unjustified fear about this law.
Click to expand...
If I was carrying concealed, I would ignore the signage, as long as we aren't talking about local, state, or federal facilities that have the rule of law backing them up.

Since I don't OC, I haven't had to deal with people confronting me regarding my right to CHL within their business.
 
I'm generally not interested in open carry myself, but I appreciate having the option.

I still believe that businesses that have a problem with open or concealed carry are not businesses that pro 2nd A people should support.

Unforunately "No gun" signs carry the wieght of the law and can result in a misdemeanor charge if ignored in MS.

I hope that this initial rejection is temporary, until they realize how many patrons regularly carry firearms legally. The only way for them to know this is if we tell them.
 
I think I would walk up to these businesses, knock on the door until an employee comes, flash some cash at them, point to the NO GUNS sign and wave BYE BYE as I walk away.
 
That would be funny. But, I'm not one for flashy antics. You tend to get more done talking to managers, especially if they know there is an audience to the conversation.

I wonder if those in other states with relatively new carry laws are experiencing similar negative reactions by businesses.

I guess the best thing we can do is let them know en mass how much business they stand to loose.

I find this local reaction very bizarre because concealed carry is nothing new. Perhaps their irrational minds did not know about concealed carry. How very odd.

I think I also need to contact my state reps and ask for a law decriminalizing ignoring those signs.
 
Here's a start: friendorfoe.us

Also, regarding
Unforunately "No gun" signs carry the wieght (sic) of the law and can result in a misdemeanor charge if ignored in MS.
Click to expand...
, that is generally false.

The signs sprang up in response to the new OC law. But regarding OC, there is NO provision in the law (other than federal facilities) discussing signs or prohibitions whatsoever. The AG has opined that PRIVATE property owners can post such signs and then press trespassing charges against violators, but those would not be gun violations. For public property, the agency would be hard pressed to make a trespassing charge stick for an otherwise legal person in a public building, and there's generally no gun law which would be violated by OC.

HOWEVER, for folks who hold the regular (not "enhanced) CCW permit, that law DOES provide that it is a violation of the general CCW prohibition to CCW in posted places. It's NOT a violation with the enhanced permit or for open carry.

So really all the signs do is stick it to the regular permit holders and PO all of us.
 
How about posting phone numbers to a number of businesses and starting a call list? That might be a good route to let them know of potential business lost.
 
We can always decide not to patronize businesses that post "No Guns" signs, but we have to remember that these folks might be making what they consider a smart business decision rather than a political decision.

Have you not heard the argument that there are many people who will go out of their way to patronize businesses that proclaim themselves gun free? If a business owner believes he knows his customer demographics and that the sort of people whom he wants to serve are likely to view his declared gun-free status as a positive, he puts up the sign so they will flock to his door.

It absolutely does not matter that said gun-free status is utterly fictional. People who feel they are safer when there are no lawfully carried guns around also tend to feel that where there is a no-guns sign, there are no guns.

So if a merchant thinks he can make his business more profitable by catering to the "please give me gun-free place to safely shop with my children" crowd than by catering to the RKBA crowd, he puts up the sign.

Whether he supports 2A or not, he will be hard to convince that he should do something he believes is bad for his bottom line.
 
RedAlert said:
Typically, it is someone who is seeking attention or to rub it in the faces of those who don't carry.
Click to expand...



Did I miss the national survey that showed this?

As long as we treat open carriers like they're doing something wrong, the general public will do the same. You can't choose to be Pro 2A just so long as nobody sees it. Either you support my rights, or you don't.
 
RedAlert said:
I don't support general "open carry" just for the reasons already mentioned. Typically, it is someone who is seeking attention or to rub it in the faces of those who don't carry. The results are almost never supported by the general public.
Why must we fan the flames? If you want to carry, be smart and get your license and carry concealed. If you just want to run into the sports store or gun shop, that is okay and not likely to cause a hubbub.
Click to expand...

RedAlert, I too would ask where you got this information about people who OC, and further, what makes you qualified to tell others what's ok? Granted, you're entitled to your opinion, but please help us understand what makes you think this way.

I support your 2A rights, so please support mine. There is nothing in 2A that requires me to hide my arms from others.
 
I am trying to picture myself as a store owner or employee and a person with a
long gun over their shoulder walks in, Customer, robber, madman..........?
Can not get my head around the need to walk down a street or into a store carrying a weapon. Just what is the point.
I have a CWP in Florida and do carry.
 
If you cannot get your head around carrying, then why carry? Or is it you cannot wrap your head around letting others know you carry?
 
I think most people who have a carry permit in MS have a regular one, partially because the enhanced permit is so overpriced. I think it's up around $200-300 now. So for most those signs are a threat legally.

I have seen some stores change from "no guns allowed" to "no open carry allowed." That's not as bad, but still offensive to me. Some stores have changed their minds and stopped worrying about it after meeting some open carriers and realizing they are sane and logical people. I think it will just take time for this knee jerk reaction to subside.
 
What's really funny is all the money Starbuck's has made from the free advertising the anti-gun crowd gives them. If a business was smart, they would follow the Starbuck's plan. Every time there is some boycott of Starbucks by the anti-gun crowd, Starbucks employees report those are their busiest days, especially in the Seattle area.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

T
  • Locked
OPEN CARRY TEXAS. Texans get in here!
2 3
Replies
53
Views
3K
hso
hso
Gary Slider
  • Locked
NM, AR, WA, NC, OH, MS, OK & WI Law Updates
Replies
16
Views
1K
45crittergitter
4
S
  • Locked
Rick Scott Promises to Sign Open Carry Bill for Florida
Replies
5
Views
1K
FLAvalanche
F
K
  • Locked
Do You Open Carry or Seen Others Do It in MS or AL?
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
Vern Humphrey
V
hso
  • Locked
Looks like Open Carry will finally be passed in TX
2 3 4
Replies
75
Views
6K
xxjumbojimboxx
X
Back
Top