Possibly anti- gun store

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pappy

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I went to a gun store in Ft Payne, AL today to check to see if they had a rifle I’m looking at buying. My wife and granddaughter were in front of me, so they entered the store first. On the way in, I noticed a large sign beside the front door saying (I do not remember the exact words) absolutely no loaded firearms except those carried by law enforcement. I took one step in and told my wife and granddaughter we were leaving, that I would not shop somewhere that doesn’t trust me to carry my gun into their establishment (loud enough I know the store employees heard me – very small store). Was I wrong? Shouldn’t a gun store of all places support the 2A? Comments?
 
Should probably tell the owner or employee why you're leaving next time...so they'll know its over the policy and not because one of them forgot to take a shower.
 
I wouldn't mind, as long as I could have the pistol holstered and the magazine in my pocket.
But that's me thinking of a South African gun shop.

I was at the Palmetto gun show in Florida recently and they had a no guns policy and no cameras either. I'm betting that didn't stop anyone going to the show to look for ammo deals.
 
Have a good friend who owns a pawn and gunshop. He has the same sign, but could care less about someone legally carrying concealed. The main purpose of his sign is to warn customers who are bringing in guns to trade or pawn to make sure they are unloaded first. At least once a week he has a customer bring in a loaded gun and does not know it until he opens the action.
 
Just because they don't want you to carry in their store doesn't mean they're anti-second amendment.

Look, think of it this way - they've already jumped through the multitudes of hoops and paid all the fees related to running a gun shop, do you really think they want to/are able to afford the extra insurance they'd need to enable the average joe to carry in their store? The instant some schmuck decides to try his carry piece in a new holster and shoots himself in the leg, the shop owner is gonna be looking at a lawsuit whether it was his fault or not.

Simply not worth the hassle.
 
Gun stores with a no gun policy is absolutely ridiculous. They should know better than anyone that if a criminal wanted to rob the place that they are not going to heed the words posted on a sign. There is a place here where I live that has the same policy, and when asked the reason for the policy, this was the general answer: "There is too much money tied up in firearms in here that could easily be taken...blah blah...and I don't want stolen guns in the hands of thieves that might end up in the hands of who knows." What a bunch of bs. There are guns just hanging all over the walls within arms reach of anyone with no locks on them. He's obviously not interested in the security of his store. Citizens who carry concealed are not a threat, criminals who carry are, and they don't read.

However, if there were a sign that stated something like "No handling of loaded firearms in the store due to the possibility of an accidental discharge. Please bring in unloaded weapons if looking for accessories. Concealed weapons stay concealed." Something like that would not be offensive to me. With people in gun stores constantly sweeping everone in sight while looking at a firearm, I would understand a policy of not handling loaded firearms in the store. Nobody wants to get shot. But to have a blanket policy of no loaded firearms is absurd. Imagine the parking lot and all the people out there with their guns out and unloading and loading them, or unconcealing (?) them to put them in the storage compartment. Perfect place for a thief since nobody will have a loaded firearm and they have to do is watch and wait for someone to leave theirs in the vehicle.
 
No loaded guns!!!!! Shooters World in Phoenix has a sign, "All firearms will be unloaded and cased." Been doing business with them every since they came to the valley. It's their gun shop, Why can't they make the rules, Jeez, the things people bit** about. Arizona Sportsman " No loaded weapons, all weapons will be unloaded." Bought many a firearm from them, good people. I can name a dozen gun shops that have similar signs. Just what is the problem with people who have a business having a say over what I believe is a good safe rule. It protects you and them from the nut who comes in and states "Hey, this gun is broke, every time I chamber a round like this it gos, BOOM!". That BOOM! happens way too often. Because I know why the rule is there, I find nothing wrong with it. BTW I have been around firearms since I was ten years old and the first rule I was taught, no loaded weapons in the house. Well, I have my own loaded weapon in my house, but no one else carries loaded there. My house , my rules. their business, their rules. Smile and get over it.:)
 
Kingpin: for someone to sue, there has to be negligence on the part of the store. If someone shoots themself on accident it is not the responsiblity of the business he is in. What if he sat down at a restaraunt and the same thing happened? Is Denny's responsible? There has to be negligence on the part of the business.

I agree with you that it doesn't mean that they are anti-2A.

I think that what business owners want is that if you carry concealed, then keep it that way. If you are bringing in a firearm for accessories or holsters or repair, then bring it in unloaded.
 
I am just curious, what did you accomplish? I am guessing you just felt good.
 
There is a gunshop around here that has the same sign along with "Remove ski mask before entering" sign. Anyone who lives in the Raleigh/Durham area should know which one I'm talking about. I've never personally asked the guy about the sign but my old man did and the guy told him it was just a joke.
 
Yep, you made the right choice--deciding not to support a local gun store because of a sign which may well be there for legal/insurance reasons, assuming it's due to their decision instead, and declaring that store taboo in order to watch yet another gun store go out of business, is obviously the wise choice.

Next time, how about you ask the owner about precisely what he means with it, and why he has it, so that you and he both don't get the wrong idea? Or, we could watch yet another FFL go down the tubes.
 
Kingpin: for someone to sue, there has to be negligence on the part of the store.
Click to expand...

Not true. In order for someone to sue another, all they need is a lawyer. It's the court case that will determine whether or not there was negligence on the part of the store.

I see what you're saying though. Just wanted to correct that little part. :)
 
Having worked in a gunshop and knowing someone who owns one I can say that there is a reason for that. If customers are carrying a loaded firearm there is always a possibility of a ND. If there is no ammo in any gun on the premisis there is a lot lower chance of a ND.
 
Pappy
I think you did the right thing.

You respected the rights of the business owner.
You respected your own rights to carry.
You respected your right to go some where else.


I'm sure the business owner had to go out of his way to put that sign up, so he very well could have had a reason for it. Whether that reason is to cut down on his insurance, or just that he doesn't know or trust everyone that goes in there; it doesn't really matter.


I actually remember seeing a sign in a gunshop that said "We don't Call 911" with a pic of a pistol on it. I don't know which one to be more afraid of.:evil:
 
A shop in my area used to have that sign but took it down. They would sell you the gun, ammo, accessories and sell you the CCW class. After that though you were not allowed back in. Now they just have some rule about no military rifles of specific calibers or something like that I can't remember the wording so you can't shoot your SKS or AK on their rifle range. Needless to say I don't go there. It's a bummer too because it's one of the few indoor ranges with a rifle range longer than 25 yards.

Seems bad on our image in general. If the perception is the store that sells you the equipment and provides you the training you need to get your CPL doesn't trust licensed to carry people in their store then others may certainly perceive that it must not be safe.

I get the whole "insurance" thing but there are enough gun shops around without that sign that I don't really buy it. If that is the case then they should state that.

No you were not wrong.
 
No one is saying the business owner doesn't have a right to put up a "no guns" sign, or at least I don't think so. I agree with the OP that the sign is a good reason to do business elsewhere. I'm not going to be tearing my hair out over it, but I wouldn't shop there either.

As for the folks talking about negligent discharges, fair enough. Several shops around here have signs saying "CCW holders shall leave their weapons concealed and holstered. All other guns shall be unloaded before entering premises." Not so hard, now is it?
 
I can tell that most of you have never worked in a gun store... trust me, while most people can safely handle guns, there are still lots that can't... I would say atleast 1 out of 20 guns that came in to the store for what every reason were loaded. Lots of rifles coming in for new scopes were loaded, most likly have been since last year, during deer season.
 
I can tell that most of you have never worked in a gun store
Click to expand...

You don't have to work in a gun store to recognize that there are some people out there without the best gun handling skills.

I believe what we are addressing are the signs that explicitly prohibit carrying by anyone other than LEO. Not to speak for everyone but I think most would agree that the signs regarding bringing in guns for sale, repair, range etc... needing to be cased and unloaded are fine.
 
I think they should support carry just saying if people are legal they should be happy. Maybe a sign that says no unauthorized carry of loaded firearms.
 
In many cases the store's liability insurance policy may have a "no loaded guns" stipulation. If the sign isn't up and an incident happens because someone did bring in a loaded gun, the dealer is left with his insurance voided. Considering the circumstances I can see this issue from the dealers' side. If customrs demand they have a right to enter armed they may someday find themselves with no gun shops to visit.

Is this what we really want? :scrutiny:
 
There are plenty of cases of CCW holders doing bone head stuff, and LEO doing bone head stuff.

Rather then say, you can carry, but you can't. They simply say no one can carry. Seams like a very fair and simple solution.
 
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