I go to several gun shops in my area for ammo or cleaning supplies rather than Wally world or Gander Mtn. I like to go so I can look around and give them some business. I noticed at one shop that they have a sign asking customers to unload their weapons prior to entering the store, which I do as it is their store. I noticed that not every gun store has a sign like this up. Is unloading your weapon prior to entry unique to those who put up signs or is this common etiquette or courtesy at all gun stores?
Proper Gun Shop Etiquette
- Thread starter #shooter
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Camp David
member
#shooter said:
Not heard of this one. I doubt I would comply in any event. If you are adult enough to carry a gun on your hip and comply with local laws, why would you unload it?
Only real "etiquette" in a gun store I have ever heard of is not to abuse weapons for sale; i.e, no dry firing of guns for sale, no spinning the cylinders of revolvers and double-actions, and worst of all, no stupid questions, as real gun dealers have heard them all before!
Yes, kind of.
Greentop sporting goods, just up the road from me, does have a sign. It requires that all guns to be unloaded, unless the person is CCW.
I have always understood that to be your "trade-in", or something to that effect, must be empty; but your "own" is fine to be loaded.
cavman
Greentop sporting goods, just up the road from me, does have a sign. It requires that all guns to be unloaded, unless the person is CCW.
I have always understood that to be your "trade-in", or something to that effect, must be empty; but your "own" is fine to be loaded.
cavman
I thought that having the sign was odd as well. Here they are selling pistols and offering CCW classes and accessories etc., but they want you disarmed in the store. I can tell the store clerks were armed and loaded (revolver). I just wasn't sure if this is common or not.
Hmmm, cavman has a point. They may mean trade-ins need to be unloaded, that makes sense. But the sign does not specify.
Hmmm, cavman has a point. They may mean trade-ins need to be unloaded, that makes sense. But the sign does not specify.
p35
Member
I've heard a lot of horror stories from gun shop clerks about nearly getting shot by people who bring in a gun they have no idea how to handle. "Hey, is this a safety or the trigger?" while pointing at the clerk's belly and stuff like that. I would probably have the same sign, but I wouldn't get upset if a regular or someone who knew what they were doing ignored it.
#shooter, in what State do you live???
I assure you, here in Idaho, gun stores do not post signs demanding you unload your CCW piece before entering.
Now, if you're carrying a gun in hand, or case, to either trade, or have repaired by their gunsmith, they don't want you to bring in a loaded gun for those reasons. That only makes 100% sense.
L.W.
I assure you, here in Idaho, gun stores do not post signs demanding you unload your CCW piece before entering.
Now, if you're carrying a gun in hand, or case, to either trade, or have repaired by their gunsmith, they don't want you to bring in a loaded gun for those reasons. That only makes 100% sense.
L.W.
spacemanspiff
Senior Member
it typically is directed at guns a customer may bring to the store to sell, not what they are carrying.
far too often will a customer bring in what they assume to be an unloaded gun and when the store employee goes to clear it, guess what, a round is found in the chamber. the sign at the shop i work at goes further, asking that guns carried into the shop have their actions open.
even a cased gun is regarded with careful suspicion as to whether or not its unloaded.
and occasionally, a customer will whip their own gun out to show it off, or ask about replacing a sight or grip, etc. how many times do you want to soil your pants when you find yourself looking at the business end of a loaded gun, even though the one weilding it means you no harm?
unfortunately, those few idiots and morons have led gunshops to treat all customers as if they don't know how to handle a gun.
far too often will a customer bring in what they assume to be an unloaded gun and when the store employee goes to clear it, guess what, a round is found in the chamber. the sign at the shop i work at goes further, asking that guns carried into the shop have their actions open.
even a cased gun is regarded with careful suspicion as to whether or not its unloaded.
and occasionally, a customer will whip their own gun out to show it off, or ask about replacing a sight or grip, etc. how many times do you want to soil your pants when you find yourself looking at the business end of a loaded gun, even though the one weilding it means you no harm?
unfortunately, those few idiots and morons have led gunshops to treat all customers as if they don't know how to handle a gun.
Pilgrim
Member
I worked in a gun shop where the owner, to a grave fault, assumed that people did unload their firearms before bringing them in for appraisal and/or work. There were a couple of bullet holes in the wall to attest to this.
Pilgrim
Pilgrim
hoghunting
Member
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I agree with spaceman. That sign is not for CCW, but for guns brought in for service or sale or trade. You can be amazed by some people's stupidity.
My experience in IN. If the gun is going to be handled or unholstered for any reason it should be unloaded before you come in.
Otherwise the sign doesn't mean anything. I you decide after entering the store to try out a holster or ask a question about parts or service. Go outside to unload so the store is never a party in your negligent discharge.
Otherwise the sign doesn't mean anything. I you decide after entering the store to try out a holster or ask a question about parts or service. Go outside to unload so the store is never a party in your negligent discharge.
Perhaps it's an insurance thing, perhaps something else. personally, I'd have no problem with it. It is after all, thier property. They have just as much right to ask and require this of thier guests as any one of us would to ask that an item, any item not be brought onto our own property. I see it that one could comply and be cooperative or not comply and not be a customer. Then there's those that'll refuse yet still hea don in. That to me shows a great deal of disrespect and dis-courtesy. A simple request and it cannot even be followed.
Another problem I could se happening.. well gun owners usually are pretty eager to show off thier guns. It's very ,likely some idiot would hand his loaded carry gun to someone to show it off to as well be as the macho "hey look at me, I'm packin'" type. The gun it's cleared and BANG! - now who's the liable one? Good bet the shops in some trouble too. Make it a no-carry store and that potential problem is eliminated. CYA!
Another problem I could se happening.. well gun owners usually are pretty eager to show off thier guns. It's very ,likely some idiot would hand his loaded carry gun to someone to show it off to as well be as the macho "hey look at me, I'm packin'" type. The gun it's cleared and BANG! - now who's the liable one? Good bet the shops in some trouble too. Make it a no-carry store and that potential problem is eliminated. CYA!
American_Pit_Bull
Member
I too agree with Spaceman and HogHunter... I raised an eyebrow at a sign very similar to the one mentioned and I ask management about it in two separate stores and received the answer that Spaceman indicated.
I can't blame them for reminding service customers to unload their rifles, handguns, etc... before whipping them out and describing what the problem is...
I can't blame them for reminding service customers to unload their rifles, handguns, etc... before whipping them out and describing what the problem is...
I'm surprised at the clerks when asked to be shown a gun, NEVER open the action first before handing it to me. That is a complete violation of safety standards. If the salespeople don’t do it, why should the non-shooting public be expected to know better.
I always check and open the action every time I’m handed a gun, even if you just opened it yourself.
And clerks aren’t the only ones who violate this primary safety check. At ranges where I’ve told someone, “That’s a nice gun” the person will often just hand me the gun to see, without them first checking it. While I’m sure they're just wanting to be friendly, safety comes before friendliness.
After I get the gun, I always open the action, ALWAYS!
Regards,
Steve
I always check and open the action every time I’m handed a gun, even if you just opened it yourself.
And clerks aren’t the only ones who violate this primary safety check. At ranges where I’ve told someone, “That’s a nice gun” the person will often just hand me the gun to see, without them first checking it. While I’m sure they're just wanting to be friendly, safety comes before friendliness.
After I get the gun, I always open the action, ALWAYS!
Regards,
Steve
Diamondback6
Member
In response to sgphoto's issue, I make sure that sellers/clerks passing one to me never get the chance to forget, as I always ask them to slide-lock/(equivalent) the weapon and then let me have a look at it.
Gets me some funny looks at times, but when you are potentially quite literally holding life and death in your hands, it's always better to be safe than sorry...
Gets me some funny looks at times, but when you are potentially quite literally holding life and death in your hands, it's always better to be safe than sorry...
Diomed,
I honestly don't know. Although the sign doesn't say it, I would assume that "any" carry is allowed, distinguishing ones who "carry" from ones who are "handling", even tho' the sign mentions only CCW.
But I don't know for sure. Next time I am there I will find out, and revive this thread.
have a great day
cavman
I honestly don't know. Although the sign doesn't say it, I would assume that "any" carry is allowed, distinguishing ones who "carry" from ones who are "handling", even tho' the sign mentions only CCW.
But I don't know for sure. Next time I am there I will find out, and revive this thread.
have a great day
cavman
Nortonics
Member
hoghunting said:
+1 - exactomundo.
Old Dog
Member
Never mind ...
American_Pit_Bull
Member
And why was your loaded ccw sitting on the counter out of your immediate control? (i.e. the employee was able to take it from you)
It sounds to me that you didn't follow the posted rule. If you were going to present the firearm to the smith, you should have unloaded it before you entered... As you have stated, it was a bad situation. (that could have been prevented)
Tom Servo
Member
It's a stupidity filter. My favorite shop has a similiar sign, and you'll see plenty of folks carrying loaded weapons on their hips without any trouble. The sign is not for these people, it is for the folks without permits who assume it's okay to carry in the gun store, and it's also there so that (hopefully) someone who has a cased gun actually remembers to check and make sure it's unloaded.
It's kind of like having a "no loitering" sign outside a place where the regulars congregate and stand around and talk for hours.
It's kind of like having a "no loitering" sign outside a place where the regulars congregate and stand around and talk for hours.
Manedwolf
member
Sorry, that's YOUR fault for letting your loaded firearm out of your immediate control. Does your supervisor know about this? Why does you being a deputy somehow exempt you from proper firearms safety rules? I call that "attitude", myself.
Totally and completely YOUR fault.
Why didn't you just put the mag and round IN YOUR POCKET? Dude. You're DANGEROUS. I mean..you're REALLY dangerous. You need a safety course NOW. Once you reloaded it, it should have been BACK ON YOUR PERSON. The fact that someone was able to pick it up means that it was out of your immediate control! No excuses for that!
Look at what you did:
1. Reloaded a weapon though the store smiths would have expected it to be unloaded, instead of just pocketing the mag.
2. Left the loaded AND chambered weapon OUT OF YOUR CONTROL so someone else was able to take it rather than securing it on your person.
3. Initiated a STRUGGLE over a LOADED WEAPON...can you say ND?
4. Made an attitude threat against a citizen.
And you're a cop? Or just one of those auxiliary citizen deputies who get no training? Good lord! Oh, yeah, I feel safe, now!
I haven't seen any of our local gun shops that state no loaded guns, however several of them say that concealed carry firearms must remain concealed, all other guns must be unloaded. In Ohio, "no guns" signs have force of law, and I'm not sure if there are exemptions for employees
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