Sportsman's Warehouse & Concealed Carry

[Treo]

I walked into my local Sportsman's Warehouse to do a price check ( They actually beat WM on WWB .40). Promiently posted on the front door , in blaze orange, was a sign that said

ALL FIREARMS & MAGAZINES
MUST BE UNLOADED
AND CHECKED AT CUSTOMER
SERVICE.

On my way out I stopped by customer service & complained I told them that I object to your stores policy that I must unload my handgun & surrender it to one of your employees . The CSR backpedaled so fast I thought she was going to trip. she went into great detail to inform me that the store was pro CC & that sign only meant that IF you wanted to try a holster that you must clear your weapon and let an employee check it. Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm.

Has anyone else seen similar signs @ SW? Had similar experience

Also is there anyone who would NOT have taken that sign to mean what I thought it meant?

 

[PointOneSeven]

No sign at mine, but the policy holds. Having loaded guns waving around while fiddling with holsters could be a safety issue, that's why they do it.


Seeing that sign without knowing their policy, I would have thought the same thing though.

 

[BozemanMT]

Just you
I've always taken those types of signs to mean for guns being handled. (going to the gunsmith, looking at holsters, whatever)

concealed means concealed.

 

[Rokyudai]

No sign that I have noticed at my SW meeting that description. They would have lost my business years ago had they tried to pull a blanket policy like that.

In Texas, a person with a CHL becomes 'in tuned' quickly to how businesses must display there intentions to prohibit concealed carry. The general consensus of other fellow CHL'ers that I can see is if the sign does not contain the wordage set forth by the specific Texas law (code 30.06 of Texas Handgun Laws) then it is invalid. What preempts carrying of course is if you were in a prohibited establishment in the first place (also stated within the laws) or if you were told to leave by the owner/representative of the store.

 

[Pilot]

I walked into my local Sportsman's Warehouse to do a price check

Which one Aurora or Littleton? I always carry in SW and even have seen people open carry there. I haven't been there in a while so this may be new.

 

[Texas Colt]

Cabela's has the same sign and policy, but only if you are selling, trading, etc.

The Cabela's sign specifically states that the policy does not pertain to CHL holders (at least in Texas).

As Bozeman said, concealed means concealed.

 

[Treo]

Colorado Springs.
The part that throws me is the "ALL FIREARMS" I bet I could find a D.A. that wouldn't have a real hard time proving to a jury of my peers that legally speaking " ALL FIREARMS" would include "ALL FIREARMS"

who wants to volunteer to be the test case?

 

[armoredman]

Marana SW sign says CCW is AOK, but unload and carry open any sidearms you wish to try in a holster, and said firearm must be cleared outside.

 

[markk]

The part that throws me is the "ALL FIREARMS" I bet I could find a D.A. that wouldn't have a real hard time proving to a jury of my peers that legally speaking " ALL FIREARMS" would include "ALL FIREARMS"

But why would a DA have to prove store policy to a jury of your peers?

 

[Wibb]

Cabela's and Bass Pro here in St. Louis both have similar signs. I saw it first at Cabela's and figured it was geared towards people bringing in trades.

 

[Gary G23]

I've been to SW in KY, TN, & MS and haven't seen that sign.

 

[Dravur]

This one has been discussed before.

SW has the sign for any gun coming in to be worked on, or for holsters, etc. It does not mean anything in regards to CC. I have several friends working at one of the stores down on So Wadsworth and they say they have to answer that question alot.

They have absolutely no problem with CC and neither does the company at large.

They usually have gun people behind the counter and they treat me good there.

 

[FranklyTodd]

A Gander Mountain in Ohio has a similar professionally printed sign, then below, they've put a hand generated sign that says something like: the above does not apply to concealed carry.

Don't overreact - it's a good policy if you are bringing a gun in to a gunsmith, or to try a holster, etc. I would not want CCers whipping out their loaded carry guns to try out a new holster. I'm pro-CCW, of course, but keep your unnecessary administrative handlings away from me!

A rational request for the store to make the sign more clear will hopefully get results. We don't even have SW around here, but I bet they are not anti-CC.

 

[marriedguy1]

The sign at the S.W. here in San Antonio specifically that CHL holders are OK. You must only unload if you are taking your handgun out of concealment. Does that make sense?

 

[Mainsail]

We open carry in SW here with the same signs. They don't want you fitting a holster to your loaded carry gun.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

ALL FIREARMS & MAGAZINES
MUST BE UNLOADED
AND CHECKED AT CUSTOMER
SERVICE.

Well, they need to add some clarification to that.

The ones here (Phoenix, Goodyear and Mesa, AZ) don't say that. Instead they say (not an exact quote, but close enough), "Firearms brought in for sale, trade or repair must be unloaded and checked in with customer service. If you are going to remove your sidearm in the store, it must be checked in with customer service." The rule is perfectly reasonable - after all, it wouldn't do to fire a gun while trying a holster or something.

When the Glendale Cabela's first opened in Oct. 2006, it had a similar sign to the first one, which deeply perturbed me. Someone must have leaned on them, because shortly after they added, "This does not apply to concealed carry permit holders." At the range/store where I shoot, their sign says, "All firearms must be cased or holstered and may not be removed except at the direction of a SGC employee."

I have little patience for signs worded as in your example, when they pertain to my sidearm.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

The one that used to be here in Lewisville had that sign... as the top half. The bottom half said that CHL holders weren't included as long as you kept it concealed.

 

[BMRisko]

The sign at SW in Chattanooga states that this does not apply to people carrying concealed. It was nice to see that posted for a change.

 

[jdorian]

Gander Mtn has a similar sign, but it also says that it does not apply to CWP/CHL holders. I think they are just trying to cover their bases for people trying to sell their items or bring them in for repair, just so that they know that the items leaving the store were actually brought in by a customer, rather than stolen from their inventory. Its a good policy, and nobody should have issue with having to declare items being brought into the store for a "business transaction".

 

[jdorian]

Gander Mtn has a similar sign, but it also says that it does not apply to CWP/CHL holders. I think they are just trying to cover their bases for people trying to sell their items or bring them in for repair, just so that they know that the items leaving the store were actually brought in by a customer, rather than stolen from their inventory. Its a good policy, and nobody should have issue with having to declare items being brought into the store for a "business transaction".

 

[jdorian]

Gander Mtn has a similar sign, except it exempts CHP, and CHL, or CCW holders from having to declare guns. Of course, concealed means concealed, so its not like anybody is going to show their gun at any point in time.

 

[jdorian]

Gander Mtn has a similar sign, except it exempts CHP, and CHL, or CCW holders from having to declare guns. Of course, concealed means concealed, so its not like anybody is going to show their gun at any point in time.

 

[strat81]

SW would be served well by articulating their policy with a new sign. I agree with the OP: sounds like ALL guns, legally concealed or not, must be unloaded and checked.

I've turned around and walked away from signs like that. In NE, they carry the weight of law.

 

[RIDE]

As others have said... I have always considered the sign to be regarding guns being brought in for service or accessories (scope mounting, Holsters, bags, gun smithing, etc).

In fact here in KS, a store, church, whatever could paint the entire front of the building in 10 foot high letters that spell "NO CCH ALLOWED.. WE HATE PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO PROTECT THEMSELVES... DO NOT ENTER WITH FIREARMS.. PUNISHABLE BY LAW!!!!!"... and if the small state issued "gun-buster" image is not posted... well... feel free to carry concealed (if licensed of course).

 

[dmazur]

Sportsman's Warehouse in Washington has the sign that says checking doesn't apply to CCW holders as long as they are kept concealed.

I read about a ND at some gun store (not SW) which was due to someone bringing in a rifle for sale (or pawn) which was loaded! Poor safety practices at the store, to be sure, and also not too bright on the person who didn't check it before bringing it in. This type of thing is why the stores post these signs. I don't think they intend to hassle the customer, they are just properly concerned about additional holes in the store that weren't part of the HVAC design.