The new trend in sporting goods stores/outfitters:

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Signs stating "Guns must be unloaded and checked in."

Some places, like Sportsman's Warehouse, exclude CCW guns in this but apparently don't communicate this plainly - even to all the employees.

Others, like my once-beloved Mahoney's in Johnson City TN take it farther by sayng "All guns (including concealed carry) must be unloaded and checked in at the front desk." :rolleyes:

I have no beef with the SW model, just so long as they make sure everyone is on the same page that CCW *IS* allowed. Mahoney's should just put up a Gunbuster and be done with it. I'll never spend another cent there unless they change this policy, but no WAY would I hand over my weapon to a stranger. I trust my car safe much more.

Being the type of store it is, hopefully Mahoney's will get enough backlash at this to see the light....
 
Perhaps, but why break a rule in order to patronize a business that does not trust their (probably large) customer base that has earned CCW? ;) Not to mention the risk of catching some lead when someone forgets he has a round chambered, and either he or the clerk handles the gun carelessly...:uhoh:
 
This issue seems to come up a lot on here, and personally, I just can't get too upset over it.

None of the gun shops in my area allow 'loaded' weapons in the store. I can understand that. At the end of the day, it's still their store, and they are allowed to make the rules. I would hope they balance the need for signage vs the potential backlash from their customers. The shops I frequent do not allow loaded weapons, but I still take mine in, even though it is unloaded.

Furthermore, having a permit for a CCW in my area does NOT in any way mean that you know how to handle a firearm safely. I've seen some crazy things from license holders... especially in shops with ranges. Things that would be scary if they had loaded weapons.

I'm also confident that if anyone did try to rob a gun shop and I wasn't packing heat, that the 3 people at the counter and the 3 people in the shop who ignore the rule will take them out for me :D
 
None of the gun shops in my area allow 'loaded' weapons in the store.
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Around here, everyone in a gun shop is carrying: employees, customers & those who just came in to use the restroom.

Big retailers, aside from some who are shooting sports oriented, don't really care about guns, they just want profits. What are we going to do when we are left with no gun stores and only retail giants selling guns? The second they smell a lawsuit they are done. Do you think Wally World will fight Bloomberg and sue back? Heck no, they will fold in a second.
 
I was informed by the greeter at Bass Pro Shop in Grapevine, Texas...

that as a holder of a Texas concealed handgun license that I was entitled (he said the store encouraged it) to carry my concealed weapon into the store without checking it. He showed me a company statement saying so. That's refreshing.
 
I work at a combination shooting range and gun shop.

People are free to carry concealed or openly, loaded or unloaded. All we ask is that people not carry guns in hand—but we look the other way from long guns.

Hasn't been a problem to date.
 
I think the right of a buisness choosing their own rules inside their store is just as much a conerstone of America as RKBA. If enough people don't like the policy, they'll feel it where it counts. The $$$. That's the capitalist and American way.
 
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This is the sign on the door at a local Gander Mountain.

If you cannot read it, it says:

All firearms and bows brought in for repair or quotes must be cased and checked at the Customer Service Desk.

This does not apply to concealed carry permit holders.

I appreciate the courtesy.
 
Have you shared your feelings on this subject with them?
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I certianly intend to! I tried to call this evening, but they keep some strange hours...apparently they were closed when I called. I didn't want to try and speak directly at the store until I had thought through my points. At the time I was there it was more like a state of shock.

"I thought only liberal places had posted gun stores! It's not supposed to happen HERE!" :what: :p

"All firearms and bows brought in for repair or quotes must be cased and checked at the Customer Service Desk.

This does not apply to concealed carry permit holders."

I appreciate the courtesy.
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I would too... Thanks, now I can tell them that Gander Mountain AND Sportsmans Warehouse do it that way! :cool:

I think the right of a buisness choosing their own rules inside their store is just as much a conerstone of America as RKBA. If enough people don't like the policy, they'll feel it where it counts. The $$$. That's the capitalist and American way.
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Just so we're on the same page, I have no problem with their having the right to post. I just want to spread the word on the policy so that more current and potential future CCWing customers can let them know what they think of it!

Furthermore, having a permit for a CCW in my area does NOT in any way mean that you know how to handle a firearm safely. I've seen some crazy things from license holders... especially in shops with ranges. Things that would be scary if they had loaded weapons.

I'm also confident that if anyone did try to rob a gun shop and I wasn't packing heat, that the 3 people at the counter and the 3 people in the shop who ignore the rule will take them out for me
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FWIW, there is no range in the store. And if the employees DO carry, then they carry concealed. I've never "SEEN" any employee in any gun/outdoor store packing come to think of it.

I'm not willing to take the risk that they are, and are willing to lay down their lives for mine - especially since now everyone will know now that there's a cache of guns at the front desk! :evil:
 
The employee handbook at Gander Mountain states that employees cannot carry concealed weapons at work. The customers can, but employees cannot. Doesn't make any sense to me...

Anthony
 
A gun shop where not a single person behind the counter open-carries? I've never seen such a thing! The last time I checked the law, you could open carry at your own business whether or not you had a permit or not, and you could extend that priveledge to employees if you chose to.

***? I actually figured it was a requirement of an 03FFL that someone had to be armed if you were displaying firearms publicly for sale and whatnot.

This is sounding ridiculous. Nobody that works in the store carries and nobody that is allowed in can carry? That place will get robbed! What are these people thinking??!?!?
 
I Would NEVER work in a gun shop/range that wont allow me to carry. I'm not that stupid.
 
I was in Sportsmans Warehouse in Austin and talked to the guy behind the counter. He said he is not allowed to carry a gun, but he is allowed to carry a 1911 magazine full of .45 hollowpoints that will fit into any one of 15 on the wall behind him.
 
***? I actually figured it was a requirement of an 03FFL that someone had to be armed if you were displaying firearms publicly for sale and whatnot.
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An 03 FFL is a Collector of Curio's and Relics...

What most people mistakenly call Class 3 is properly referred to as NFA or Title 2 firearms.

To get a Class 3 SOT status, you need a dealer or manufacturer FFL which includes Type 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 - and pay a yearly $500 tax due every July 1st.

To get a Class 2 SOT status, you need a manufacturer FFL, which includes Type 7, 10 - and pay a yearly $1000 or $500 (reduced rate for small manufacturers) tax due every July 1st.

To get a Class 1 SOT status, you need an importer FFL, which includes Type 8, 11- and pay a yearly $1000 or $500 (reduced rate for small importers) tax due every July 1st.
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I'm in and out of a LOT of gun stores and I generally CCW regardless of what their sign says.

I've been told by store owners that they have a No CCW in place because when the good 'ole boys start yappin and BS'ing it's inevitable that somebody pulls a gun out to show somebody else and that's where they have the issue. Most stores have told me that if you keep it holstered and concealed it's not an issue - just a general warning for the 'yahoos' to not pull their gun out and show it to everybody...risk for ND goes up at that point.
 
Anthony - it's the same way where I work. Where I work will remain nameless for MANY good reasons. Not the least of which is a counter-argument to someone once saying that we should spend as much energy PRAISING pro-carry businesses as we do FUSSING AT anti-carry businesses:

"I don't think they're "pro-carry" for customers as much as they are "ignorant that customers CAN carry!"" - so I keep my mouth shut! ;)

As for Mahoney's: I spoke to them this morning, appears that I mis-interpeted the sign. All guns must be "checked" at the front, but they don't KEEP them! They just make sure they're unloaded.

I mentioned other stores (Sportsmans Warehouse, Gander Mtn) that exclude CCW weapons to them. But I did get a new respect for their position. See, it's easy to growl when everyone's being punished for something an idiot MIGHT do...

But in this case it's a case of everyone being punished for something SEVERAL idiotS have done - repeatedly!!!! According to the man I spoke to, there has been more than one negligent discharge in there. And countless examples of CCW holders "muzzling" employees with loaded pistols when they pull them out to "test-fit" them to holsters. :what:

Y'know what? They never said anything about MAGAZINES being checked. And as long as I can keep the mag and pistol both on me, we just might have a workable compromise here.. ;)

(Or I may finally get around to checking out this "Crowders Vac and Gun" place I hear about...) :p
 
And countless examples of CCW holders "muzzling" employees with loaded pistols when they pull them out to "test-fit" them to holsters.
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That's odd to me. If I was going to test fit holsters for a gun of mine, I'd probably bring that one in a case or something, and carry a different one (of course, if you don't have multiple carry guns, that's different). I don't ever pull my carry gun out in a store (or, well, I haven't ever done it). If I see an holster that's interesting, I'll come back and check later with the unloaded gun.

I dunno--I don't mean to sound pedantic, of course, but my policy is to leave the carry piece where it is, and shop for my other guns while at a gun store.
 
Has anyone been ASKED wether they were armed? ASKED to disarm? Most likely not.

Then WHY THE SIGNS?

Lawyers and insurance rates, that's why.

Just because they're covering their legal tails don't hammer 'em too much.
 
As has been stated in this thread already, alot of the owners of the business are probably more worried about ND's than anything else.

I know I would. I also think most wouldn't have a problem as long as the guns they are carrying stay holstered, if they are loaded. With the possibility of robbery being as high as it is in a gun shop, I wouldn't want someone unholstering a loaded weapon and swinging it around. You can't react very well to that.

In all the gunshops around here it asks that all weapons be unloaded before entering the store. I don't have a problem with that. I simply unload the gun, holster it, and put the bullet from the chamber and the magazine in my pocket. Not that big of a deal.
 
Here's how I read the sign:

If you have a CCW and it stays that way, don't worry about it.

However, any gun you plan to bring here for repairs, trades, fitting accessories, etc. better be unloaded when you come in, and that includes a CCW gun.

I can stand behind that, personally. In a busy gun shop, lots of people are handling firearms and no one gets hurt. Let's do everything possible keep it that way and not provide propaganda for the nanny-staters, okay? That includes having ALL guns unloaded BEFORE you handle them in the store.
 
As for Mahoney's: I spoke to them this morning, appears that I mis-interpeted the sign. All guns must be "checked" at the front, but they don't KEEP them! They just make sure they're unloaded.
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What good is an unloaded gun? :confused:
 
^ It's not as good as a loaded gun, but with an unloaded gun in my holster and a loaded magazine in my pocket or carrier, it's better than a sharp stick and stern word! ;)
 
Okay - the next time you spot an otherwise pro-gun business where the proprietor doesn't wanna have to worry about Bubba walking in and whipping out a loaded weapon "to try on a new holster" or to check ammunition - "I need bullets that will fit this hole," make sure you encourage them to go out of business.

Sheesh.
 
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