unload your gun before going into a gunshow?

Status
Not open for further replies.
L

lionken07

Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2002
Messages
199
Location
CT
I was asked if Im carrying at the entrance of a gun show here in CT. I told him yes and at which point i was ask to unload it. I told them i will just put it in my car. There is no way I would knowingly take it out and unload it in front of so many people in the line. It stays in the leather the way it should...

I don't know...I would expect a gunshow to be more gun friendly...
 
Answer to that question would always be NO. Concealed weapons permits aren't public record for a reason.
 
So you were asked to blow concealment...
In Connecticut?

You picked a wiser choice.

If something were concealed, maybe they shouldn't know about it anyhow.

Firearm? What firearm? No statutory violation here right?
 
The gun show folks have the same right as any other business to ask whether or not you're carrying on the premises, to expect an answer, and to expel you if so (or, should they choose, if you don't have a loaded gun, for that matter). I would expect that they zip-tie any unloaded firearms you bring in as well.

Every gun show I've ever been to has had a cop (or several) right there. I'm pretty sure I've seen the dealers open-carrying loaded weapons as well. If you either feel it absolutely necessary to be ready, carry a knife (or fingernail clippers) and a loaded mag in your pocket.
 
I figured it's the insurance company for the facility saying "NO WAY we want thousands of guys test fitting holsters with loaded guns and so many people around", but who knows.
 
I figured it's the insurance company for the facility saying "NO WAY we want thousands of guys test fitting holsters with loaded guns and so many people around", but who knows.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I assume that it has something to do with insurance or liability concerns as well. I was at the same show, and they disallow ammo coming in as well.
 
I am guessing the reason they ask you to unload and then put a tie through your chamber so it can be seen as unloaded is because of all the bowsing and handling of gun's that goes on. There is so much dry firing and the shows are so crowded that they are trying to minimize the chances of a mistake occurring. Seems like a reasonable idea to me.
 
So a gunshow is an acceptable "gun free" zone ? NAW ! Not for me, I would just go back home. The guns brought in for sale or trade - absolutely. Concealed carry guns - no .
 
I consider my CCW weapon as separate from any that I might be showing, selling, testing, etc...

The CCW doesn't come out unless there's a need to use it. It doesn't matter if I find a great deal on magazines and want to test the fit - that can be later, or me going back to my car to unload.

They can zip tie the rifle.
 
I fully agree with Firethorn and mnrivrat above. CCW guns are a separate issue. They have the right to ask, and I have the right to leave, lie, or tell the truth, at which point they also have the right to ask me to leave, or not come in at all, or let me in. So far I have been asked only once if I had any guns with me, and the asker was not a cop to the best of my knowledge, so my answer was no. I went in, nothing happened, everybody happy. Every other show, they never ask because they either dont care, or since I dont have a gun visible, they dont bother. either way, it's a non-issue with me for the most part as it just doesnt come up.
 
be sure your state doesn't have a "no CCW at a public gathering" clause. In Macon,Ga ,the last show had big signs saying the show was a public gathering and therefore illegal for CCW. It may have been due to the location which was the city owned Centerplex.

Plus, it is s.o.p. at many competitions to have a cold range for safety purposes.

I have actually seen a friend get shot while standing at a counter because the moron next to us brought in a gun to sell and dry fired his "empty" weapon while pointing it in my friends direction. Every one of us has met a moron like this at some time.

I'm willing to zip tie my weapon and keep the mag in my pocket if it makes idiots like these safer for me to be around.
 
I'm willing to zip tie my weapon and keep the mag in my pocket if it makes idiots like these safer for me to be around.
Click to expand...

I must be getting old because I am tired of having to give up things just because there are idiots in or mist. I know what you mean - I'm just getting tired of loosing my rights over what "might" happen , or what does happen because of idiots. (or just careless people for that matter).

I can live with a gun show that doesn't allow CCW because of their insurance, their state regulations, or some other reasonably ligitiment reason. This should however be part of the advertisiment for the show and not addressed at the doors where it is dangerous in my mind for people to have to "unload" their CCW in a crowded public area. Just me and my thoughts.
 
The Sertoma gunshow here in Co Springs is posted No loaded Firearms/ No concealed carry. I never thought of the legallities ( in Colorado the can only disarm you if there are signs posted & metal detectors that EVERYONE must go through.

As I was writing this it occured to me that I'd rather go W/out my gun for an hour or so than be accused of trying to steal it if I got caught.
 
We are reqiured to unload our guns before going into the gun show. We also can not have any magazines that are loaded. Then they pull the slide back or open the cylinder and run a zip tie through the barrel. They do have random searches and if you are caught breaking the rules they revoke your membership for life.

This is the Washington Arms Collecter's gun shows and you pay a yearly membership fee to avoid paying $10 (maybe it's $15 now) to get into each show. You can also bring a guest in for free.

The same safety precautions apply to the dealers selling guns at the show.
 
All it take is for one damn fool to pull his boomstick out of his holster, to either see if another boomstick fits, or to see if the boomstick fits a different holster, or just to show the darn thing off, and simultaneously getting stupid with a boogerhook, and then you have a loud noise, followed by a profound silence.

I have personally witnessed such an event. The City of St. Louis no longer has gun shows inside the city limits.
 
The big show here in VA has signs apologizing for the policy, but their insurance requires it. I don't have a problem with it at a gun show.
 
I've been to dozens of gun shows in atleast 7 states. I have never been to one that allowed unsecured firearms in the show.
 
I must be getting old because I am tired of having to give up things just because there are idiots in or mist. I know what you mean - I'm just getting tired of loosing my rights over what "might" happen , or what does happen because of idiots. (or just careless people for that matter).
Click to expand...
Agreed. OR has no laws about "no weapons" signs.no "public gathering" nonsense, etc. I can carry ANYWHERE except federal buildings,secure portions of a jail, secure portions of a prison, or a courthouse past the security checkpoint. beyond that, it's legal. If they find out I have a gun they can ask me to leave. that's it. Course, theyt can ask anyone to leave for ANY reason, just like normal, so the gun is irrelevant.If some idiot shoots off his gun at a show, that sure isnt my fault in any way, and would have happened wether I had my gun on me or not, so I dont see why I should have to disarm, since it wont keep anyone any safer by me doing so.If they want to put up metal detectors, or make people volunteer to be searched to enter, that fine. They are free to enforce their rules if they see fit to do so. But they shouldnt be surprised when I, and many others stop going and they loose out on money by doing so. If they dont lose enough to care, more power to 'em. If they loose enough business that having a show isnt worth it, and stop having them, thats thier problem. There are LOTS of places I can get the same stuff a gun show has, (and usually cheaper) that dont mind my gun. I'll go there instead.
 
In Orlando you can bring in guns (of course) but the action has to be open and a zip-tie run through it to be ok, state troopers will inspect and do it for you at the door. They ask if you have any ammo for that gun and you're not supposed to, but there is an out... you can just buy ammo for the gun at the show, which is allowed. That way there is at least one or more legal ways to have ammo and to be able to load up CCW once you leave the show. The vendors all open carry inside but a closer look shows their open-carrys are all zip tied too. I would be shocked if any of them did NOT have a loaded mag or speed loader handy in a pocket, in some legally explainable way even if strictly speaking it's against the rules. This rule affects me because if I want to buy extra cheap mags for one of my pieces, I always bring it with me and like to verify the cheap mag will at least feed a snap cap before buying. The magazine sellers have been pretty cool about it, not minding if I cut off the zip tie for this purpose and helping me re-ziptie the gun afterwards.

I was told about a year ago that there was at least one armed robbery in the parking lot of the show here in Orlando a year or so ago. Fella' got robbed and pistol whipped in the parking lot, a bunch of his (unloaded) firearms were stolen and he was somewhat hurt also. On the occasions I do go to the shows around here, coming and going through the parking lot is definitely condition orange time.
 
All it take is for one damn fool to pull his boomstick out of his holster, to either see if another boomstick fits, or to see if the boomstick fits a different holster, or just to show the darn thing off, and simultaneously getting stupid with a boogerhook, and then you have a loud noise, followed by a profound silence.
Click to expand...

One of the more popular gun stores in central CT has a sign on the door that reads something to the effect "You WILL NOT unholster your firearm!" My guess is one of "those" individuals did something real stupid while in the store. :banghead:
 
They have this CYA policy because of insurance and idiots who feel they need to carry a loaded gun into a show concealed and proceed to cap a round off trying a holster or showing off their piece to a buddy or dealer.
 
Every gun show I ever attended had cops standing at the front door making sure any firearm brought into the building was unloaded. Makes perfect sense to me. Thousands of firearms being fondled by thousands of people is a wreck waiting to happen unless EVERY firearm is unloaded. It's my opinion that a person must really be paranoid not to want to comply.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
  • Locked
Gun Show Carry Event
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
tegemu
T
O
  • Locked
Do you avoid Gunshows?
2 3
Replies
52
Views
3K
eagle45
E
T
  • Locked
how to tell a friend he is careless with guns
2
Replies
45
Views
2K
230RN
230RN
S
  • Locked
What kind of guns do you want to see at gunshows.
2 3
Replies
66
Views
2K
Vicious-Peanut
V
S
  • Locked
Gunshow question
2
Replies
31
Views
1K
Majic
M
Back
Top