Y gun debate again

[JoePublicVA]

Strange event for me recently. I go to the Y in spurts. Just paranoid me dont like keeping muc of a routine in public. As a CCW in Virginia I'm always looking at no gun sign in any biz I go in. Self employed and work anywhere 24/7 it's a necessity to carry. Anyway, at a local Y a few times i removed my outerwear exposing my firearm and maybe a few may have noticed but today I didn't expose when someone wanted to speak to me. With my items in the locker I told him he could talk to me where I'm standing. He began saying he's a board member and also a CCW holder but firearms not permitted at that Y. Then he continued w theives and policy, blah, blah, blah. I sensed his truthfulness in his representation as an official Y member and rather disputing the issue I told him I'll loc in my car. Lil gud that'll do me if having greater need arises. When he told me his name it jarred my memory as someone that i kne did serve in a local govt official capacity. Hours later I search y website found his name as a board member. Did i find that policy he stated? Nope! Whether it's an official policy or not a company rep can ask anyone to leave private property owned by that company. I believe the nex church shooting or a non-church rampage ppl gonna think twice about making and enforcing restrictive policies that a loose nut w a gun will knowingly target an ez mark. Now my heads on a swivel just getting to my car.

 

[Plan2Live]

First, concealed means concealed. If you are removing a cover garment in public you aren't concealing. Second, find out what the rules are then follow them. I carry to the gym but not into the gym. There are lots of places where I can't legally carry. I fly to other cities on a regular basis and choose not to deal with the additional encumbrances of flying with a checked firearm. In those cases you have to rely on your awareness, judgment, luck, and in a worse case, hand to hand skills.

 

[ontarget]

That's a tough one. I would definitely check into their official rules. I would also make sure to keep my weapon completely concealed. If nobody knows you are carrying they wont be alarmed.

 

[chicharrones]

I carry every where legally while working or not working. Going into several of my customer's buildings they have the Texas 30.06 signage which means I have to disarm before entering. The same applies if I have to go into one of the courthouses, prisons, or military bases for work, as well. Of course, with a military base I can't even have a gun in my vehicle.

Yes, there are times we as concealed carriers can't legally have a gun on us. In many cases, the walk from vehicle to the building is far and the trek may be through an area I'd rather never be in. To stay legal, I have to be disarmed in those cases. It is what I agreed to when I got my concealed carry license.

 

[Sniper66]

If there is any way to prevent it, no one ever knows if I'm carrying.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

State laws vary. Here in Louisiana if a store or company have a policy of no guns allowed, carrying on the property is not illegal. Now if they ask you to leave and you refuse, they may call the police. Now here is the tricky part. If the store employee or property owner tells the responding officer that he does not want to press charges, but just wants you to leave, the police can only ask you to leave. That is because the only law you have violated is Entry/remaining after being forbidding. Now if the complainant wishes to pursue charges, it's another story. LEOs enforce laws not Co. policies. Now this is different then places that state law prohibits firearms.
But like I said, Laws very from state to state. Louisiana just happens to be the most pro gun state in the nation, y'all are all welcome to move here.
But the bottom line is. Don't carry where it is prohibited by law or policy to be on the safe side.

 

[GBExpat]

Welcome to THR, JoePublicVA!

FWIW, the first thing the *I* would do (if I felt that I had to continue frequenting the establishment) is contact that Board Member and inform him that unless the purported No Firearms Policy is posted at the entrances, I intend to continue to carry.

As I see it, the fundamental problem with the scenario that you have described is that this Board Member has now singled you out to not be allowed to carry ... while, apparently, everyone else can since the "policy" is undocumented.

 

[chicharrones]

As I see it, the fundamental problem with the scenario that you have described is that this Board Member has now singled you out to not be allowed to carry ... while, apparently, everyone else can since the "policy" is undocumented.

The other problem is that the board member and whoever reported this to the board member (and everyone in between) will be keeping their eyes on JoePublicVA any time he goes to work out at that YMCA.

 

[chicharrones]

Welcome to THR, JoePublicVA!

Indeed. Welcome to THR, JoePublicVA.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

I'm also in Virginia and was on a college campus when a student shot up the place. So I fully am aware of the issue OP has. I know what it's like to need a gun and not be able to get to it. And I know what it's like to have someone after the fact lie and say I was carrying illegally when I wasn't.

The way Gunny describes the law in La is similar to what we have here in VA (for now as Tim Kaine and our new cast of clowns elected to Gov, Lt Gov and AG want to make us like CA). But some don't care.

I'm not sure what the point of OP's post is other than frustration. Frustration some of us experience all the time. Similar to what the OP said, I once had an employee at a gun counter in a large sporting goods store tell me that I could be charged with brandishing my weapon as he saw it as I bent over to tie my shoes. It seems my shirt came up a bit and he could just barely see it. Instead of arguing with him that VA is an open carry state, I simply thanked him.

What I learned that day is that many folks either don't know the laws, or that they'll say whatever they want. In either case, we need to be careful and we need to decide when to choose a fight and when we don't.

OP also has to understand that in some parts of VA they've become very anti 2nd Amendment. Places like Northern Va, parts of Roanoke, Blacksburg, etc will do all they can to paint us as criminals. Others are very accepting and supportive. So I'd say to OP,

WELCOME to THR from a fellow Virginia

and

Don't let the jerks upset you. You're amongst friends (mostly) and can vent with some of us if you need it.

 

[Steve S.]

Separate from “legal” or “policy” or “principle” for me is that I understand the anxiety that anyone may have when a firearm is displayed. My instincts always try to size up anybody I do not know that shows a firearm - knowbody knows who the nut jobs are, who is law enforcement, security, CCW, legal/ illegal or a potential psycho - who really knows for sure. I understand the feeling, the instinct - I always respect others and never show that I am armed - I am not looking for that attention nor do I want to raise eyebrows - no one ever knows and in turn, no one needlessly has to be concerned - why do that to others????? The absolute advantage of CCW is the concealment, the value of surprise if the worst happens. Good shooting.

 

[Coyote3855]

I don't know if our YMCA has a no guns policy. I usually leave my carry gun in my truck, but if I forget, I'm very careful that no one sees it when I put it in my gym bag before changing clothes. No one has ever commented about the IWB holster that stays on my pants.

 

[gunnerh]

Welcome