You're carrying and the store detector goes off

[fearless leader]

Cameras in fitting rooms?

I haven't had them search me yet, but I tried on some pants one time in the Wal-Mart, and I was Mexican carrying a S&W 1076, which I had to do something with, because it would no longer be in my waist band.

I hung my pistol on the coat hook in the stall until I was finished. I was followed the rest of the way through the store.

I suspect they have cameras in the restrooms too. In the store I shop, they have urinals with Zurn automatic IR sensors to flush the urinals. They don't work. You must flush with the handle. My question is why they have the little lens for the automatic valve?

 

[fearless leader]

Quote: It seems to me that a security guard tackling you from behind would be plenty enough grounds to draw your weapon. If I get attacked in such a manner, I will be drawing for my own protection, how am I to know its a security guard unless they announce themselves and give me a chance to recognize them?

You probably won't. The fact is sometimes, in the heat of the moment, you forget to announce yourself.

I broke up a fight at a phone booth in a FL rest area. A woman, distraught and crying, was trying to use the phone and a man who seemed familiar to the woman was balling up his fist. He drew back and my partner grabbed his left arm and I his right, and he tried to swing on us even though we were in full uniform.

He said he though we were mugging him. Ooops!

 

[Hazwaste]

Quite a few times store workers would be like, "Okay, let's see your pockets," and I just got used to it.

Store employees can ask to see what's in your pockets, but they have no power to force you to show them.

Having written that, I would allow them to see my receipt and the object that caused the alarm to go off, so that they could deactivate the security device attached and I could be on my way.

 

[jabotinsky]

I must be a closet klepto 'cause I get stopped all the time for forgetting to pay for the case of Gatorade or Bounty on the low rack under the main basket of the cart, or my kid's eating something he pulled off the shelf, no harm done, no offense taken, I'm the putz.

 

[greenflash107]

I have had them go off a couple of times at Walmart. I just stopped, backed up, looked at the door man, and he waved me through. Never had them ask to see what was in my bag, or what was in my pockets.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

This has already happened to me. I never gave it much thought until seeing the thread, but it seems clear there is cause for concern.

I've had those beepy things go off exiting Wal-Mart. I'm not going to give Grandma a hard time. In the interest of courtesy and good will I go ahead and show them my purchases and receipt so they can reconcile them or whatever it is they do (they write something down in some sort of logbook). My handgun stays concealed, is never noticed and does not come into play. It has never gone beyond that, and it is most improbable that it will.

What the thread got me thinking about is what I should do if it did happen. If I am asked to empty my pockets or otherwise have my person searched, I intend to say something like, "I am leaving with my property." (That would be the items I just bought.) "Call the police if you want."

 

[jhco50]

Actually, it would be like me asking to search the store employee. They do have what is called a citizens arrest in many states. this is what the stores are trying to work with. However, those same states have a clause that protects the arrested if it turns out to be a false arrest. The way it works is, I detain you, call the police and announce that I am making a citizens arrest. The police then have you sign paperwork and handcuff the so called bad guy. Lord have mercy if you have screwed up, though, the so called bad guy will have you in court.

 

[bogie]

Guys, if you still think that it's a metal detector, you aren't smart enough to own a gun.

 

[Green Lantern]

^ Huh? I have seen that, but not noticed in this thread (maybe I need to look deeper)...

Not all of us are retail-pros, and in todays "SAFETY AND SECURITY" minded society (I forget the exact wording of Palpatine's speech from EPIII), I could forgive someone for thinking they were metal detectors...