Keep forgetting to check...

[nanney1]

My CC permit should be ready for pickup in the next day or two. In the last week or so, I've made a mental note that when I enter any business or office to check and see if they post if weapons are not allowed.

So far, I've yet to remember once as I walk in to even look. Later on, I'll remember that I forgot to notice. I've just never been in the habit of noticing since I've never carried.

My guess is that I'll become much more aware of such things when I'm actually carrying.

[GarandTd]

I don't notice those too often. There are places I expect it, however, such as schools and government buildings. Depends on where you are as well, I imagine, such as rural or urban, state, county, etc...

I work at a state university and the policy is that firearms are not permitted in the buildiings, but that policy is not posted on the buildings themselves.

[FITASC]

Depending on where you live, you may have to pay more or less attention. There are the obvious places applicable to almost every state - courthouses, post offices, jails, etc, but some states have issues with places that serve alcohol or religious houses whereas others do not. Some places, a "no gun" sign has the force of law; in others it does not. Handgunlaw will give you all of the facts in that regard.

[Prof Young]

I was at a fancy mall in St. Louis a couple weeks ago. Knowing before hand that we'd be going there I checked the web site. Unfortunately, no guns allowed. But it was a family gig so I went along. Once there I found a complete absence of "no gun" signs on any of the doors we used to get in, and no mention of it on the one place I found the mall "rules" posted. Hmmmmm . . .

Life is good.
Prof Young

[BigJimP]

In my state...there is a pamphlet, that you can pick up at your local police headquarters - city hall ...that details the issues of concealed carry permits ....where you can carry, limitations, etc. for your city and state. Its very helpful...

[FrankenMauser]

Depends on where you're at.

In my state, it's:
Schools (without permission).
Churches (if they're registered with state, and without permission from church).
Government buildings or property (including Post Offices and detention facilities, even if parking lots are public-access -- but excluding certain offices like the Fish and Game).
Banks.
And, I forget the wording, but certain things that require "paid admission to a performance" -- particularly on College/University property.


Otherwise... businesses or property owners have to ask me to leave, IF they notice that I'm carrying and they're posted as "no guns" (hasn't happened yet).

[Spats McGee]

Keep reminding yourself, and eventually, it will become second nature to scan either side of a doorway as you enter. After a while, you'll learn which places in your "usual orbit" allow gun, and then you'll start forgetting to check again. At least, that's how it went for me.

[Cheapshooter]

I was at a fancy mall in St. Louis a couple weeks ago. Knowing before hand that we'd be going there I checked the web site. Unfortunately, no guns allowed. But it was a family gig so I went along. Once there I found a complete absence of "no gun" signs on any of the doors we used to get in, and no mention of it on the one place I found the mall "rules" posted. Hmmmmm .

In Missouri no "legal" 8 1/2X11 inch sign they can not have you arrested for carrying. They can ask you to leave. Even if you violate a legal sign they are supposed to first ask you to leave. But if they do try, and succeed to get you arrested it is nothing more than the same as a $100 parking ticket. Unless it is the second time. Then you lose your permit. Not sure though how that changed in last legislation that eliminated the need for a CCW permit.
I basically follow the warning, and suggestions of my CCW instructor. "Don't mess with the Feds, but those other places are why they call it concealed carry".

[bassJAM1]

I basically follow the warning, and suggestions of my CCW instructor. "Don't mess with the Feds, but those other places are why they call it concealed carry".

I pretty much do the same thing. As long as it's not a felony I don't mind keeping my safety at the (very slight) risk of being asked to leave an establishment. Very few places around me have those signs anyway.

[Aguila Blanca]

Originally Posted by Prof Young

I was at a fancy mall in St. Louis a couple weeks ago. Knowing before hand that we'd be going there I checked the web site. Unfortunately, no guns allowed. But it was a family gig so I went along. Once there I found a complete absence of "no gun" signs on any of the doors we used to get in, and no mention of it on the one place I found the mall "rules" posted. Hmmmmm . . .

There's a mall near me that I've been told has a no gun policy buried in the fine print of a set of rules posted somewhere in the vicinity of the mall entrances. Due to the layout of the parking and the couple of stores I usually visit, I don't enter through any of the "mall" doors, I enter through the Sears anchor store. I've looked, and there are no rules posted there, and none where you leave Sears to enter the mall on the second level.

[SauerGrapes]

Here in Pa, I seldom see ''no weapons'' signs. I generally don't look for signs. They hold no weight in Pa, but you can be asked to leave, which I would follow. Concealed is concealed. If you don't see it, I don't have it. Just my rule.
Every time I go to renew my LTCF at the court house\Sheriff's office, I put my gun in one of the lockers LE uses.
One deputy last time told me I can't bring a firearm in here. The other deputy said, yes he's allowed.

[Lohman446]

Yes some of the signs are small, opaque, and placed at foot level. I find it a bit ridiculous and likely unenforceable beyond being asked to leave. I also find these at places that likely have absentee owners and I am going to bet the employees simply do not want to make waves so are not going to bother to look for or enforce such a policy.

As others have said there is a vital caveat. DON'T MESS WITH THE FEDS

[jetinteriorguy]

In VA you can carry even if a sign is posted, but if you're asked to leave and you refuse you can be charged with trespassing. And of course govt. buildings and schools are off limits period. But the really odd thing is in clubs and bars you can CC as long as you're not consuming alcohol, but if consuming alcohol you can open carry.

[Ibmikey]

I have carried a pistol as a LE officer and then as a retired officer with ID endorsed to carry and a CC permit as well since first entering a police department in 1963. In all that time I have yet to be asked to leave a premises or business because of my weapon, simply because the weapon is concealed. That is the whole idea about carrying concealed yet I have acquaintances who carry in such a manner that the pistol is obviously only partially concealed and noticed by others. I guess that is some macho thing that I have never had a need to experience.
Carrying for me became a natural thing and if I was aware of a business that had a no firearms policy I avoided those places while shopping....like the $5 buck coffee at Starbucks...but seriously I do not look for signs prohibiting and cannot recall many places in this area that have one other than my Dr’s office who by the way has a CC permit.

[Brit]

My Library (A place I frequent a lot) suddenly came up with a no firearms sign.

I asked the Lady I speak to a lot "How come?" She said they got it wrong. It should have been no illegal firearms?

Two weeks later, sign gone! They use the Library for voting. They had a no gun sign.
Then they had the much smaller area next time, stuck in a back corner. No signs this time. When I vote, I leave my Glock in the locked vehicle.

My advice to LEO's treat every house like firearms are present, and vehicles.

[Lohman446]

The graphic only signs I see from time to time do not have a representation of a Glock. As near as I can tell only Beretta 92s are prohibited by most of them

[Aguila Blanca]

Originally Posted by SauerGrapes

Every time I go to renew my LTCF at the court house\Sheriff's office, I put my gun in one of the lockers LE uses.
One deputy last time told me I can't bring a firearm in here. The other deputy said, yes he's allowed.

PA state law requires courthouses to provide for citizens to secure firearms when they visit a building containing a court facility. The first deputy was flat-out wrong.

[nanney1]

Picked up my permit yesterday. Went to a grocery store this afternoon and carried. On the way out of the parking lot, I remembered that I had forgotten to look as I went in the door. I drove by and glanced but didn't see anything posted.

[Ricklin]

Concealed means concealed. If I am less than concealed that's a failure on my part and I will be more than happy to leave the store if asked.
The court house and the post office means the sidearm stays home. No kids in school so I don't go there.

[osbornk]

In VA you can carry even if a sign is posted, but if you're asked to leave and you refuse you can be charged with trespassing. And of course govt. buildings and schools are off limits period. But the really odd thing is in clubs and bars you can CC as long as you're not consuming alcohol, but if consuming alcohol you can open carry.

Another question that comes up in Virginia is carrying a gun when you go and vote. If someone has a gun when they go to vote and the polling place is not otherwise restricted (school, govt. bldg., etc) they voter is allowed to vote without being problems. One poll worker (older lady well over 65) said she has her gun with her when she works the polls because she might need to use it. Our polls open before daylight and close after dark but her location has no cell service and the telephone is on the opposite end of the building.

[arquebus357]

Yes, you need to be aware of gun free zones like U.S. military bases.

In my military experience (9th Inf Regiment, 2nd Inf Division) we were mostly draftees which probably explains why we were allowed to store ammunition in our wall lockers.

[Theohazard]

Nanney1: What state do you live in? You may not need to bother checking at all. In some states those signs have zero force of law. I've lived and carried in WA and PA, and in both those states businesses can post all the "no guns" signs they want, but you can ignore them. They have no force of law.

Now, if they find out you're carrying they can ask you to leave. At that point if you don't leave you're trespassing. But they could also ask you to leave if they thought your T-shirt was offensive.

[SauerGrapes]

Yes, you need to be aware of gun free zones like U.S. military bases.

I frequent Dover AFB picking up freight for UPS. {not a UPS employee} They are very loose with security unfortunely. No metal detector for drivers. They search the truck, but not the driver. There is a sign coming into the inspection area about firearms\weapons.
Great bunch of young folks there. I hope nothing ever happens. I would have expected more after FT. Hood.

[Big Shrek]

Originally Posted by SauerGrapes

I frequent Dover AFB picking up freight for UPS. {not a UPS employee} They are very loose with security unfortunely. No metal detector for drivers. They search the truck, but not the driver. There is a sign coming into the inspection area about firearms\weapons.
Great bunch of young folks there. I hope nothing ever happens. I would have expected more after FT. Hood.

That background check you have to pass before being allowed on base is pretty intense...
usually if you're a civilian allowed on base, you've got a pretty sparkly clean record and
aren't very likely to cause a problem

[Kreyzhorse]

I'm in Kentucky, those signs don't actually carry the weight of the law in most places. Of course certain buildings are off limits regardless.

Read and understand the laws in your area and you'll be in good shape.