No Handguns Posting Question

[gregintenn]

I'm not the most observant person you'd ever see, and when I'm out and about, I'm usually people watching, or have my mind on something a thousand miles away. Unless there's a large sign on the front door at eye level, I don't generally notice postings. It isn't on purpose, but that just isn't something that's on the top of my mind. I'm sure I've walked unknowingly by several postings. How much effort should one put into locating these signs? Are you always thinking about them, and on the lookout for them?

[Guest BenderBendingRodriguez]

I'm always on the lookout when I go to someplace I haven't been before - especially if it seems like the sort of place that would post. More often than not there is no posting. After I've established that I'm good to carry somewhere I'm typically much less vigilant, though I do try to make a special effort to look every once in a while just to make sure nothing has changed.

Fortunately there are very few places I have to go on a day-to-day basis that are posted, so I don't often have to be concerned with disarming and safe storage.

I will also note that if I know I am going to be spending any significant amount of time at a place that's posted either in the morning or the afternoon, I will typically either not arm until after lunch or will disarm over the break (most days I take a break from work and go home for lunch). No sense in dealing with it while I'm out and about.

[Fallguy]

Don't guess I ever really look at any place with the explicit intent to see if they are posted or not. The law says the posting is supposed to be "clearly visible" so I guess I feel I shouldn't have to search hi and low for it.

That said, places I usually go, I don't really look unless I notice something different. As Bender said, if I go a place I don't normally go or haven't been in a while I'm more apt to try and pay attention to anything on or close to the door/entrance.

[DaveTN]

I don’t look for it, and no one has been cited for it; so it’s a non-issue.

[Guest TnValleyBulletman]

It needs to be conspicously posted or I wont see it. If I see the business is posted I turn around and go somewhere else. All those signs mean to me is that that business has too much business for their own good and I really need to take my dollars to their competition to level things out a mite. There's always somewhere else around that doesn't have an aversion to doing business with pistol packin' people.

[Erik88]

I always glance at the front door but I wouldn't say that I go "CSI" on it. A perfect example is Regal theaters. I've been to a few different Regal theaters easily a few hundred times and never noticed the tiny gunbuster sign until someone on TGO mentioned it. When buying tickets one night I literally looked for several minutes before finally finding it. It is maybe the size of a quarter and listed on a little plaque that has all their policies.

I do NOT consider that to be "clearly visible".

[Guest That Guy]

Ignorance is no excuse. On the other hand, concealed carry is just that; concealed.

[tnhawk]

I usually look to see if a business is posted. I prefer to spend my money at those that aren't.

[Jonnin]

I think it happens to everyone. Sigh, just this weekend we hit the new balance store, got 2 pairs of shoes, and saw the sign way off to the side in a window (not on the door) on the way OUT. It was not "clearly posted" at all. If I had known I would have gone elsewhere -- that is the last money they will see from me until they change their ways.

It would probably give them a heart attack to know it, but 2 guns went in by mistake, and amazingly no one was harmed during the show buying event.

[walton6467]

The other thing to consider, is whether the local LEO's are going to support the business or the gun owner if called.

If you carry into a store that has a tiny, inconspicuious sign and the law is called, will the officer back the gun owner because the sign is out of spec or will they back the business and charge you for carrying in a posted location, ruining your outting on many levels and forcing you to go to court even if its a bogus charge?

I'm not running a risk. If I'm carrying, my head isn't in the clouds and I take the time and effort to survey the entire entrance area. I've been known to leave a business if I am inside when I see any version of a gun buster.

I once pointed out to the manager of O'Charley's that his "no weapons" notice posted in the bar was not legal according to the wording of the law and his response was "I'll bet the cops would arrest someone on the basis of that old sign" and they probably would. I might win when it finally gets to court, but I'm going to avoid that at all costs.

I'm not risking an arrest, even on a bogus charge. I'll just avoid those locations.