What if you carry in a Gun Free Zone

Rastoff said:

Seriously? It's anywhere that carrying a gun is illegal. Not just political.
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Yes, seriously. Did you read the rest of my post?
Since all so-called gun-free zones are defined by various federal, state and local laws, all of which have exceptions for certain people, even if just for cops, the term "gun free zone" is a feel-good label with clear political intentions. You may want to play that game, I'm not.

In Tennessee, if properly posted it's enforceable by law. So if you wander into a posted place like a restaurant waving your gun around it's a Class B misdemeanor $500 fine. In reality I've never heard of anyone being charged unless combined with another crime. I reckon the proprietor would just ask the person to leave if the issue ever came.

The exception is employee parking lots. No Gun policies are not enforeable by law.

For state banned areas it's a Class C misdemeanor and fine. Second offense is Class B misdemeanor. Jail time is possible for state or municipality banned areas.

As Carpriver stated Michigan law is changing and it's always a good idea to check current laws in your state and any you might be visiting. I like to print off the laws in the state I'm going to and put in my glove box so I can double check later or maybe help in a traffic stop with an LEO not familiar with their laws.
I like the links to websites that list different state's law but you'll unusually see a disclaimer about their accuracy not being guaranteed. Best to go to that state's official website to be sure.
I've been to several places here privately owned that are supposed to be gun free but never have seen a sign except for one jewelry store. If I were to be found out I could be asked to leave and is trespass if I don't even with a sign.

carpriver said:

As a CPL holder you are required to know the laws of your state and the federal laws where you can not carry, the VA is off limits, as is the Post Office, Federal Court House, Military Bases.

In Michigan there are new laws going into affect on December 2015 about were a CPL holder can carry, and schools and church's bars and banks will me legal. SO it behooves you to keep track of what going on in your state and their guns laws.

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Last I heard two days ago Snider hasn't signed this yet.
Banks have always been legal oc or cc.

I think ALL federal institutions are NO carry zones. They are not posted but considered No carry also that goes for Post offices etc. However now in N.C. banks/financial institutions are no longer on the list unless specifically posted, that changed a couple of years ago. Check the web site Handgunlaw.us and pull up N.C. section it should answer all your questions.

Here in Illinois the "No Guns" sign, if it meets the requirements of the law as to the sign itself and if it is "conspicuously" posted, carries the force of law. This means if you are caught you will be charged with at least a misdemeanor for the first offense. In neighboring Wisconsin, if you are caught and asked to leave and you refuse you will be charged with trespassing. So it is imperative that you check the laws in the state where you will be present. And don't forget that there are Federal laws as well, such the one prohibiting guns at elementary and high schools and their property.

Simple. Two things will happen. (1) You will be better able to protect yourself from a nut-job. (2) You will be in violation of certain laws which were passed on the assumption that the aforementioned nut-job will not attempt in mass shooting, or any shooting, in a Utopia like a "gun-free zone."

I have three thoughts about this. (1) this reminds me of the quote, “He who goes unarmed in paradise had better be sure that that is where he is.” – James Thurber. (2) Why haven't the "gun free zone" signs been working? To qoute Albert Einstein, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." (3) If your weapon is properly concealed, then how exactly is it discovered that you are carrying?

I agree that the OP needs to carefully research the laws in the states he frequents. It is my understanding, although unverified by research, that in Wyoming, "no weapons allowed" signs mean that the property owner (I'm thinking here of the local mall), can only ask you to leave or be charged with trespassing.

However, my concealed firearm permit specifies places where I cannot carry - bars, police stations, schools, federal facilities, etc.

Unless there is a metal detector as is the case in the county courthouse, concealed means concealed and I follow that advice.

Hey Ogandydancer, thanks for that link, excellent information!

Bearman, I've never been clear on carry in banks and credit unions in Michigan. I've heard conflicting positions and last I looked could find nothing in Michigan law on the subject. To be on the safe side I do leave my gun in my truck when I do business in my credit union. It's usually only a few minutes but would hate to be there in advent of a robbery taking place where they wanted to shoot people up.
I never could understand why carry in sports arenas wouldn't be allowed. Do they really think a person with a CPL that has trained and hasn't used their gun in road rage incidents or a conflict on the street would not be able to control themselves over a sporting game?
The no carry in a bar is another silly one. Okay to carry in a place that makes more than half their revenue serving food if alcohol is less than that. I've never asked a place for their financial records to determine that and yet we already can't have a blood alcohol content of over .02%. I think if I can limit myself to one beer I can do the same in a bar too.

I know that none of us wants to encourage illegal behavior, and I beleive that if a store, or restaurant or other commercial location wants to ban guns that is certainly their right to do so, at least right now. Unless you are a protected minority, such as by race, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age, and probably some others than I can't think of right now, a business owner can discriminate in any way he or she wants to, including banning of firearms. Personally I don't want to give my business to any place that will not honor my 2nd Amendment rights and also who creates a target rich environment for the deranged and evil. My wife and I used to go to Buffalo Wild Wings often, but have not in recent years because of their corporate policy. Same for Ikea.

But sometimes it is difficult to avoid going somewhere where guns are prohibited, often by statute. Examples include Post Offices, courthouses, and schools (I attend one or more "grandparents day" annually and always feel extremely vulnerable if I am unarmed, but I do not want to refuse the request of one of my grandchildren to attend such an activity). For these type posted locations an individual has to make their own choice, whether to feel safe and carry despite the law, to not carry and thus comply with the law, or not go there at all regardless of other consequences (like not showing up for jury duty).

I would like to see the law require any location that posts to also provide a metal detector and armed security, so that I would be assured that no one else is going to be armed if I cannot be. Of course that might not help me if some thug who is 40 years younger than I am, and in better shape, decides to attack me. But merely posting, and taking no other steps, means that most law abiding citizens will not enter with a gun, but we all know that the criminal, by definition, will ignore the law to his advantage. And something tells me that if a store, restaurant or workplace had to provide security in lieu of allowing armed entry, and were clearly legally responsible for the safety of the unarmed in their location, we would see far fewer posted places.

tops said:

Don't know. Never been caught. Larry

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Me, neither. Concealed means concealed, don't ask, don't tell!

Of course, I wouldn't carry in a courthouse, police station, etc.

But hospitals, coffee shops, department stores...well, they'll never even know it.

H.J. your instructor should have covered places you CAN'T C.C.W. here in NC, if not he/she really missed a very important part of the class. If you are caught in a posted no carry area, and most malls are, you can lose your handgun and very well mat loose your C.C.H. permit.

Ogandydancer said:

I think ALL federal institutions are NO carry zones. They are not posted but considered No carry also that goes for Post offices etc.

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This is not accurate. The easy way to answer this is to just not carry in a federal building. However, the law is not quite that simple.

It says:

POSTED PROHIBITED federal facilities staffed by federal employees [TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 44 > § 930 Possession of firearms and dangerous weapons in Federal facilities]

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This is for federal facilities. So, if it's not posted, you can carry there. If it's not staffed by federal employees, you can carry there. However, if there's any doubt, it's not a bad idea to just not carry. The penalty for getting this wrong is a felony.

US Post Offices are covered under a different law. They are covered by 39 CFR 232.1 and are more strict. You may not carry in the building or even the parking lot. In fact, you can't leave your gun locked in your car in the parking lot. Not anywhere on the property.

Depends on the cop. I'd check you for warrants and if there were none, I'd let you go. If anyone made any noise about it after that, you could expect to have a warrant issued against you for the violation and have to pay a fine, I would guess. And then deal with the gun board possibly taking your permit away.

So we don't carry in marked "Gun Free Zones" and the places stated for each state like Police stations etc. Some of you have said "don't give your business to places marked "Gun Free Zone"! That I believe to be very good counsel...

Federal property is pretty much off-limits to everybody. In Georgia, when it comes to State or private property, it can be a misdemeanor. We can even carry in schools down here when going in to pick up a kid. College campuses are gun-free zones; but, if you have a permit, a misdemeanor is the most you can be charged with. Most of the time that will be lowered to an infraction by a judge if it goes that far. In any gun-free zone you can be asked to leave. . .so you leave. If you refuse, LE can be called in. That could go anywhere; but, you would certainly leave when asked and nothing would happen. Georgia is a carry everywhere state. . .even airports.

I don't understand why you just don't contact your former instructor and ask him or her. After all, that person should have all the answers for your local jurisdiction.

DocB said:

Federal property is pretty much off-limits to everybody. In Georgia, when it comes to State or private property, it can be a misdemeanor. We can even carry in schools down here when going in to pick up a kid. College campuses are gun-free zones; but, if you have a permit, a misdemeanor is the most you can be charged with. Most of the time that will be lowered to an infraction by a judge if it goes that far. In any gun-free zone you can be asked to leave. . .so you leave. If you refuse, LE can be called in. That could go anywhere; but, you would certainly leave when asked and nothing would happen. Georgia is a carry everywhere state. . .even airports.

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I'm finding a lot to like about Georgia!!

Legal Minefield

As many here have said, the consequences of invading a "gun-free" zone can vary from an admonition to hard time. Expect a harsher response in blue states.

Incidentally you can't carry within one thousand feet of a school but I've yet to hear of a prosecution for someone merely traveling on public roads. But, I do recall hearing of someone getting jacked up for hunting within the 1000 foot zone in a rural area.

As for me, I follow the law, which means I don't carry in any governmental buildings or schools. In NY, where I live, permits are too easily lost.