my response to "no guns allowed" sign

[wheelyfun66]

Hey All,
I live in VT, which has Constitutional carry (no permit needed to carry a firearm concealed).

I have a permit for a neighboring state (NH) and frequently shop at a hardware/home builder's store located in NH.

After years of shopping there, I suddenly see a sign on the front door: "no firearms allowed".

I am, of course, carrying concealed.

I am on a mission to purchase 5 gallons of paint, an expensive infra-red heater, and various tools and wood for a project.

The first thing I do, however, is go to the aisle with tools in it, grab a nice Hatchet, and stick it in the loop of my carpenter's Carhartt pants.

After I am done shopping, while at the check-out, the clerk asks, "Are you buying that Hatchet"?

I reply, "no, but I saw your NO GUNS sign, and wanted some form of self protection while shopping".

He did not laugh....but seemed baffled.

I know, I know, I shouldn't shop there if I do not honor or agree with their policy.......but it is the "Live Free or Die" state, and I choose to shut up and carry concealed.

Funniest part was, I WAS carrying concealed while this occurred!
(I know that some will flame me for this....and I can accept that!)

 

[Protected One]

Well I'm not going to flame you. I think that was a hilarious responce to the sign.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I kind of like that!

 

[Roldanis]

Nicely done sir. Thankfully in my state those cute signs carry no legal authority.

 

[jimmib]

good idea on the hatchet...to bad the clerk didn't pick up on it...I will not leave my concealed in the car to go into anyplace and have it stolen while I am gone...then another criminal has a gun...jmho

 

[gdnagle]

Now me I would have loaded the things into the cart and taken them to CS. I would then proceeded to explain to them this is the sale they lost by having the sign, while I was still carrying without their knowledge but I wouldn't have told them. Like most stores they don't know or care what other dangerous objects they sell, as long as it's not a firearm. Heck I bet you could have bought a .22 stud gun there with blanks.

 

[snubbyfan]

I like that, I'm gonna havta make a leather tomahawk holder for just such an occasion.

 

[jfd]

Haha, excellent!

 

[10mmauto]

I'm sorry. This isn't really a flame. But what sort of history did you know or what sort of intel did you have that made you feel the need for protection in a hardware store?

And you made your Constitutional protest to the checkout clerk?

 

[S&W HE]

In my opinion a no gun zone is really a free to kill zone . I never feel safe in a free to kill theater, school, military base or other no gun location. And I keep in mind, when seconds count the police are just minutes away.

 

[pawncop]

Very creative, I like it. For those that ask "Why do you feel you need to carry in a hardware store" I would make the observation that I never know where evil is going to make it's appearance. Accordingly I will carry a sidearm anywhere I can.

I hope you find this helpful.

 

[wheelyfun66]

I'm sorry. This isn't really a flame. But what sort of history did you know or what sort of intel did you have that made you feel the need for protection in a hardware store?

And you made your Constitutional protest to the checkout clerk?

What sort of "history" or "intel" did I know that "made me feel the need for protection"?

My good man, are you serious? Why do ANY of us carry a defensive weapon?

Oh, forget it. I just noticed that you are in NY state and are LEO. My bad. (And yes, my magazines hold more than 7 rounds(

 

[Ransom]

what sort of history did you know or what sort of intel did you have that made you feel the need for protection in a hardware store?

Do you only buckle your seat belt on roads with a history of crashes? Do you deem it necessary to have a fire extinguisher in your home even though you may never have had a fire before?

 

[jfd]

Really, we have to think in advance of leaving the house whether we MIGHT wind up somewhere that having a gun to protect ours or our family's life would be prudent?????? I don't know about others but I'm not clairvoyant. I try to avoid trouble and bad areas whenever possible but evil exists all around us. Myself, and most CCP holders I know, value the life of ourselves and our family. That is why we carry. I'm not trying to make a statement by carrying or be a tough guy. I also don't want to have to shoot someone in self defense but if necessary I will.

I holster up when I leave the house and try to avoid locations where I have to unholster but do so if the law requires (banks, post office, court house etc).

As many others have said, "when seconds count, the police are only minutes away.

BTW, never been to NY, not sure I'll ever need to go.

 

[Ransom]

BTW, never been to NY, not sure I'll ever need to go.

I'm very unlucky in this regard. My dearest extended family members live in NY, IL, and OR. None of these states accepts my Missouri CCW permit.

 

[skrazo]

I don't want to be caught in a "situation" where I need my concealed carry weapon and don't have it. I don't trust Kooks and Wackos to allow a "timeout" while I fetch my weapon.

 

[islamoradamark]

because they got a sign and u are carrying consealed does that mean the hardware store person can shake u down? number 2 that sign dont mean nothing u got rights

 

[blujax01]

I cannot demand that one respect my 2A Rights and at the same time ignore someone else's Private Property Rights. Whether the sign is worded correctly in the appropriate font and letter height and "carries the power of the law" or whether it is "just a preference" on the part of the proprietor, the message is as clear as a "no trespassing" sign - and if you doubt the validity of those, find the threads about farmers and hunting season! I simply make note of it and avoid such places.

Easy-Peasy...

 

[dinooch]

I'm a firm believer in "keeping your mouth shut". I carry and don't ever say anything about it. The old rule of thumb is "a person shouldn't know you have a gun until they are shot". That being said, screw the hardware store, just go about your business as usual. Why make a scene?

 

[SgtLumpy]

because they got a sign and u are carrying consealed does that mean the hardware store person can shake u down? number 2 that sign dont mean nothing u got rights

What are these "rights" you speak of?

The right to enter someone's private property against their posted wishes? That's not a right that I extend to anyone. And it's a criminal act I choose not to engage in.


Sgt Lumpy