Bass Pro Shops and checking your gun at the door

Read thru this because of what I did just last week at BPS. Went in to find a different holster for my carry gun. Even though it was tempting to try out the fit in the aslie, I took the holster over the the counter and asked the guy behind it if I could fit this holster to (and I pointed to it) that gun in his case. He had no problem with pulling out the gun, taking off the trigger lock (even though I do not think he is suppose to) and letting me try it. Problem solved, no one got nervious about me pulling out my gun, fact is nobody knew I had the exact same gun on my person (as it is suppose to be). I was not offended that someone may be trying to take away my rights (I agree with the ones who say it's a conceal permit keep it that way) and I found out that the holster does not fit the way I would like. Done this way, sign or not no one knows. No laws are broke but as stated above the store has the right to post it's rules. You have the right not to enter. ;)
 
Yeah, keep it concealed! In Mich. it is a no-no to publicly display a concealed pistol unless it needs to be used for its intended purpose.

I have always used Google to fit my holsters and have never had a problem with fit. Comfort on the other hand...

Maybe gun shops should start having a dressing room or two available for this
 
Yeah, keep it concealed! In Mich. it is a no-no to publicly display a concealed pistol unless it needs to be used for its intended purpose.

Here in Michigan Open Carry is legal so it's no biggie, legally speaking, if your
cover garment happens to blow open in the wind and your gun becomes visible.

Now, if you pull your gun out of it's holster in public, that's another matter entirely. ;)
 
Therefore, I think that the original intent was to bar all governments from infringing on the right. Otherwise it makes no sense to bar the federal government while leaving state and local governments free to infring on the right.

I'll disagree on that one. IMO, the framers were very smart to delegate to the states and "the people", the vast majority of power. Therefore, the LOCAL citizens would have a say in LOCAL affairs, not some beauracrat in Washington, ie a Senator from NY telling the good people of Georgia what to do in THEIR state. That's why Federal powers should be limited to those enumerated in the Constitution. Unfortunately, we've allowed the Feds to get into every facet of our lives, and expand beyond the enumerated powers of the Constitution.
If states choose to make local laws that suit their populace that's fine with me. If they "infringe", vote them out. Keep the decisions at a local level, where the "will of the people" can be met. What's good for a coal mining state is not necessarily good for a state that depends on financial centers.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
 
Last edited:
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Well, not really anymore. The Civil War kind of changed that.
 
Here is the deal, depending on state law, those signs "No Concealed weapons" or "No loaded weapons" are usually not legally binding. They are not in my state either (Florida). You could legally carry, loaded or not if you have a CCP. However, know your laws.

HOWEVER, any store can have their own policy, forbidding you to carry, and if you refuse to abide by their policy, they can have you arrested or at least given a formal trespass warning. Remember, trespassing + having a gun (CCP or not) = an ARMED TRESPASS charge in some states (like mine) which is a felony and you lose your gun rights, ccp and possibly guns.

Nipster - in your last few posts you keep reiterating that the 'no firearms' signs are not legally binding, yet you miss the inherent policy behind the signs which you actually pretty succinctly reference in your first post in this thread.

While the signs in & of themselves may or may not be legally binding, they are in essence promoting/displaying/informing of the store's policy forbidding firearms which makes "ignoring the sign" a chargeable offense.

Ultimately (unless you know for a fact that the store has no gun policy) the 'sign vs policy' issue is a difference without a distinction.
 
Last edited:
The Cabelas in CT has a sign as you enter saying firearms have to be checked. Only the ones being brought in for trade/sell/work/etc, not the CC'd ones.
 
When the BP opened in MA this sign caused a stir. A few people on our regional forum actually worked at BP and the question was asked. Answer was that ONLY those guns brought in to be worked on (add scope, etc.) have to be unloaded and checked at the door. CCW was fine.

Common Sense (not so common) has it that you don't bring a loaded gun into any store to try holsters, etc. I'm with the person who says CCW a different gun that day and case the one you want to check holsters, etc.

The MA store doesn't have a range so that might change things (policy) somewhat.

I don't read such signs (not binding in MA) so I don't recall exact wording and I rarely go in there but it is usually while I'm working and definitely CCW'g. It's not a favorite shop and I don't fish, so have little to no need to go there. I also only use high-end holsters that are custom made, so I never have a need to try holsters there either.
 
At first read, I was chagrined by the BP policy ... until I realized how many times I've been muzzle swept by sundry generic morons, weekend warriors, mall ninjas, and clueless gun carrying buffoons at LGS, ranges, etc. The policy is a good one that protects patrons from some jackwagon putting a hole through them courtesy of mishandling his/her CCW.
 
After this thread went up, I made a point to see what my local Bass Pro had posted regarding their CCW policies. Here's what I found:
cff4bcc2-b69f-5031.jpg

So good so far. And then inside the store on the wall:
cff4bcc2-b6ce-29d8.jpg

The way I interpret that sign, basically so long as I'm not in there to use their range w/ my concealed firearm or otherwise want them to repair/buy/replace it then conceal carry is no problem.

As opposed to a sign like this:
cff4bcc2-b756-9529.jpg
 
I worked at a gun shop part time for a while. We never had a problem with open carry or concealed carry. But it BETTER stay in the holster.

If you wanted to fit your gun to a holster, there was a big bold sign by the holsters that said to bring your gun to the sales counter to be unloaded.

There's a hole through two walls from some idiot that couldn't read.:rolleyes: He was permanently barred.

Many of the policies set forth by some stores and gun shops is because of the idiots that did not use proper gun safety. The rest of us pay for their mistakes. :mad:
 
I worked at a gun shop part time for a while. We never had a problem with open carry or concealed carry. But it BETTER stay in the holster.

If you wanted to fit your gun to a holster, there was a big bold sign by the holsters that said to bring your gun to the sales counter to be unloaded.

There's a hole through two walls from some idiot that couldn't read.:rolleyes: He was permanently barred.

Many of the policies set forth by some stores and gun shops is because of the idiots that did not use proper gun safety. The rest of us pay for their mistakes. :mad:

This is our policy at our sales. We're fine with concealed or open carry, but you better only pull it if we're being overrun by the zombies. If you want to fit it to a holster or otherwise have it out we have to inspect it and know it's unloaded. We aren't really a retail store but have live sales at times and even that level of activity is enough to make you worry, much less operating a big box store like Bass Pro.

it only takes one fool, like in your example, to kill someone. I can see why retailers worry about it, not b/c they are worried about someone shooting someone intentionally, but b/c they are worried about the guy who decocks his cocked and locked 1911 to holster fit it and it discharges.

You have to be anal-retentive about making sure guns are unloaded in any environment, and doubly so in customer environments. Maybe a "don't pull it out" rule may suffice, but I can't hold it against them to be overly cautious for that 1 in 1,000 guy who thinks guns are toys. Can't blame their insurer either. Don't like the result, I believe in conceal carry almost everywhere, but I do understand it.

Of course in Ky it's not a crime to carry there anyway. They can ask you to leave and if you refuse it's trespass, but it's not a crime to carry against a private business's policies, even if posted.
 
I'll have to agree with you on this one. I can still remember years ago being in a mall sporting goods store, and some guy came in looking at .357 double-action revolvers. He held several of them, but couldn't find one that he really liked... none of them had the right balance when he twirled it like an old-west gunfighter! If I were Bass Pro Shops, I wouldn't want that guy trying his gun in a holster in my store.

Our local Bass Pro Shops allows CHL's to carry.

I think that their objection comes from a patron handling a loaded firearm within the walls of the store. Personally, I would not feel comfortable with anyone 'trying out new holsters' with their carry gun. I really don't want to be around anyone in the store who is loading/unloading their carry piece....."Keep it CONCEALED!"

Probably best for all involved...a safety concern is not them denying anyone their ability to carry legally.
 
I asked the So Fl BP store where I go and was told the locks were for weapons being open carried into the store for repair work or range shooting and that it did not apply to concealed carry with permits as long as the weapon remained concealed. Not sure if that is the same policy everwhere. Florida recently passed state laws that prohibit certain gun bans by local authorties etc.
 
I OC at Bass Pro all the time. They have updated their signage to make it perfectly clear that the "check in" applies only to guns (and bows) brought in for service.
 
And this is the problem. The gradual erosion of our rights with us getting used to each step.
There is another point to consider and I would have to think about it if I had a gun store. Not everyone handles a firearm properly, like in being sure where the muzzle is pointed and should there be an accident...the store could be held lieable, their insurance company could have a problem with it. I am even careful who I hunt with or shoot with for the same reason. Even in the military, I have seen gun accidents that were fatal and had the experience of a soldier on an APC point a loaded M-60 at me (practicing)...makes me very nervous. I grew up with guns and had safety hammered into me from 9 yrs old on and it just takes one person that is careless or is not trained properly to cause irreversable damage. Its not the gun I fear but the ability and skill of the person handling it. just my thoughts...I also agree that we are slowly losing our rights and we must guard against any infraction of our rights and we must be willing to fight for our rights if thats what it takes.
 
I'm a concealed carry holder in Arkansas. The store that has sold me about a half-dozen holsters over the past two years has not minded me bringing in a concealed handgun, taking it out, immediately completely unloading it, and trying on the holster. I always tell the person who is waiting on me that I am a CCW, I have one on me, and I am shopping for a holster.

This store in fact WANTS concealed carry customers to bring their handguns into the story in order to insure the proper fit for their holsters. Satisfied customers come back.
 
Here is the deal, depending on state law, those signs "No Concealed weapons" or "No loaded weapons" are usually not legally binding. They are not in my state either (Florida). You could legally carry, loaded or not if you have a CCP. However, know your laws.

HOWEVER, any store can have their own policy, forbidding you to carry, and if you refuse to abide by their policy, they can have you arrested or at least given a formal trespass warning. Remember, trespassing + having a gun (CCP or not) = an ARMED TRESPASS charge in some states (like mine) which is a felony and you lose your gun rights, ccp and possibly guns.

You are also under no legal requirement to disclose, but if asked to leave / unload, remove your concealed weapon, you MUST comply. Or you face arrest, or if you are lucky, just a tresspass warning.

You need to know your state laws.

I also do not see the logic in gun stores discouraging carry, but it's their store... you need to play by their rules. It could end badly.

In this state, which now recognizes the CC/firearms, etc., permit from every other state, failure to abide by the "No Firearms" or "No Loaded Firearms" signs, in whatever form they are posted, invalidates the permit. Therefore, you are now illegally carrying a concealed/loaded weapon.

I've purchased holsters from Bass Pro Shop, and my procedure is to buy the holster, carry it to my car, see if the gun fits (I pretty well know if it will or not), and if it doesn't, carry it right back in to the Customer Service desk (also at the front of the store before the turnstiles) and get either an exchange or refund. No one in Bass Pro Shops knows that I'm carrying a concealed, loaded weapon as I keep it CONCEALED.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top