Do you carry in a "gun-free zone?

What do you do when faced with a "no guns" sign at a private business?

  • It's concealed; I'm legal; I'm going in and shopping.

    Votes: 166 55.5%
  • Take the concealed back to the car before entering

    Votes: 40 13.4%
  • Turn around and never go back

    Votes: 93 31.1%

  • Total voters
    299
I'm not sure about Texas but in Missouri even if a bank doesn't have a sign you still can not carry in there because it mentions in the state statute that you aren't allowed to carry in banks. Same goes for any other building mentioned in the statutes.

That is absolutely incorrect. There is no prohibition on carry in banks in Missouri at all. None. In fact, banks aren't even mentioned in RSMO 571.107.1 (1) - (17) as being one of the places in which your permit "does not authorize" you to carry.

The truth is, if you possess a valid concealed carry endorsement, there are no "prohibited places" in the Missouri CCW law. In fact, if you read RSMO 571.107.1, it does not use the word, "prohibited" even once.

Rather, what 571.107.1 (1) - (17) does is specify places in which your CCW endorsement "does not authorize" you to carry. In statutory language, there is a HUGE difference between actions that are "prohibited", and actions that are simply not authorized by the mere presence of a CCW endorsement.

So now that we have some basis established for what this section of law actually does, we can look further into the statute at 571.107.2 which points out that, while an endorsement doesn't authorize the person holding the endorsement to carry into the places specified in 571.107.1 (1) - (17), carry into those places by an endorsement holder is NOT a criminal act. In fact, it's not even an infraction. At most, it could subject the endorsement holder to denial or removal from said premises. Only if the endorsement holder refuses to leave does it rise to the level of an infraction, and even then it is not the presence of the gun that is the infraction, rather, it is that refusal to leave that is the infraction.

So where is a CCW permit holder actually "prohibited" from carrying in Missouri? 571.107.1 (9) specifies that your endorsement does not authorize you to carry in "any place where the carrying of a firearm is prohibited by federal law". So if there is a federal prohibition on the carry of firearms into a certain building or onto a certain property that is located in Missouri, then that prohibition is valid and you are subject to abide by it (think Post Office, Federal Court Buildings, VA Hospital, Social Security Administration Office, etc).

If you only read Chapter 571, you might come to the conclusion that those places where carry is prohibited by Federal Law are the only places in Missouri where a CCW Permit holder is truly prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm, and you would be ALMOST right. However, due diligence demands that we dig deeper to make sure we have all of our bases covered.

Upon further examination, we find in RSMO 578.305 that firearms are also PROHIBITED on public buses (under our "Bus Hijacking" law - Section 578-305 Bus hijacking, definition, penalty--ass), furthermore, we find that violation of that law is a Class C felony. We also find that, under an obscure law that allows political subdivisions in Missouri to enter into agreements with political subdivisions in other states, (RSMO 70.441), that the possession of firearms is prohibited on Metro Link trains as well (RSMO 70.441.3 (11) - Section 70-441 Definitions--provisions to apply in int) and that such possession is a misdemeanor offense (RSMO 70.441.4 (1) ),

So there you have it. There are actually THREE prohibited places in Missouri where people who hold a valid MISSOURI CCW endorsement may not carry:

1. Areas in which the carry of firearms is prohibited by federal law.
2. Buses used for public transportation.
3. Metro Link trains

If you are carrying on a non-resident permit issued by another state, you can add a 4th place to that list:

4. Any place that meets the federal definition of "school zone", or within 1000 feet of any place that meets the federal definition of "school zone" that doesn't fall under some other exemption specified in that section of federal law.

If you are carrying on a valid Missouri CCW endorsement, then #4 does NOT apply to you in "school zones" located in Missouri.
 
In TX if they are not banned by code or has a Legal 30-06 sign I just walk on in and do my business and leave.
 
That is absolutely incorrect. There is no prohibition on carry in banks in Missouri at all. None. In fact, banks aren't even mentioned in RSMO 571.107.1 (1) - (17) as being one of the places in which your permit "does not authorize" you to carry.

The truth is, if you possess a valid concealed carry endorsement, there are no "prohibited places" in the Missouri CCW law. In fact, if you read RSMO 571.107.1, it does not use the word, "prohibited" even once.


So there you have it. There are actually THREE prohibited places in Missouri where people who hold a valid MISSOURI CCW endorsement may not carry:

1. Areas in which the carry of firearms is prohibited by federal law.
2. Buses used for public transportation.
3. Metro Link trains

If you are carrying on a non-resident permit issued by another state, you can add a 4th place to that list:

4. Any place that meets the federal definition of "school zone", or within 1000 feet of any place that meets the federal definition of "school zone" that doesn't fall under some other exemption specified in that section of federal law.

If you are carrying on a valid Missouri CCW endorsement, then #4 does NOT apply to you in "school zones" located in Missouri.

Thanks for your clarification on Missouri. I would always check the law if I traveled there. There are more than 3 places in Texas that are prohibited. But on the school zone
I made the assumption that carry was prohibited in the school parking lot, and missed that question on the CHL test.
Everyone else did too. Turns out it is not legal to take the handgun into the school but can be secured in the vehicle, and unless there is a 30.06 sign posted in the school parking lot, it is not restricted in Texas

The following is a list of restricted CHL carry for Texas.
Churches are legal too unless posted with 30.06 proper signs. Also in Texas, if a hospital does not have a 30.06 sign, or unless someone gives proper notice, ie. a 30.06 sign is proper notice, or someone in authority tells you to leave
you must leave.

Texas CHL Prohibited Places
1. On premises of 51% establishments.
2. On premises of high school, collegiate or professional sporting event.
3. On premises of a correctional facility.
4. On premises of hospital or nursing home, without proper authorization, if proper notice is given.
5. In an amusement park, if proper notice is given.
6. On premises of established place of worship, if proper notice is given, or you have received actual verbal notice.
7. At any meeting of a government entity, if proper notice is given.
("Proper Notice" means the 30.06 sign)
(Premises does not include parking area)

Of course VA Hospitals and Federal guildings have their own restrictions which apply and may or may not have signs.
 
That is absolutely incorrect. There is no prohibition on carry in banks in Missouri at all. None. In fact, banks aren't even mentioned in RSMO 571.107.1 (1) - (17) as being one of the places in which your permit "does not authorize" you to carry.

The truth is, if you possess a valid concealed carry endorsement, there are no "prohibited places" in the Missouri CCW law. In fact, if you read RSMO 571.107.1, it does not use the word, "prohibited" even once.

Rather, what 571.107.1 (1) - (17) does is specify places in which your CCW endorsement "does not authorize" you to carry. In statutory language, there is a HUGE difference between actions that are "prohibited", and actions that are simply not authorized by the mere presence of a CCW endorsement.

So now that we have some basis established for what this section of law actually does, we can look further into the statute at 571.107.2 which points out that, while an endorsement doesn't authorize the person holding the endorsement to carry into the places specified in 571.107.1 (1) - (17), carry into those places by an endorsement holder is NOT a criminal act. In fact, it's not even an infraction. At most, it could subject the endorsement holder to denial or removal from said premises. Only if the endorsement holder refuses to leave does it rise to the level of an infraction, and even then it is not the presence of the gun that is the infraction, rather, it is that refusal to leave that is the infraction.

So where is a CCW permit holder actually "prohibited" from carrying in Missouri? 571.107.1 (9) specifies that your endorsement does not authorize you to carry in "any place where the carrying of a firearm is prohibited by federal law". So if there is a federal prohibition on the carry of firearms into a certain building or onto a certain property that is located in Missouri, then that prohibition is valid and you are subject to abide by it (think Post Office, Federal Court Buildings, VA Hospital, Social Security Administration Office, etc).

If you only read Chapter 571, you might come to the conclusion that those places where carry is prohibited by Federal Law are the only places in Missouri where a CCW Permit holder is truly prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm, and you would be ALMOST right. However, due diligence demands that we dig deeper to make sure we have all of our bases covered.

Upon further examination, we find in RSMO 578.305 that firearms are also PROHIBITED on public buses (under our "Bus Hijacking" law - Section 578-305 Bus hijacking, definition, penalty--***), furthermore, we find that violation of that law is a Class C felony. We also find that, under an obscure law that allows political subdivisions in Missouri to enter into agreements with political subdivisions in other states, (RSMO 70.441), that the possession of firearms is prohibited on Metro Link trains as well (RSMO 70.441.3 (11) - Section 70-441 Definitions--provisions to apply in int) and that such possession is a misdemeanor offense (RSMO 70.441.4 (1) ),

So there you have it. There are actually THREE prohibited places in Missouri where people who hold a valid MISSOURI CCW endorsement may not carry:

1. Areas in which the carry of firearms is prohibited by federal law.
2. Buses used for public transportation.
3. Metro Link trains

If you are carrying on a non-resident permit issued by another state, you can add a 4th place to that list:

4. Any place that meets the federal definition of "school zone", or within 1000 feet of any place that meets the federal definition of "school zone" that doesn't fall under some other exemption specified in that section of federal law.

If you are carrying on a valid Missouri CCW endorsement, then #4 does NOT apply to you in "school zones" located in Missouri.


Apparently I was misinformed by my CCW instructor.
 
Ref: banks, Federal buildings- would not risk my permit. Haven't really been to stores that were posted- guess it depends, but I really want to keep my permit, and if there's the slightest chance I could blow it- just for principal- nah, I would disarm. Too old for the hassle, and there's always a CHANCE someone will make you- ya know, bump against you- a hug- ya just never know.
 
I just carry it.
Just conceal it very good.
And when the wolves come and the sheep start to cry you just pull it out and snd the wolf to go nite nite.
And the sheep will love you and squeeze you forever.
Good night kids.
 
Well, I voted to take it back to the car but I have to admit that sometimes I don't. Honestly, when I'm carrying my Ruger LCP I've found myself inside a "no carry" store before I even realized it was still in my back pocket.
 
In Pa., it is criminal trespass and cause for your carry permit to be revoked. I really don't want to take a chance with that so I shop elsewhere.
 
Texas.jpg

But if yer packing ILLEGALLY , come on in!
 
This is a tough poll to answer, due to some states having strict carry restrictions regarding signage, and some states have less strict interpretations.

In Pa., it is criminal trespass and cause for your carry permit to be revoked. I really don't want to take a chance with that so I shop elsewhere.

Well, sort of... In PA the aggregate interpretation is that signage in private businesses do not carry the weight of law; however if discovered carrying and requested to leave, a refusal can result in some form of trespass charge.

I am not a lawyer.

In the strictest interpretation, regardless of the state, I think one should consider that the sign was posted by the owner, thus making his [erroneous ;) ] intentions clear, that he does not want guns present on his property.

The problem is of course that those poor misunderstood miscreants armed with bad attitudes and guns will not in any way consider that sign as a hindrance to their bad intentions.

Check out handgunlaw.us where Gary has added state signage laws in the past year.
 
This is a tough poll to answer, due to some states having strict carry restrictions regarding signage, and some states have less strict interpretations.
Sorry the initial question wasn't clearer.
The poll was not on the proper or improper size of the sign. It was whether you would ignore the sign, if you were legal otherwise, and give the store your business.
I guess some of you are saying it depends whether the sign is the proper size(turning around and leaving) or the sign is the improper size(you'd go in)?
 
The one issue I have with the concept of "Gun Free school zones" is that my home sits within 1000 feet of a public school. Even though my home is private property, I could be considered in violation of this silly legislation simply by walking out to my vehicle with a firearm...

Fortunately my CCW permit gives me the right to carry within 1000 feet of a school (but not directly on school grounds). Yet another reason why I'm glad to have that permit! :D
 
Sorry the initial question wasn't clearer.
The poll was not on the proper or improper size of the sign. It was whether you would ignore the sign, if you were legal otherwise, and give the store your business.
I guess some of you are saying it depends whether the sign is the proper size(turning around and leaving) or the sign is the improper size(you'd go in)?


My response was with respect to the presence of a sign, which I thought was your intent. Your poll choices are fine; the fact that in some states the signs carry the weight of law could influence the regard / disregard responses of the voters.

If I was actually breaking the law by disregarding the sign I wouldn't. But here in PA there is less of a legal bearing on the signs, so I choose to ignore if I must enter the facility, but otherwise I take my money somewhere else. Thus my comments on the difficulty of getting answers to your poll.
 
In Va. along with the "usual",schools,government buildings,places that serve alcohol, etc. the CC laws specifically mention "private property the owner has posted with a sign" and you can lose your CC permit if they catch you.
 
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