Going to a movie theatre in FL

Shielded4good

Shielded4good

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Hi folks.
I am going to a movie theater here in FL this afternoon.
In reviewing what happened in Aurora, CO, and the man that was arrested for carrying in Connecticut, do you have any advice as to bringing my CW with me?
Thanks in advance.
 
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If they don't have a "no gun sign" carry it. If they do lock it in car or carry it anyway. Your decision. I always honor the "no gun sign" but that's me. You will have to decide for your self.
 
This is from Handgunlaw.us

Do "No Gun Signs" Have the Force of Law?
"NO"
"Handgunlaw.us highly recommends that you not enter a place that is posted "No Firearms" no matter what
the state laws read/mean on signage. We recommend you print out the No Guns = No Money Cards and
give one to the owner of the establishment that has the signage." As responsible gun owners and upholders of
the 2nd Amendment we should also honor the rights of property owners to control their own property even if
we disagree with them."
"No Firearm" signs in Florida have no force of law unless they are posted on property that is specifically
mentioned in State Law as being off limits to those with a Permit/License to Carry. If you are in a place not
specifically mentioned in the law that is posted and they ask you to leave, you must leave. If you refuse to
leave then you are breaking the law and can be charged. Even if the property is not posted and you are asked
to leave you must leave. Always be aware of the possibility that responding Police Officers who may have
been called without your knowledge and may not know the laws on trespass etc. could arrest you even if you
are within the law.
 
I have just recently started going back to the movies with my wife. The event in Aurora, Co. is always on my mind. The theater I go to here in NC is not posted. When we go I make sure we sit in seats on the far side of the theater away from where you enter. My wife sits on my left side since I'm right handed. I make sure that I pay attention the entrance and to anyone coming into the theater. Usually I only carry my 640 Pro with speed strips but when we go I also take my 642 with me. Call me paranoid but I'm not getting caught short even though I feel we live in a pretty safe area.
 
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Movies theaters are perfect places to carry a shoulder holster due to the cramped seating arrangements. Usually cool inside so wearing a windbreaker does not look out of place.
 
Thanks guys for your feedback. I found a couple articles also that ease my mind as to wether or not to carry. One of the articles was an incident here in FL were someone was open carrying, got in trouble...

I also am wondering... I have practiced dry shooting with the shorter magazine, but have shot at the range more so with the extra inch or so one (pardon my lack of shop words)... I am thinking about carrying with the short one as it prints less, but carrying my longer mag in my pocket. What are your thoughts on this one?
 
Talking to an attorney he told me that most carriers that get in trouble when going past no gun signs that don't have force of law is this.

They are told to leave which anyone who owns or has authority of any property can tell you. Well instead of leaving right away they want to argue about their rights. That is what gets them in trouble. Then they are trespassing. So when ask to leave any business or anyone elses property say "Thank You" and leave right away. It is their property!
 
We were in Florida a couple Winters ago and I carried as we walked a short distance to the movies. Turns out they served alcohol there. You might want to check on that.
 
Over reaction, times a factor of ?

Shielded4good said:
Hi folks.
I am going to a movie theater here in FL this afternoon.
In reviewing what happened in Aurora, CO, and the man that was arrested for carrying in Connecticut, do you have any advice as to bringing my CW with me?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Stay home and rent a movie on Netflix if your anxiety is running that high. Things will return to a normal state sooner or later, breath, breath, breath. Remember the retired chief of police that shot a family man to death over a cell phone issue. Sounds like his actions were a result of your classic tunnel vision and seeing or feeling something that did not exist except in his own mind, No one will ever know, but what we do know is a couple of kids are going to be growing up without a father and a retired mans wife is going to have to live out her days alone, probably in shame. We should be able to work these every day annoyances out without a gun coming into play. Don't fuel the fire. The End
 
My recommendation would be to check the applicable laws in Florida.
Here in Michigan we are not legally permitted to ccw in a movie theatre that seats 2500 or more (all theatres combined). Many people play the odds of getting caught, I'm sure...but I am not one of them.

My wife and I have found a theatre that seats much less, has the best popcorn in the area, and has the newest recliner style chairs to boot!

P.S. Don't know what you are going to see, but I can highly recommend "Kingsmen". :)
 
BE Mike said:
I always go about my daily activities armed. It takes very compelling reasons for me to disarm.
Click to expand...

You are like a friend of ours who is a county sheriff. He is allowed to carry in any theatre - regardless of size. I am not.
 
jackvs1 said:
OMG - if you have the authority to carry concealed just do it. Know one needs to know.
Click to expand...

There is no "authority" to carry granted by having a permit or right. There is no duty to carry. Carry is a responsibility. The state acknowledges your right to carry a weapon in public. The right to carry or just be on private property is decided by the property owner.
Even police authority has constraints regarding private property.
 
Advice for going to the movies in FL: Don't throw popcorn in old men's faces.

Carmike theaters near me don't have no-gun signs but do serve beer and wine. If you think popcorn and soda was pricey, check the beer prices!

The theater at the mall has the standard "mall sign," which states no firearms. No legal force behind it.

Now--food for thought: If you enter properly posted property (Posted/No tresspassing signs every "X" feet along boundry) you are tresspassing and can be charged as such, as you have been warned either verbally or by signage.

If you carry past a no-gun sign at the door of a business, have you not been warned, either verbally or by signage. After entering while armed and warned, are you not committing felony trespass?

That question is posed by Jon Gutmacher in his book, Florida Firearms and Law,Use & Ownership. His only statement is maybe, but there is no case law on the matter.

I now return you to the regularly scheduled discussion.
 
dougb1946 said:
There is no "authority" to carry granted by having a permit or right. There is no duty to carry. Carry is a responsibility. The state acknowledges your right to carry a weapon in public. The right to carry or just be on private property is decided by the property owner.
Even police authority has constraints regarding private property.
Click to expand...

Way to deep!! - Common sense man, common sense.
 
I've been in Florida since 1980 and carried since then. I got my permit when the law changed in 1987 or '88. Since then I've carried a "medium sized gun" and one truth is self evident: Nobody cares if you carry a gun around (most anywhere, including places that serve alcohol as long as you don't drink and don't sit at the bar) here unless you draw attention to that by your behavior. A couple years back I went to a local "chain jewelry store" with large "no guns" sign on the door and a metal detector just inside. Nobody said a word and treated me like royalty when I put a $4digit ring on my plastic. Joe
 
Protected One said:
You are like a friend of ours who is a county sheriff. He is allowed to carry in any theatre - regardless of size. I am not.
Click to expand...
I am retired, but just to be clear, in Indiana all citizens have the right to carry as long as they have a handgun license. I sense that you feel like officers have special privileges in your state and you resent that. Aren't even pellet guns considered firearms in Michigan?
 
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BE Mike said:
I am retired, but just to be clear, in Indiana all citizens have the right to carry as long as they have a handgun license.
Click to expand...

In Michigan, all citizens who have a valid cpl have the right to carry concealed. BUT, even for them there are places that they are NOT "legally" allowed to carry. Those places are specifically listed on the back of our cpl and they include "entertainment facilities with a seating capacity of 2500 or more individuals". This includes movie theatres.

Your senses are apparently not as fine tuned as they may one day have been. I am certainly not resentful of my friends ability to carry in places I cannot, and I believe LEO's deserve that privilege. I was merely pointing out a fact. Nothing more.
 
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