Gun Show

[Peak53]

The gun shows I go to have armed security at the door and on the floor. While I occasionally hear of an "accidental discharge" by a customer or a table owner, I have never heard of an armed robbery or any other situation that would require an armed response inside a gun show. The risk seems very, very low. That said, I keep my eyes open going in with a pocket full of cash or out with an unloaded gun.

 

[Camster]

If it was your event, and your rules, and you had posted/notified everyone in advance, what would you want you to do? Would you respect your wishes, or would you blow yourself off and do whatever you wanted to do?

1.Unfortunately,we have a society where too many think that they are exempt from rules and laws,walk around like an exposed nerve,thinking their rights are being impinged....Respect for others? Doesn't matter. ....One doesn't have to look too far in any direction to see where that has taken us.

2.Quote from above:If enough people stop shopping their and let them know why, maybe they'll change their policy.Unquote.
The end result of that line of thinking is that shows will cease to exist.No promoter is going to put that liability on themselves.
You won a skirmish and lost the war.

 

[MichiganScott]

That's how it is at the Michigan shows I attend. I'm pretty sure it has to do with liability insurance. Do I like it? No. Do I understand the reason? Yes. So far, no fire fights have broken out at the shows I've attended. Seriously, if you feel this is an imposition, let your conscience be your guide. I'm not rolling those dice.

Michigan law says you can't carry if the venue has a seating capacity of more than 2500, or is a sports arena or stadium. The majority of gun shows I've ever gone to have been in ice arenas, basketball arenas, etc.

I lock it in my car trunk. It is just simpler and smarter.

 

[John R]

The gun shows I go to have armed security at the door and on the floor. While I occasionally hear of an "accidental discharge" by a customer or a table owner, I have never heard of an armed robbery or any other situation that would require an armed response inside a gun show. The risk seems very, very low. That said, I keep my eyes open going in with a pocket full of cash or out with an unloaded gun.

Inside the show I have no qualms about not having a gun, it's the trip from the car with a pocket full of money, and the trip back out with a gun or two.
The problems will take place in the parking lots.

 

[raylan007]

I am going to one of the large traveling gun shows that post numerous signs relating to unchecked guns in the show.

I normally ignore signs that prohibit guns or concealed carry because it is concealed carry.

Does anyone have any experiences, opinions or advice as to carrying in a gun show.

Thanks

Try the path of least resistance, you will be amazed on how easy it can make life."From a retired HARD HEAD"

 

[CH4]

Inside the show I have no qualms about not having a gun, it's the trip from the car with a pocket full of money, and the trip back out with a gun or two.
The problems will take place in the parking lots.

Get there early and park by the door.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I think they should post signs that say:

Concealed handguns are permitted. If, however, you exhibit a loaded handgun in the absence of a deadly threat you will be summarily ejected from this show and your weapon turned over to the police. You can deal with the law enforcement community in your attempt to retrieve your gun. Thank you for your cooperation. The Management

 

[jlrhiner]

I haven't been to a gun show since Missouri adopted concealed carry. They clearly don't want me there.

 

[John R]

Get there early and park by the door.

We both know this doesn't make any difference.

 

[fredj338]

Know your state's CCW laws. If it's legal to ignore a private facility's sign, then you only risk being asked to leave. if YOUR state law says you must comply with private prop owners wishes, then you risk a lot for little gain. Either comply or if you are that nervous to go w/o, then don't go. I go lots & lots of places w/o a ccw, not by choice. It is what it is. Bucking the laws will only land you in deeper poop, again for little gain.

 

[fredj338]

We both know this doesn't make any difference.

It actually would. Not likely you will be assaulted within eye/ear shot of the gate.

 

[wbraswell]

If you can't follow the rules, you're just another armed hood, so stay home.
More for me.
When you're in a show, everyone is talking about guns, sooner or later, someone wants to see your piece. Then a loaded gun gets pointed in someone's direction, and that's when accidents happen. If I notice someone armed that's not in uniform, I will notify security.

 

[LenS]

If you're going to ignore warning signs, you have to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky?

If someone sees you and complains, or you get caught by some of the off-duty cops that are often used as security for these events, you could lose your CCW, get arrested, have to pay a fine, and perhaps spend some time in the slammer.

My opinion is that the way things are these days, it's the wrong time to be ignoring posted warnings about carrying firearms. Especially at a gun show.

There's a thread around here somewhere, I think, where this subject's been beaten to death, reincarnated, then beaten to death again.

Just keep it simple...don't do it.

If the sign makes it illegal to carry, you are right. However in states where signage isn't binding, the most they can do is throw you out of the show.

Sad to say, but it's practically considered compulsory by certain hard-core young studs in our area to lie to security and carry a loaded concealed handgun into gun shows. It will likely end badly for them (and us) someday, but there is not much anyone can do to stop it short of installing metal detectors and performing patdowns.

In MA, the no loaded guns signage is a condition of the insurance that the promoter carries, not law. Years ago they let vendors carry and I used to work (as a volunteer) for GOAL. One of those shows I was talking with a friend (ret. Boston PD Detective) and his Son. Some a-hole across the hall picked up a rifle and fixed it on us, I moved and so did the a-hole's aim. Just then the detail officer was nearby (I knew him) and I called him over and told him to tell that a-hole that the next time he looked thru that scoped rifle at us, he'd see my handgun that was loaded aimed at him! That was the end of that problem, but too many attendees like to aim the guns they are looking at at other people at the shows. There have been a handful of NDs that I'm aware of at the gun shows in MA, all giving credence to the ban on loaded guns.

If people used their heads there would never have been a problem and a ban on loaded handguns.

Another issue: If people don't follow the rules, the venue may decide that they aren't going to host any more gun shows.

True.

I think they should post signs that say:

Concealed handguns are permitted. If, however, you exhibit a loaded handgun in the absence of a deadly threat you will be summarily ejected from this show and your weapon turned over to the police. You can deal with the law enforcement community in your attempt to retrieve your gun. Thank you for your cooperation. The Management

I agree with this concept.

If you can't follow the rules, you're just another armed hood, so stay home.
More for me.
When you're in a show, everyone is talking about guns, sooner or later, someone wants to see your piece. Then a loaded gun gets pointed in someone's direction, and that's when accidents happen. If I notice someone armed that's not in uniform, I will notify security.

Not necessarily a "hood" but see my stories above.

 

[CH4]

To my mind it's no different than going to someone's house who requires that you remove your shoes before entering; either remove your shoes or turn around and leave. It's all about respect. Choosing to disobey a sign merely because it lacks any force of law shows great disrespect for the proprietor, arrogance and hypocrisy. Paying or not, you're a guest at the venue.

 

[fredj338]

To my mind it's no different than going to someone's house who requires that you remove your shoes before entering.; either remove your shoes or turn around and leave. It's all about respect. Choosing to disobey a sign merely because it lacks any force of law shows great disrespect for the proprietor, arrogance and hypocrisy. Paying or not, you're a guest at the venue.

I agree. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. If you want the general public to agree with you or at least not oppose you, don't do arrogant, ideological ****, like argue with the private prop Owner about your right to carry or open carry your ak47 at the market. Ideologues on either end of the argument suspend facts & common sense. Ideologue & idiot both start the same.

 

[Grayfox]

I believe the no loaded firearms rule is pretty much used at all gun shows. The reason is quite simple.
No one has yet perfected a workable idiot detector.

 

[bhayles]

Does anyone have any experiences, opinions or advice as to carrying in a gun show.

Thanks

Since you DID ask...

As a group we tend to differentiate ourselves from "regular folks" by a variety of criteria. One of those criteria we push hard is that we are just law abiding citizens who love the 2nd Amendment.

When a gun show promoter puts up a "No Guns" or "Have Guns Safety Tied When Entering" sign and you ignore it you have left the arena of fine upstanding citizen. If, as in Georgia, you have broken the law in doing so (where by committing such act you have committed a trespass) you have also left the arena of "law abiding citizen".

Finally, you have shown disrespect for the Constitution's property rights provision. The gun show itself, if not the venue, is a business (property) owned by the promoter and you have just shown complete disregard for his property rights.

Frankly, were I to be there...not likely, see below...I'd be in the crowd chanting, "Throw the bum out!" if I were to see you get caught.

You have three legal/ethical options regarding such a show:

1. Put your gun back in your car.
2. Get it zip tied if that is an option.
3. Take your business...and money...elsewhere.

Number 3 is my choice. I don't go where both me AND my weapon are not welcome.

Pardon the bluntness. My wife says I have no filters.

I agree...and consider that a personality asset.

 

[John R]

The solution to this whole mess is, just don't go.

 

[rburg]

The vast majority of gun owners have lousy gun handling habits. I know you feel better than everyone else, but experience has shown you don't. If you want a demonstration of poor gun handling, attend any gun show. If I knew that idiots with loaded guns were inside, I'd want to leave. Basically, a huge number of gun owners and carriers are idiots. Room temp IQs. They feel they have the right to point their loaded gun at others. Some say they'll never do that. And then they get upset with customers pointing guns at them from across the room. I really prefer those guns to all be empty.

Most shootings and accidents inside the shows are because someone decided to ignore the rules. Then they want a "pass" on their criminal act. Make no mistake about it, discharging a firearm inside a gun show where some poor fool gets shot is criminal. If you do it, and someone gets shot, you need to go to jail. The longer, the better.

Those who feel the gun show promoter shouldn't have the right to regulate who comes in are better off not going. I sure don't want to be in a hall with them. They're careless. Too much so to be allowed out on their own.

 

[bhayles]

If you do it, and someone gets shot, you need to go to jail. The longer, the better.

Those who feel the gun show promoter shouldn't have the right to regulate who comes in are better off not going. I sure don't want to be in a hall with them. They're careless. Too much so to be allowed out on their own.

Amen and amen.