should ya? in md

[rossim92]

I visited my relatives in s.c this past weekend. there was a sign by entrance of a business that said no firearms allowed. Now, in my opinion, if there is a sign posted, and you are legally allowed to ccw in that state, and a person comes in and shoots at you and injures you, with no way to return fire to defend yourself, should the business be held liable for not letting you to be able to defend yourself? If I was on a jury, I would say yes. what you legal buffs say?

[COSteve]

They could argue that the shooter was breaking the rule of no firearms in the store so that they wouldn't be liable.

[wvfarrier]

Concealed

[AJMD429]

.
Look into podcasts from 'The Gun Guy' on WIBC radio station, or on his website - he's a pro-gun attorney and has talked about that 'gun free zone' thing quite a bit.

It IS analogous to some highrise apartment owner prohibiting fire extinguishers out of the irrational fear tenants might throw them out windows and kill people, in which case a death from fire would likely have blame at least in part assigned to the owner.

Or a place prohibiting 'nitroglycerine' even in tablet format due to irrational fear that it might explode - then someone with a bad heart dies of a heart attack for lack of their medicine.

In some places you can ignore the signs with the worst problem being asked to leave (in which case if you refuse you are charged with trespassing).
Some jurisdictions WILL mark such behavior as a 'ding' to your concealed carry license though.
In some places (schools, government facilities) you would also face criminal charges.
And in some states, ALL properly-posted places would result in criminal charges if anyone carries a gun there, licensed or not.

YMMV

I just avoid government buildings, and in Indiana the worst that can happen is some mall-owner or restaurant could ask me to leave. However most places currently don't bother with detection equipment, and if you want to know where metal detectors are just wander the area first with a vice-grip in your back pocket - that's what my kids did when they went to college, since most colleges are 'gun free zones'. They then knew where they really couldn't carry their handgun, and where they could, as long as it was concealed enough nobody saw it.

[stretch]

I just avoid government buildings

The Federal Building in Augusta, Maine also houses the Post Office.
The parking lot out back has ONE entrance and exit. There are a number
of armed guards. I NEVER park in that lot. I do not know the EXACT rules
for search and seizure at a Federal Facility, and have no wish to find out.
If I need to use that Post Office, I park down the street and do my business
as quickly as possible. Once in a while, people are asked by the guards if they
mind a quick pat down. I have witnessed a few people say, "No!" with no repercussions.
I don't take any chances with that building or it's occupants. Gun stays in the truck,
which stays in a private lot or down the public street.

OTOH, I just ignore the carry rules in small town Post Offices with no Town cops, as
long as my gun is well concealed. Or sometimes I'll leave it in the truck where it can't
be seen. I'm not gonna run home to drop off the gun just to buy a book of stamps.

As for other stores or businesses, I really can't remember too many places I frequent having, "No
Guns!" signs.

-Stretch

[Steve in MO]

www.handgunlaw.us is a great resource to get up to date concealed carry information. I know the law here in Missouri, but I would be cautious about doing in another state what I do here. Study up on the laws where you are going, then decide what is best for you. Personally, I've always followed the motto "allowed vs. able," but I would never advise someone to break the law. Know what the law says, not what someone tells you they think it says.

[Ysabel Kid]

Issue of private property. The owner has the right to say "no guns". I have the right to not patronize idiots. I'll take my money to a business that values my safety and respects my rights. The big thing is to let them know why you won't patronize them. Money talks.

I've live in SC now for 19 years, and love it. A lot of places were taking down their "no weapons" signage, then it paused and may have actually reversed a bit when we went to being an open carry state. I guess they feared a bunch of customers totin in the open would scare away customers. I think I've seen exactly two people open carrying since the law passed. Most people wisely don't want to advertise. So, once property owners realize that it is not going to be the wild west as the left predicted, we'll see the signs come down again.