TexasCHLforum.com

Jusme wrote:

I know that there are some real issues either with folks who have forgotten the safety rules, or never learned them in the first place. I have OC in all of the guns stores I have been in since 1/1/16, and have had no issues, or seen any signage. But, as you stated, my carry gun is not there to be handled, for anything other than defending against an attack. If I want to have work done on my carry gun, check holster fit, etc., I will unload before entering with it, and have the slide locked back, or a chamber flag inserted with no mag in it.

On the same page with you. On those occasions where I am in a private environment in a pro-gun crowd, if the subject of who's carrying what comes up I try to answer first, to just sort of seed the discussion. I'll say, "Carrying a 1911 today, of course it shouldn't come out of the leather since it's on the company clock, looking out for us."

The real message being "please don't wave your carry guns around."

Gun shops, like all shops, should welcome open and concealed carry because those people are going to be their nicest, safest customers.

But I can also see some attractive flawed logic for a gun store. Think about how many customers behave in a gun store. The clerk clears the gun (we hope) and hands it to a tire kicker, who then proceeds to point it at self and everyone else in the store. It makes me cringe.

A gun in the counter is in an unknown state, so, technically, we consider it loaded.

Then the counter clerk clears it and we see the chamber is empty. Technically, we consider it loaded. Not much changed by clearing the gun and all four rules still apply.

A carrier has to remember his gun needs to stay holstered, even in an environment when every birdbrain around him is sweeping the crowd with the guns they are looking at.

Fortunately, it's not that much to remember. The gun in your holster is standing watch. Don't create any distractions from that.

A gun store that insists on that etiquette is using a teachable moment to keep everyone safer.

Which makes the valid logic to welcome lawful, safe carry.

There is a saying in IT that one should eat his own dog food. The idea is if you create software for others to use, you should use your own creations. Either it's good enough for you to use yourself, or you fix it out of selfish frustration. Either way, things get better.

For those who run gun stores, their "dog food" is guns. Pretty tasty stuff. Very strange a gun store would have qualms about law abiding customers with their product.

How unique. If I show a card I can turn off 30.06 and 30.07? I would have thought showing the card would do the opposite, that it would prove I was qualified to be banned by the signs.

So if I show the card I can get in, but at the cost of admitting a 30.07/30.07 violation.

Or, if I don't have the card to show, I'm walking past signs that didn't apply to me, anyway.

I'm sure if I weren't as dumb as dirt I could figure that out.

On the other hand, if they came to visit me at my business they would be as welcome as the next guy, more so if they brought their pistolas with them 'cause I like gun nuts.

Hey, wait a minute, what am I thinking? These guys are merchants of DEATH, selling exactly the sort of demonic mechanisms I like to carry with me wherever I go. How could I possibly allow them in my establishment? Unless they were delivering my latest purchase, I would have to have my standards!