treadlightly wrote: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.
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.
