Well I just got off the phone with our store manager at the local walmart and he informed me that Walmart doesn't have to post a sign, they are a private corporation and that is their policy. I also found this online.
This is from a man who was confronted by a manager and asked to leave the store. He was asked to leave and over the two way radio another manager said go ahead and contact the police. The man took this as his cue and left. However, he did contact walmart corporate and posted these two documents that I have attached. I guess in theory if its not showing, you can get away with it. Yet, if your going to be responsible and an upholding citizen who carries his CCW as a privelage then you may want to read this.
If you notice the letter states that the individual was open carrying a weapon not concealing it and even tho many people feel that open carry is a right the sight of any non LEO carrying alarms some people,If they don't see it they ain't gonna say anything
The letter might have stated that, but he said in the forum it was concealed and when shopping the manager noticed a print. Personally, I think its BS. We should be able to defend ourselves at anytime in our state if we have our CC. For example, when i'm in class I often think of an individual pulling a gun and shooting. I know if I wanted to, I could probably put 30 people out of a minute or two. Yet, i'm not allowed to carry a gun in college. Its an awkward situation. Like the manager at Walmart claimed that they are a corporation and just because they serve the public doesn't make it a public place, its still private property. She also offered me the corporate number.
Like the manager at Walmart claimed that they are a corporation and just because they serve the public doesn't make it a public place, its still private property.
And the manager is exactly right. In most states, the definition is "private property with public access". That means that while they are private property and can control most things on their property, they cannot refuse to serve you because of race, color, creed, sex, etc.
They are somewhat incorrect in that they don't have to post signs. I can't speak for every state but in Kansas, and I'm sure several others, if they don't have the gun-buster sign up, and I have a CCH license, I break no law by simply carrying into their store. At any time though, they can ask me to leave (presumably they've detected my firearm and I'm not just being a butthead) and should I refuse to leave then I am guilty of trespassing and they can call police and I could be arrested.
It boils down to this -- if you're carrying (and they aren't posted), keep it concealed. If you don't or won't keep it concealed, your only option is to speak with your dollars and go somewhere else. As much as I may not understand their rationale for limiting CCH holders, it is their right.
He asked him to leave, he complied. If he hadn't he'd be trespassing. Being open to the public doesn't eliminate their ability to revoke permission to be there without notice and for any cause not prohibited by law.
Yep, private property. Not your right to bring a gun onto their property, any more than it's your right to bring a gun into your neighbor's home. Again, though, since you are legally carrying, unless and until they ask you to leave, you're perfectly free to carry.
Well, I know in Tennessee the law does state that if a retail establishment wants to ban carry, concealed or open, in their property, they do have to post a sign.
And I have never had a problem with Walmart. I have carried concealed at nearly all of them in the Memphis Metro area and openly at a couple, most notably the one on Highway 64 in Bartlett.
I still hate it though, kind of puts a stop on the point of having a gun to protect myself in public if I can't have it on me in public. Walmart is an ideal place for a nut to come in and do something rash.
And the manager is exactly right. In most states, the definition is "private property with public access". That means that while they are private property and can control most things on their property, they cannot refuse to serve you because of race, color, creed, sex, etc.
I firmly support the right of a company like Walmart to refuse to allow guns on their property. I also firmly support my right not to shop somewhere that doesn't allow me to carry. That said, I have carried concealed in Walmart many times. Since it's concealed, there's no reason for the manager to hassle me!
This is a very foolish stance on Walmart's behalf. How are we suppose to know it is against company policy if it isn't posted??? Sounds like they have a manager who is anyi gun and goes around hunting sidearms!! You need to go to my thread about No CCW no $$$$ cards and order some and start sending them to every store that has one of those stupid signs!!
I think it's a pretty smart stance on Walmarts behalf. I would wonder if it's their way of shielding themselves from lawsuit if there was an incident or to appease an insurance company. They have a policy that says NO but don't post it properly so they don't keep people from shopping there.
I think it falls under the old addage "don't poke the sleeping bear." If it's not posted properly then carry, don't print, and leave without a stink if asked. Make an issue out of it and they'll just be forced to post it properly.
Most of this BS could be avoided if-if you just carry concealed, and DO NOT PRINT. If you do your job properly, you will not have problems. With 100's of gun option available today, it should not be a problem.
Any time you "stick" something in their face, they will probably bite your nose off. Most corp. are anti, so give them NO reason to even think about guns.
We humans have the ability to adapt. We adapt by making changes in our lives. I for one will change where I shop..it isn't that hard. I can not wait long enough for one of our own (A DC member or any other CCW'r) to be harmed on Wal-Mart property because he/she played by their rules and left their element of protection in the car. I truely hope that the poor victim will pursue a MAJOR law suit because Wal-Mart took on the responsibilty for their safety.
Our mall has the following sign, which I find quite amusing:
------- No Weapons Allowed
The possession of any weapon, unless authorized by local, state, or federal statue, is prohibited.
-------
Seems to me, that since I am authorized by NY State to CCW, I see no problem with this sign. I guess it's there for the BG's to see, so they will be considerate and not carry weapons into the mall. And yes, they spelled "statute" incorrectly.
That's one of those "feel good" signs that make the sheep think CCW is banned, but it is code word to us that it is okay to carry just keep it concealed. The airport in Denver has the same sign and it is by no means off limits.
The reason there is no sign on the door at wal mart is so there can
be no lawsuit
the walmart lawer will say '' who told him him cannot carry concealed in
the store, not us. there is no sign
The lesson learned here Zach is that concealed means concealed. Nobody should know you are armed until you need to use it. And if nobody knows you're armed then nobody will ever ask you to leave Wally mart.
why do you carry something that the wal-mart manager can see? it's not like they look for weapons. my friends make fun of my cw9 for being little, BUT he carries his 1911 and prints unless he wears a winter jacket. it's july and he's got no shot of hiding it like most people who prolly carry a gun too big to be concealed. my gun barely prints with a tight t-shirt and doesn't print with one that is loose fitting. get a gun for summer carry.
Now we are getting somewhere. Bottom line, stay concealed, stay quiet, stay safe. Not much more to it. Obviously the OC states will have a reason to be upset so this is more for the CC states.
"no firearms are allowed in the store by customers or associates."
That's different than legal concealed carry is allowed. It's also enforced differently. Concealed means concealed. If concealed is allowed, and they ask every customer to leave who is carrying open or not very concealed, that sounds fair.
On the other hand, if no firearms are allowed, and they're only enforcing that on one customer who they happen to notice, I don't think that's reasonable. Everyone else can carry. There may be dozens of people in the store violating their policy, but you have to leave. That's not a reasonable policy. They should put up a sign to apply the policy to everyone.
Sounds like my company's policy. I don't recall them publicizing the policy to all employees. It says no firearms on the premises or in parking lots. It's not like many of the other policies where they formally require all employees to sign agreements to comply, and they track those agreements vigilantly for yearly renewals.
So, in reality, the policy applies only to some employees who happen to be aware of the policy. It doesn't apply to customers and vendors. It also doesn't apply to criminals. We have a problem with petty theft from outside thieves who bypass their office security and brazenly steal from the employees. This is a problem that is commonly reported to all employees.
If they are going to have the policy then they should post the sign at the door for all to see. At least then, I would think it was fair to apply it to anyone identified with a firearm. They were notified of the policy before they entered the building.
That not to mention how unreasonable Walmart's policy is, as stated in this letter, considering their lack of security and high crime rate on their properties across the country.
It looks like this guy was trying to make a point and open carried into a Wal-Mart. If that is the case, this doesn't help our cause. If that's not the case, then this still doesn't help our cause because the corporate lawyer certainly thought that was what happened.
Can someone post the details of this encounter? I'm curious now.
Clearly says he was not OCing, this could happen to anyone of us. I have been CCing for 12+ years, as far as I know I have never been made, but this doesn't mean it hasn't happened or can't. So this is no place to get "High and Mighty".
I wonder what WalMarts stance would be if you had to use your weapon inside their store, if it was good outcome would they bring up their No carry Policy? If it went bad would they?
I wonder what WalMarts stance would be if you had to use your weapon inside their store, if it was good outcome would they bring up their No carry Policy? If it went bad would they?
What difference would it make? They haven't made their policy public and therefore, it doesn't apply to the public. They apparently only have an internal policy that they apply inconsistently to individual customers at their discretion. The only public policy is that of the state trespassing laws when they rudely confront unsuspecting customers and ask to escort them out of the store like a common criminal.
This isn't a public policy. It appears to me that this is a private internal policy that applies to Walmart employees only. This doesn't restrict anyone in the public from carrying firearms in Walmart. It only directs employees in how to deal with it. Open carry, concealed carry, and trespassing laws are the only public policies that apply to the public entering Walmart.
it depends on the area i am sure. i know there is some OC issues in Utah with walmart, but i OC'd and i see others OC in walmart...Pahrump, NV specifically.
when i go to walmart, i cc...there is no way i enter anyplace unarmed, unless it's a state/federal place. if they say "no CC", i say "see ya! no money for you!"
Is it against the law to inadvertently expose a concealed handgun? In Texas, I thought I read that it was only against the law to knowingly or intentionally reveal. So, if you have a big gun and a tight t-shirt, that might be illegal, but it wouldn't be illegal to inadvertently print, or lift your shirt a tad too high or open your jacket a bit too much. Is that correct?
What about in an open carry state? How does carrying a concealed weapon work there? Do you have to be permitted to carry either way, both ways? If you're carrying a big gun under a tight t-shirt, which is it then, open or concealed?
So, if Walmart's policy that concealed is OK, then why would they ever hassle their customer's over it? Shouldn't their policy be just that they support a customer's individual's right to carry a firearm within the state laws? Part of that individual right under state law might include some inadvertent public exposure of the firearm?
Seems kind of a bit of a lie to me for them to say that they support an individual's right when they single out customers exercising their rights for public humiliation and treatment like common criminals.
Nevada is an open carry state...in Vegas, OC at your own risk...not illegal, but you may be harassed. I have a CCW which allows me to conceal my handgun...conceal is...not visible to the public. no one should know...unless you tell them. i can do either or...whichever suits my fancy...no permit is needed in Nevada to OC, just a blue card if you live in clark county.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Defensive Carry
5.4M posts
117.5K members
Since 2004
A forum community dedicated to defensive firearm owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about everyday carry, optics, holsters, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!