A question about stores/restaurants that don't allow firearms.

[vesh]

Can you legally leave your firearm in the car while going into these places of business? I have heard different things from a local instructor and a person who claims to have asked a 2A lawyer and an MSP officer.

I googled and looked for a definitive answer, so here I am!

Thanks in advance!

Edit - I edited the question since people aren't really reading past the first 5 words. I am asking if you can leave the firearm in the car unpossessed. Simply removed the first 5 words.

 

[TRON 2.0]

If you find a store that doesn't allow firearms, can you legally leave your firearm in the car while going into these places of business? I have heard different things from a local instructor and a person who claims to have asked a 2A lawyer and an MSP officer.

I googled and looked for a definitive answer, so here I am!

Thanks in advance!

Signs are not enforced in MD. So a private business with a "no guns" sign doesn't mean anything if you are concealed and no one knows you have it. If someone does see you have a concealed weapon, they can ask you to leave. If you don't leave, you can get a trespass against you.

 

[jrumann59]

If you find a store that doesn't allow firearms, can you legally leave your firearm in the car while going into these places of business? I have heard different things from a local instructor and a person who claims to have asked a 2A lawyer and an MSP officer.

I googled and looked for a definitive answer, so here I am!

Thanks in advance!

invest in a lockbox for just in case whether you per-emptively decide its not worth the hassle or if the store tells you if you remove it you can return.

 

[Blaster229]

You do what you feel the need to do.
Carry on.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Directly on the point , it is not directly addressed in state law .

 

[TRON 2.0]

invest in a lockbox for just in case whether you per-emptively decide its not worth the hassle or if the store tells you if you remove it you can return.

Very interesting, I was looking into this. The law states a lot about how you need to transport firearms in vehicles and that it can only be between specific locations like gun range, gun store, your home, and shooting events. But it says if the person has a wear and carry permit they are exempt….. does that mean wear and carry permit holders can now store weapons securely in their vehicle or does that just mean they are exempt from storing the gun and ammo separately with one being locked.

Because they list specifically when your gun can be transported and doesn’t list any other time, you can assume that means if you aren’t taking one of the specific trips they list, you wouldn’t be able to store the firearm in your car any other time.

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

One should endeavor to make sure their concealed handgun...is just that...concealed. Of course it can inadvertently be seen. Some who might see it might not be annoyed...they might assume you're a LEO. If someone dislikes it they can say something to management and then it's between you and management.

My feeling is if an establishment resents the exercising of a Constitutional right...I take my business elsewhere...which is my right. Vote with your feet.

 

[GiveMeABreak]

“My feeling is if an establishment resents the exercising of a Constitutional right...I take my business elsewhere...which is my right. Vote with your feet”

As it’s the businesses right to enforce its policies And not get hassled for it!

 

[Blaster229]

My feeling is if an establishment resents the exercising of a Constitutional right...I take my business elsewhere...which is my right. Vote with your feet.

They won't go out of business, that's for sure.

I find it funny, people who scream Freedom! Freedom!, hate people who exercise their freedoms.

 

[vesh]

I edited the question since people aren't really reading past the first 5 words. I am asking if you can leave the firearm in the car unpossessed.

 

[eruby]

I edited the question since people aren't really reading past the first 5 words. I am asking if you can leave the firearm in the car unpossessed.

Yes

 

[John from MD]

Just a scenario to think about before locking your gun in your car.

You pull up next to a restaurant and start to go in. You see sign and decide to leave gun in lock box. Now you head back to the car and try to get the gun out without anyone noticing. You secure gun but, unknown to you, Ute has seen you acting strange and figured out what you put in car. Next he breaks into car while you are eating and snips cable and takes off with his buddy in their stolen car.

Two weeks later you get a call that cops found your gun. Unfortunately it was at a murder scene.

Two years later you are being sued for negligently leaving your gun in car.

Please, think before ever leaving a gun in the car. I have had one partner and two close friends who did this and their guns were stolen. One friend was an FBI agent and the gun was an sniper rifle. Luckily they got it back but he got demoted.

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

I think the firearm is safer on your hip than unattended in the vehicle.

 

[subman]

I edited the question since people aren't really reading past the first 5 words. I am asking if you can leave the firearm in the car unpossessed.

Yes, but it's a good idea to lock it in gun box/gun safe that is cable tied down to avoid a possible smash and grab. Just my 2 cents. People are going to tell you that its better off if you keep it with you instead of locking it in your car, but they willfully ignore reality that sometimes that is not possible.

 

[shiza]

^this. I have a Vaultek lifepod with a steel cable.

 

[eruby]

Just a scenario to think about before locking your gun in your car.

You pull up next to a restaurant and start to go in. You see sign and decide to go in strapped, and eat

 

[Blaster229]

Two weeks later you get a call that cops found your gun. Unfortunately it was at a murder scene.

Two years later you are being sued for negligently leaving your gun in car.

What is that charge?

 

[Boondock Saint]

While it seems like you can sue almost anyone for almost any reason, I cannot see a civil suit getting far, at all in the scenario outlined a few posts up.

A locked vehicle, with the firearm(s) otherwise secured in another container and/or to the vehicle itself? There's nothing even remotely negligent about that.

Or, as also mentioned above, have a giggle as you walk inside to eat, your firearm concealed on your person.

Additionally, consider eating elsewhere, as the people running the show in that restaurant aren't interested in you having the ability to defend yourself if necessary.

 

[adit]

What is that charge?

I think he means getting sued civilly.

 

[Biggfoot44]

I think the firearm is safer on your hip than unattended in the vehicle.

Yes, but it's a good idea to lock it in gun box/gun safe that is cable tied down to avoid a possible smash and grab. Just my 2 cents.

Yes , unholstering & reholstering in public / quasi public is worse than leaving it alone in the holster . Both because of being targeted by thiefs and the more than zero chances of giving the car additional flow thru ventilation .

But life happens , and sometimes it is least worst option .

Reasonably secure discrete storage is a good thing . But at some point , felons have their own responsibility for their criminal actions . If a car thief smashes my window , hotwires my truck , and then runs into a school bus full of nuns , it's not on my head .