Topic: "All Guns..." sign at SawTac

[kevin42]

First off, let me say I mean no disrespect towards Jeff with this post. I like Jeff and his shop, but I am bothered by something I wanted to address.

Today when I stopped by Sawtooth Tactical I noticed a sign by the door that said "All guns must be locked in a case" (something to that effect, the one thing I know is the word "All" was in there.

Now, I know a lot of gun stores have this policy. But many, including Cabela's and Sportsman's warehouse add that this doesn't apply to legally concealed guns.

So my question is, what's the intent of the sign at SawTac? Personally I have a problem supporting a store that restricts my ability to legally conceal a gun, especially a gun store. To me "All" means all, even police, etc. But I have a hard time believing that's what is intended here.

I'm asking the question here rather than asking Jeff directly because I think others who might visit the store would benefit from the answers and discussions.

Thanks!

[RGinIdaho]

You should ask Jeff directly.

I'm reasonably sure he'll be along to answer at some point.

[Jeff]

It's left over because there was a school in the strip. I really prefer people bringing in their guns in a case instead of waving around potentially unsafe firearms.

I have no issue with concealed or open carry if the firearm remains in the holster or permission is asked to remove it.

I very much do not like having an uncleared firearm pointed at me. If someone draws a weapon I kick into high gear. Both have happened several times even with the sign up. So, I decided to leave it there and hope it works sometimes.

[TrooperBrian]

I agree that statements like that paint with a very broad brush. Similarly, Cabela's has changed their sign to something along the lines of "All firearms intended for service must be checked at the Customer Service Counter, this does not include firearms carried for personal defense."

Something like that, short and sweet, would remove any kind of confusion regarding what the shop owner intends to accomplish.

[Bill, Idaho]

    Because a sign that says:  "All the stupid inconsiderate fuckers that haven't got the brains to SAFELY deal with firearms have fucked it up for everybody, so at this store they have to be in a case until I can set the guideline on our safety"   would offend someone?

Or something to that effect.

    Personally, from my experience working at a gun shop, I learned right off the bat that just because people CAN own and carry a gun, does NOT mean they have the safety rules down pat. 
    Look at it from (in this case) Jeff's point of view (and my disclaimer--I am not speaking for Jeff, and I am not pointing these comments towards anyone here !!!!!). There you are, standing behind the counter when in walks a guy carrying an AR, or a 1911, by the grip, (God forbid his finger ON THE TRIGGER!).  You have never seen the guy in your life.  In my line of work, we call this a "clue".
     He might be in to buy a part for it, or a case, or has a question about it, or whatever.  But in the back of your mind, he might NOT be.  Drawing down on every person that walks into the store might be a little extreme, and ultimately bad for business. ( How far away from Jeff's store was that Chervon where the clerk got shot several times during a robbery, just a few months ago?)
     Let's say you are in there all the time, and happen to be one of Jeff's most frequent customers. You walk in carrying a gun to show Jeff the latest whiz-bang-something-or-other. Because you are pretty tight with Jeff and figure "he knows me and I'm ok" mentality, you decide to flex a little on the signs warnings. The problem is what about the OTHER customer that is in the store for the first time, and has no idea who you are? To him all you are is a guy walking into a store with a gun in his hand! Any ideas how HE might react?!
    Any specific wording of a sign like that would be impossible to NOT somehow twist someone up. 
When it comes to gun safety, as much as I hate to say it, you have to grade on the lowest common denominator. In regards to carrying concealed, if you are truely carrying "concealed" then by the very description,  how is anyone besides you supposed to know you are carrying?  But more importantly, why should that "concealment" ever be compromised inside a gun store (save for the remote possibility of needing it for its intended use!)? If you need to check a new holster for the weapon you carry concealed for example, standing there in the store, with other customers around, is probably asking for problems if you decide to remove your "hidden" pistol to see how it fits. (I have seen that movie!!!)
   It boils down to we as a whole, are probably switched on to the inherant responsibility of gun safety.
It's not like Shucks, where a guy will walk in and plop a master cylinder on the counter right next to me.  The stakes are a little different.
   
     
   

[ID Tactical]

The wording was intended to placate the ATF since someone from the school (or a parent) called said ATF and complained that Jeff's "gun shop" was in a school zone...

[fm500]

Reminds me of the gun show...

Some ~13 year old kid was assisting parents (gun dealers?) to help a buyer with a gun.  He struggled to remove the magazine from a pistol to place it back in the plastic case.  Something made this kid think it required the slide to be racked in order for the magazine to eject.  He struggled a second and needing better leverage he stiff-armed the gun in front of him and proceeded to point the firearm directly at me (in addition to the greater audience) and rack the slide.  Nothing like that sound when looking down the barrel...

Finally, he ejected to the magazine, cased it up, and gave it to the (purchaser?).

[popsgunner]

Dam it Bill, That sign was working for me ! LOL,
We see it everyday Jeff, good entertainment factor along with the pucker factor but thats why we carry in the shop right, the other reason I don't mind people bringing guns in ( Responsibly) is that, holy crap, anything go down in the shop and myself, Mary or Pete can't shoot the stupid fucker maybe, just maybe one of our FINE customers will step up and protect all of us. One can dream right ?
Pops

[JWaddell]

After the third time I had a a loaded gun pointed at me by a dipshit customer at cabela's they got a little more strict with the guns being brought in the store. The concealed ones never came into play. It was always stupid ass idiots that need scopes mounted and bring their loaded 270 in and pull it out and point it at me while talking to the guy next to me. Almost punched this kid on the spot.
 

[TrooperBrian]

After the third time I had a a loaded gun pointed at me by a dipshit customer at cabela's they got a little more strict with the guns being brought in the store. The concealed ones never came into play. It was always stupid ass idiots that need scopes mounted and bring their loaded 270 in and pull it out and point it at me while talking to the guy next to me. Almost punched this kid on the spot.
 

Wasn't it a few years back that someone at Sportsman's Meridian showed his .300WM clear by pulling the trigger and putting a hole through a whole line of shelves?

[Bill, Idaho]

I would think something like would have made the Statesman.