"$ORGANIZATION BANS GUNS ON THESE PREMISES."

[vakkotaur]

That sign is on a few places in Minnesota. Part of Minnesota carry law specifies the size and wording of the sign for those who insist on denying others the right of self-defense and wish to publicly say "Take your business elsewhere, we prefer having unarmed victims here."

Even though I do not have a carry permit and thus do not carry, I do try to avoid rewarding such businesses with my patronage. Today things got ironic in a sad way. jmaynard and I went to a gun show which was held at the local VFW. Normally that show would have been held at the National Guard armory, but work is being done on that building. So the show is taking place at the VFW. And there is a sign that the VFW bans guns.

That's odd. Not just that a place holding a gun show bans the carrying of firearms, but that it's the VFW. VFW? Veterans of Foreign Wars - the folks who have fought for your, my, and others freedoms. Folks who know their way around firearms, and know that what they are: mere machines, inanimate objects. I wonder what the real story is. I suspect it's some clueless building owner or clueless insurance company that insists on that sign being there. I rather doubt the members of the VFW are the ones behind it being there. At least I hope not. I'd like to think well of them.

Comments

[invader-tak-1.livejournal.com]

Violating that sign in a business is a petty misdemeanor with a $25 fine. And thats only if you refuse to leave when asked.

If I'm going to a queer club, the last place I want to be defenseless is in the parking lot at 2 am "I don't drink btw, and certainly not if I'm carrying" but its the place I'm most likely to be killed by a mean homophobic drunk. But your life, matched off a $25 fine thats legally equal to a parking ticket law wise, what would you do?

On the other hand, violating it in a state or federal building is an instant felony! So you have to be sure WHICH ban it is. One is a handslap, the other is the bar windows motel.

Interesting bit, if ANY publicly accessible door does NOT have a sign, all the rest of the signs are legally invalid. "government buildings excepted"

But I do agree with you. If a business wants to punish some of its most law abiding citizens by refusing them access, I take my shopping dollars elsewhere. " People with carry permits are pre-screened not to be drunks, or criminals or rapists or other social predators.

Food for thought. Virtually all big news "shooting sprees" have been in "gun free zones" Why? Because the killers know they are safe. I just don't know why neither the Liberals or Conservatives these days seem to understand, criminals don't care what the law says about guns, thats what CRIMINAL MEANS!

[thecanuckguy.livejournal.com]

I found it kind of interesting when I was in the army for my basic training at CFB Dundurn, you had to have your C7 rifle with you at all times, pretty much 24/7 (though I don't recall having it in my bunk when I slept) - and then if you chose to go to Chapel on Sundays (which I did), you *had* to leave your rifles outside, no weapons allowed in chapel. I suppose it's a "House of God" thing - but as you point out, there have been massacres in churches before. Of course, the instant we left the building, we picked up our rifles and commenced being armed. (They were never stolen when we were in chapel).

The irony of my standing in chapel, in full army uniform, singing "Onward Christian Soldiers" is a memory that always comes back whenever I hear that song ...

[doodlesthegreat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's an insurance thing.