Proper Etiquette for Reholstering at a Gun Show

[drjoker]

O.K. Gun Shows are 30.06 posted. You have to unload your gun, remove the mag, and zip tie your gun to freeze the action before entering the gun show.

However, how should you leave the gun show? After you've left the 30.06 area of the gun show, while you're still in the lobby area, could you reload, rack the slide, and re-holster in the open? Or would you have to go to the restroom? What if the restroom is in the 30.06 area? In other words, will I get in trouble for "intentional failure to conceal" the gun if I re-holster in the open? I will NOT be open carrying. I just want to re-holster my concealed handgun as I'm leaving the gun show.

Thanks,

[Teamless]

All of the Gun Shows that I have been to (Houston/Pasadena), you are not supposed to have any magazines (loaded) so you would not (or should not, if you followed the posted signs) be able to reload your weapon until you reached your vehicle.

Even if you did have a magazine handy, I would not reload the gun in plain view of anyone else, it would be in the restroom or in my vehicle

[High Calibre Hottie]

If you are going to venture into a place we are not welcome,
then best leave it in your vehicle. Open display is a violation,
at least according to the First Sergeant that has done Todd Bean's
High Calibre gun shows for about twenty years.

(A few months ago at George R. Brown, we asked the best way)

Been there done that for the last time.

If you can't be "good",, don't get caught.

YMMV

[Excaliber]

All of the Gun Shows that I have been to (Houston/Pasadena), you are not supposed to have any magazines (loaded) so you would not (or should not, if you followed the posted signs) be able to reload your weapon until you reached your vehicle.

Even if you did have a magazine handy, I would not reload the gun in plain view of anyone else, it would be in the restroom or in my vehicle

A little common sense goes a long ways here.

First of all, there's no legal exemption from intentional failure to conceal just because you're leaving a gun show.

There's also the very practical consideration that if reloading / reholstering in the lobby of the show venue were permitted, it wouldn't take very long for some knucklehead to touch off an ND that causes a serious injury or death and would not be helpful to the passage of some good bills currently in the legislature.

The ND issue is the primary reason behind the 30.06 posting of gun shows in the first place. If everyone were allowed to carry loaded inside, there would be a whole lot more ND's than there are now - which is still way too many. If you doubt that, just pay attention to the muzzle discipline of folks at a show as they examine guns and point them at everyone and everything in sight.

I'm not talking about Forum members - but there are a lot of "other guys" out there who don't take responsible gun handling as seriously as our good friends here. The stuff they do fills the pages of "Never again", and the folks who run the show have to maintain a safe environment for everyone in order to stay in business.

Be discreet, keep a low profile, and you can be pretty sure you'll remain free to go about your business unhassled.

[RPB]

i leave mag in the car, walk in with slide locked open, get ziptied, reholster, shop, then leave, and reload when i get back to the car.

[RHenriksen]

Last GRB gunshow I went to, I asked the PoPo that question when I was claiming my loaded magazine they kept for me behind their table. They just smiled, shrugged and said to try & be discreet about it before I made it out onto the sidewalk. That's what I did, and was happy to be able to go through the exit door already loaded +1 for my walk back to the car.

[couzin]

Most times they ask if you have any extra ammunition as well - and take it if you volunteer any. Loading up in view of the zip-tie table with live ammunition might get you a question/answer/reply/and a possible ban or trespass.

[cbr600]

deleted

[G26ster]

First of all, there's no legal exemption from intentional failure to conceal just because you're leaving a gun show.

I would have to think the situation would be different for CHL vs. non-CHL. For a CHL holder, I believe you're correct. But for a non-CHL holder, would he not be "directly en route" to his/her vehicle and covered by PC 46.02(a)(2)? If so, I do not read any requirement in that portion of PC46.02 about "concealment." Of course we are talking about CHLs on this forum, so it's probably a moot point.

[TexasGal]

Why court problems? I simply reload in my vehicle before leaving. I know there is the feeling of being naked between the gun show and the car, but that's what I consider the price I pay for going to the show. I have thought about the whole idea of just not going because of it, but our gun shows need our support. After seeing some of the total idiots handling guns inside, I am relieved they are not all in the lobby with me fumbling with reloading their guns when the show closes. I'm safer the way it is. Besides, you really would have to be a dumb criminal to pick on people exiting a gun show.

[Bullwhip]

It's irrelevant to 30.06 if a handgun is loaded or unloaded.

When they check your gun and zip-tie/whatever and give you permission to go on in, 30.06 don't count anymore because you have permission to be there with a handgun. Go straight to the restroom, cut off the zip tie and re load, keep it concealed and in the holster and enjoy shopping.

[tboesche]

It's irrelevant to 30.06 if a handgun is loaded or unloaded.

When they check your gun and zip-tie/whatever and give you permission to go on in, 30.06 don't count anymore because you have permission to be there with a handgun. Go straight to the restroom, cut off the zip tie and re load, keep it concealed and in the holster and enjoy shopping.

I think this is a very risky proposition

[wconn33]

I just wouldnt be going to a "gun" show that wanted to remove my legal right to carry before entering thier facility.

[The Annoyed Man]

It's irrelevant to 30.06 if a handgun is loaded or unloaded.

When they check your gun and zip-tie/whatever and give you permission to go on in, 30.06 don't count anymore because you have permission to be there with a handgun. Go straight to the restroom, cut off the zip tie and re load, keep it concealed and in the holster and enjoy shopping.

I think this is a very risky proposition

It's possibly illegal, too. The actor has received notice under 30.06. The ONLY defense to prosecution you might have if caught is to contest whether or not the venue has legal standing to post a sign. But it's going to cost you to prove it. And if you fail to prove it, say bye-bye to your CHL.

That was incredibly bad advice. Since when do "law abiding" CHLers advise other CLRers to break the law? Wow.

[The Annoyed Man]

I just wouldnt be going to a "gun" show that wanted to remove my legal right to carry before entering thier facility.

That is the much more mature way to handle it, if having to disarm to enter bothers you.