Hassle at Lakeline Mall

[Ruark]

Like most (if not all) malls, Lakeline Mall, in Cedar Park in NW Austin, has no prohibition against CCW.

So I go there to see a movie. SIG P238 in an OWB @ 3 o'clock, under a tropical shirt. Arriving 90 minutes before the movie starts, I park my car out in the huge mall parking lot, stroll through several stores, etc. and eventually end up at the Regal theater, way down at the other end of the mall. I pay for tickets at the window, and just as I go in..... a 30-06 sign!!!! Bright and clear, right next to both entrance doors. Everything's correct - wording, English/Spanish, visibility, etc. BUT.... the letters are only 1/2 an inch tall.

So I have to make a decision. Say to myself "hey, it's not a legal sign!" and take a chance on getting arrested, taken to jail, paying bail, etc. and all that that would involve (including not picking my wife up from work that night), OR walking the FULL length of the huge mall back to my car and removing the gun, then slogging back to the theater.

Another option, of course, was to just not go to the movie, but I wanted to see the movie, and I resented this impingement on my freedom. Further, it's legal to carry in the mall, and the theater is inside the mall, so......??? But that's a debate for lawyers, not then, and probably not now.

Of course, I knew the chances of anybody spotting the gun on me were virtually zero. In my own interest, I'm not going to reveal my decision.

But you can see the conundrum here. What if several stores in the mall start doing this, even though the mall itself allows CCW?

Anyway.... the whole situation was a royal hassle, and I wanted to share it with you guys.

[Oldgringo]

Whatever the movie, it will be available via Netflix soon, if not now. Just sayin'....

[MotherBear]

But you can see the conundrum here. What if several stores in the mall start doing this, even though the mall itself allows CCW?

Well, I suppose you've got three options: 1) Don't shop in those stores. 2) Don't shop in the mall at all. 3) Disarm and shop there anyway.

I suppose you could write to mall management and protest that the individual stores are posting 30.06, but it seems like the most likely result there is getting the whole mall posted. I think it's owned/run by Simon, which also owns/runs the Round Rock Outlets, which are posted. My guess is that if Lakeline isn't posted it's because it hasn't crossed anyone's mind.

[anygunanywhere]

The letters were 1/2 inch. Non-compliant sign. Carry away and watch the movie.

[CoffeeNut]

Are individual stores allowed to post 30.06 even if the mall itself doesn't post? I would think that if the mall doesn't have a specific concealed weapons policy in the lease agreement that it is basically a free for all for those that have exterior entrances.

According to the OP it was a non-compliant sign but correct in every other way. I'd take that as a sign to never visit that theater again but if I had already paid for my ticket...

[C-dub]

I would have gone right on in to see the movie. I have gone right on past the little non-compliant sign at a UA theater to see a movie. I also think it was the last time I was in a UA theater.

I don't see any reason why a store inside of a mall couldn't post their own 30.06 sign. They are leasing that space. My problem is, I just don't if it would only apply to that store or not. Common sense would make it seem as though it would only apply to that store, but the law says premises and I can see a prosecutor, lawyer, or judge interpreting it to be the entire premises. But, with the caveat, that it may not because the individual store owner wouldn't have any say so over other stores or the mall itself.

[rtschl]

I go past non-compliant signs. Statute is clear and precise on what is required. Not saying I would beat the ride though...

[rotor]

Ask for a refund and go somewhere else. You know their intent. Don't give them your money.

[longhorn86]

Ask for a refund and go somewhere else. You know their intent. Don't give them your money.

This^^^

[Cedar Park Dad]

Like most (if not all) malls, Lakeline Mall, in Cedar Park in NW Austin, has no prohibition against CCW.

So I go there to see a movie. SIG P238 in an OWB @ 3 o'clock, under a tropical shirt. Arriving 90 minutes before the movie starts, I park my car out in the huge mall parking lot, stroll through several stores, etc. and eventually end up at the Regal theater, way down at the other end of the mall. I pay for tickets at the window, and just as I go in..... a 30-06 sign!!!! Bright and clear, right next to both entrance doors. Everything's correct - wording, English/Spanish, visibility, etc. BUT.... the letters are only 1/2 an inch tall.

So I have to make a decision. Say to myself "hey, it's not a legal sign!" and take a chance on getting arrested, taken to jail, paying bail, etc. and all that that would involve (including not picking my wife up from work that night), OR walking the FULL length of the huge mall back to my car and removing the gun, then slogging back to the theater.

Another option, of course, was to just not go to the movie, but I wanted to see the movie, and I resented this impingement on my freedom. Further, it's legal to carry in the mall, and the theater is inside the mall, so......??? But that's a debate for lawyers, not then, and probably not now.

Of course, I knew the chances of anybody spotting the gun on me were virtually zero. In my own interest, I'm not going to reveal my decision.

But you can see the conundrum here. What if several stores in the mall start doing this, even though the mall itself allows CCW?

Anyway.... the whole situation was a royal hassle, and I wanted to share it with you guys.

Wait, you went to the cinema at Lakeline? Do the bottom theaters still smell like wet socks?
There's a nice Alamo just a mile away...
Sounds like it wasn't a legal sign to begin with. Assuming it was or in the future one of us comes across, none on the board can advocate doing an illegal act.

[Abraham]

Netflix / Good Home Sound System / Food at home is better, less costly and you can pause the movie anytime, AND be as armed as you care to be.

But, you say I want to see the movie of my choice NOW!

Well, you can't have everything you want and the wait won't hurt you, plus you won't have to tolerate the cell phone jerks pretending they're the center of the universe without regard to the discomfort of those trying to hear the movie and not them.

Or have to tolerate those who simply think a movie theatre is a place to carry on a loud conversation as if they're in their own living room.

[bigity]

Or just go to a gun friendly place like Alamo Drafthouse. No kids (in the evenings), no phones/texting, no talking, wait staff, good food (but not what I'd call cheap).

Also, they do fun stuff all the time, quote alongs for older classics, older movies I have never seen on the big screen (Alien, Big Trouble in Little China, etc).

And they have some good beer to enjoy while you watching your movie too.

[Jim Beaux]

I go past non-compliant signs. Statute is clear and precise on what is required. Not saying I would beat the ride though...

[ralewis]

Like most (if not all) malls, Lakeline Mall, in Cedar Park in NW Austin, has no prohibition against CCW.

So I go there to see a movie. SIG P238 in an OWB @ 3 o'clock, under a tropical shirt. Arriving 90 minutes before the movie starts, I park my car out in the huge mall parking lot, stroll through several stores, etc. and eventually end up at the Regal theater, way down at the other end of the mall. I pay for tickets at the window, and just as I go in..... a 30-06 sign!!!! Bright and clear, right next to both entrance doors. Everything's correct - wording, English/Spanish, visibility, etc. BUT.... the letters are only 1/2 an inch tall.

So I have to make a decision. Say to myself "hey, it's not a legal sign!" and take a chance on getting arrested, taken to jail, paying bail, etc. and all that that would involve (including not picking my wife up from work that night), OR walking the FULL length of the huge mall back to my car and removing the gun, then slogging back to the theater.

Another option, of course, was to just not go to the movie, but I wanted to see the movie, and I resented this impingement on my freedom. Further, it's legal to carry in the mall, and the theater is inside the mall, so......??? But that's a debate for lawyers, not then, and probably not now.

Of course, I knew the chances of anybody spotting the gun on me were virtually zero. In my own interest, I'm not going to reveal my decision.

But you can see the conundrum here. What if several stores in the mall start doing this, even though the mall itself allows CCW?

Anyway.... the whole situation was a royal hassle, and I wanted to share it with you guys.

Wait, you went to the cinema at Lakeline? Do the bottom theaters still smell like wet socks?
There's a nice Alamo just a mile away...
Sounds like it wasn't a legal sign to begin with. Assuming it was or in the future one of us comes across, none on the board can advocate doing an illegal act.

Very funny… I thought exactly the same thing.. Live near Lakeline Mall and it's probably been 10 years since i've seen a movie there. Several other superior theaters with in 15 mins of the mall.

RE: the original post though, my view has always been since the Legislature took the time to be very specific about the 30.06 posting requirements, I will choose be equally specific when deciding what I'm going to do when I see one.

[Cedar Park Dad]

Or just go to a gun friendly place like Alamo Drafthouse. No kids (in the evenings), no phones/texting, no talking, wait staff, good food (but not what I'd call cheap).

Also, they do fun stuff all the time, quote alongs for older classics, older movies I have never seen on the big screen (Alien, Big Trouble in Little China, etc).

And they have some good beer to enjoy while you watching your movie too.

We went to the Sean of the Dead quote along and the wife won the beer chugging contest beforehand.