Introduction and Quick Question

[Tommy B]

Hi, my name is Tommy and I'm from Liberty, TX. I'm new to concealed carry--I just received my license in January but have been carrying for a couple of months now and doing my best to learn what my CHL instructor didn't cover and to become more comfortable and skilled at carrying and shooting.

I've lurked here for a while enjoying the many posts covering many interesting topics and very much appreciate this site as a useful CHL reference and support community. Thank you to Charles for a great resource.

I was also curious about something I saw this weekend that didn't make much sense to me. A red 51 sign at the Jared Galeria of Jewelry store located at 59 & 1960 in Humble, TX.

I searched the forum for reference to this and only found brief mention of it here.

How should one proceed when faced with a posting like this? Obviously, a large jewelry store such as this does not even sell alcohol, but even in some bar/restraunts you never really know for sure where the company' profits come from.

Would it have been okay for me to enter the store with my concealed handgun despite the misleading posting? I locked the gun in my truck to be on the safe side but would have felt much safer with my Glock by my side.

Just curious what some of you might suggest for future visits to this location and any other time I may doubt the legitimacy of posted signs.

Thanks for your time and I look forward to future discussion.

[jimlongley]

I am not a CHL instructor, but there are several who will contribute here I am sure.

I, personally, would have just ignored the sign and carried. A lot has been said about "obvious intent" and such, but I would be hard pressed to interpret what a sign meant for places that serve alcoholic beverages for consumption on premise was doing hanging in a jewelry store. I would have to assume that the store bought a sign package from somewhere when they opened, and they just hung that sign right along with "EXIT" and such and had no idea what it meant.

[GlockenHammer]

The sign has about the same legitimacy as the circled pistol with a slash. It means nothing.

This is only true if the sign was posted in error. Obviously, a red 51% sign in an establishment that serves alcohol does mean something and you should not carry there unless you can determine which type of liquor license they have.

[Liberty]

The sign has about the same legitimacy as the circled pistol with a slash. It means nothing.

This is only true if the sign was posted in error. Obviously, a red 51% sign in an establishment that serves alcohol does mean something and you should not carry there unless you can determine which type of liquor license they have.

Actually it might mean something, but it really means very little. The sign itself doesn't make carying into an establishment illegal. The fact that 51% of their revenue is from serving alcohalic beverages is what makes it illegal. The lack of a sign at a bar does not mean we can carry into the place. A 51% sign in a restraunt that serves a small amount of alcohal does not make it illegal to carry into a place. The sign only serves as a warning, it is not regulatory.

[9mmGuy]

So that sign doesnt mean anything unless the place sells alcohol?

[dpatterson]

So that sign doesnt mean anything unless the place sells alcohol?

The 51% sign only pertains to places that sell alcohol for onsite consumption.

[KBCraig]

So that sign doesnt mean anything unless the place sells alcohol?

Even if the place does serve alcohol, the sign doesn't mean anything unless alcohol sales are 51% or more of their revenue.

And if their alcohol sales are 51%+ and they don't have a sign, the lack of a sign is no defense.

Kevin