Costco anti conceal carry?

[The Annoyed Man]

here are the instructions to get to the website to find the rule about Costco, no they can't have you arrested however they can terminate your membership, they can also have you removed from the store


What Costco does have is a policy deeply buried on a third-party website which says firearms are not allowed. What does that mean for you if you are a Costco customer? How can you possibly adhere to a policy which is not prominently displayed? The answer is you cannot. You were not provided with the policy when you signed up with Costco, it is not displayed on the doorway and it is not displayed in an easy to get to place on the website. Now if you are found with a firearm they can ask you to leave, just as any business can ask you to leave the premises. They might also cancel your membership, but that is really all that can happen if you are found on the property with a firearm. The solutions are simple, don’t have a firearm on the property, or be sure you don’t print.

Anyway, let’s demonstrate what it takes to find the policy.
Go to the Costco website
Select “Customer Service” in the upper right corner
Select “Costco Member Questions & Comments”
Select “Warehouse, Business Centers or Membership”
In the pop-up window:
1 – Select “Other” in the dropdown menu
2 – Type in “firearms” in the text box
3 – enter an email address (any address will work )
Select “Next”
Select the link “Personal Firearms/Guns in Costco Stores“

A bit painful to find and buried so deep in the website, actually on a third-party website, that it would be difficult for anyone to show you should have known the policy.


The Policy is as follows

Costco Wholesale is a membership-only warehouse club. It is not open to the general public. It restricts membership to a limited group of qualified individuals who agree to membership conditions. We have the right and the obligation to our members, to enact and enforce membership rules. The Member Service Employees at the exit doors are obliged to follow these rules. By obtaining a Costco membership card, our members agree to comply with the Membership Rules and the Privileges and Conditions of membership.

Costco does not believe that it is necessary for firearms to be brought into its warehouse stores, except in the case of authorized law enforcement officers. For the protection of all our members and employees, we feel this is a reasonable and prudent precaution to ensure a pleasant shopping experience and safe workplace. Our policy is meant to protect our members and employees in all warehouses around the world. This is not a new policy and we do not customize the policy for each individual city/county/state/country where we do business.

Our primary goal at Costco Wholesale is to keep our members happy. If you believe that our policy restricting members from bringing firearms into our warehouse stores is either unfair or excessively burdensome, or you cannot agree to abide by this policy, or you are dissatisfied for any other reason, Costco will promptly refund your annual membership fee in full.

Have you now been served with an official notice if you are a member? Does it matter if you use a different email address than the one associated with your account? You've still received the notice if you follow through with this, and you are still a member........ Just sayin'.........

On the other hand, this is a particularly interesting use of language:

Costco does not believe that it is necessary for firearms to be brought into its warehouse stores, except in the case of authorized law enforcement officers. For the protection of all our members and employees, we feel this is a reasonable and prudent precaution to ensure a pleasant shopping experience and safe workplace. Our policy is meant to protect our members and employees in all warehouses around the world. This is not a new policy and we do not customize the policy for each individual city/county/state/country where we do business.

If they REALLY wanted to make it stick, the wording would have been more along the lines of:

Costco policy specifically bars members from bringing firearms into its warehouse stores, except in the case of authorized law enforcement officers. For the protection of all our members and employees, we feel this is a reasonable and prudent precaution to ensure a pleasant shopping experience and safe workplace. Our policy is meant to protect our members and employees in all warehouses around the world. This is not a new policy and we do not customize the policy for each individual city/county/state/country where we do business.

[Jaguar]

Have you now been served with an official notice if you are a member?

No, you have not - at least in Texas.

(3) “Written communication” means:
(A) a card or other document on which is written language identical to the following: “Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by holder of license to carry a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (concealed handgun law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun”

Unless they email you that identical statement, you have not been given notice in accordance with 30.06.

I don't shop at Costco, but I would carry if I did.

[baldeagle]

The ultra-liberal Jim Sinegal, Costco co-founder, Director, and former CEO, is a major Obumbler and Dumbocrat contributor, as has been, and is currently, the company itself, so why would anyone shop at Costco at all? You do realize that by shopping there you are nearly directly funding the enemy, right? It never ceases to amaze me the lengths to which some will go to apparently save a few pennies on ground beef at the expense of our Constitutional rights. Oh, that's right, if you can do so while carrying your 1911, it's all okay, regardless of the fact that you are pumping money into Nancy Pelosi's reelection campaign.

Personally, if you tell me either directly (as in the form of a valid 30.06 sign or your via your massive contributions to the Second-Amendment-ignoring, gun-confiscating Dumbocrat party) or indirectly (as in the form of an invalid 30.06 or any other gunbuster sign) that you don't want my business, you get your wish---every single time, and I'm willing to, and do, put my money where my mouth is as integrity, values and, morals trump the price of ground beef each and every time.

I dropped Progressive Insurance over my agent's protestations and purchased auto insurance at a higher cost from a competitor because I refuse to enrich liberals no matter what it costs me or what hoops I have to go through to acquire the same service or product (or do without). At some point principles either mean something or they don't.

[WinoVeritas]

Wouldn't make any difference what's in the membership application - no 30.06 at the entrance is what counts. I carry there anytime I'm in Costco. They want to cancel my membership because I do (accidental expose), their loss, not mine. If i boycotted every 'rumored' anti-gun facility I'd probably starve to death, naked in the dark.

This is incorrect.

1) There is no legal requirement for the 30.06 sign to be placed at an entrance. It must merely be posted in a place conspicuous to the public.

2) If the30.06 language was on the membership app (it's not right now) then that constitutes legal notice. They can also give you a card or other piece of paper with the 30.06 language on it and that constitutes notice. Or, if a person with authority to do so (manager, for example) were to tell you that firearms were not allowed, that is also legal notice and does not have to be the 30.06 language.

Incorrect in what way? I've seen nothing 'conspicuous' regarding Costco gun policy posted anywhere by Costco. I do not feel beholden to worry about or obey some obscure web site posting that 99.9% will never read, much less see.

1. Kinda nit picking aren't we? Would be rather stupid to place the sign in the rear of the store next to say, dog food?

2. That would be true of any place of business, not just Costco. So I reiterate, no 30.06 signage, I carry. If management gives me a card, or other piece of paper with proper verbiage; or ask me to leave, I leave; if they cancel my membership, their loss, not mine. In short, I carry where it is legal, and don't where it is not. I carry in Walmart, Sam's, Sears, H.E.B. etc; I don't carry in PO, schools, Fed Bldg. or anywhere not legal - See the pattern?

[cb1000rider]

I recognize the pattern.. I also recognize that it didn't work out so well for Mr. Scott.

[philip964]

I did my first Wally Walk at Costco in Honor of Erik Scott after I got my plastic, a gun and a holster. I looked for signs when I came in. There were none.

I expected at any moment for some one to shout out "that bulge in his pocket is a gun, shoot him" But it didn't happen.

I went by the hiking water bottles, but did not rip any packages apart or try and fit them into a backpack.

I left without buying anything.

Costco stock has gone from 60 to 110 since the Erik Scott shooting. Obviously our little personal boycotts are not hurting the company at all.

[cb1000rider]

I don't hold Costco responsible for that shooting. They're a private business - they have the right to allow/deny as they see fit.... Yea, let's just say that it wasn't Costco's fault in my mind.

[RottenApple]

Wouldn't make any difference what's in the membership application - no 30.06 at the entrance is what counts. I carry there anytime I'm in Costco. They want to cancel my membership because I do (accidental expose), their loss, not mine. If i boycotted every 'rumored' anti-gun facility I'd probably starve to death, naked in the dark.

This is incorrect.

1) There is no legal requirement for the 30.06 sign to be placed at an entrance. It must merely be posted in a place conspicuous to the public.

2) If the30.06 language was on the membership app (it's not right now) then that constitutes legal notice. They can also give you a card or other piece of paper with the 30.06 language on it and that constitutes notice. Or, if a person with authority to do so (manager, for example) were to tell you that firearms were not allowed, that is also legal notice and does not have to be the 30.06 language.

Incorrect in what way? I've seen nothing 'conspicuous' regarding Costco gun policy posted anywhere by Costco. I do not feel beholden to worry about or obey some obscure web site posting that 99.9% will never read, much less see.

1. Kinda nit picking aren't we? Would be rather stupid to place the sign in the rear of the store next to say, dog food?

2. That would be true of any place of business, not just Costco. So I reiterate, no 30.06 signage, I carry. If management gives me a card, or other piece of paper with proper verbiage; or ask me to leave, I leave; if they cancel my membership, their loss, not mine. In short, I carry where it is legal, and don't where it is not. I carry in Walmart, Sam's, Sears, H.E.B. etc; I don't carry in PO, schools, Fed Bldg. or anywhere not legal - See the pattern?

Your post, which I quoted, stated: "no 30.06 at the entrance is what counts". That is what is incorrect. There is no requirement in the law for the 30.06 to be posted at entrances. It must merely be in a place "conspicuous to the public". And yes, if Costco put up a valid 30.06 in the back of the store, clearly visible to the public (even if you couldn't see it until/unless you went to that part of the store), it would still be valid. The legislature has done a piss-poor job with this one by not defining what "conspicuous to the public" means and/or changing the verbiage to "all entrances".

BTW, if you've been keeping up with this thread, you'll see that I am NOT disagreeing with you on your stance. To whit: No effective notice under the law = carry away! My ONLY disagreement in regards to your post above was in relation to your statement, "no 30.06 at the entrance is what counts", which I was merely pointing out was incorrect. We get a lot of new people on this forum. Some are new to firearms in general, some new to CHL. We owe it to them to make sure we give accurate info. And I don't know about you, but there have been numerous threads that I've read over the years where people think that 30.06 signs need to be posted at entrances.

My apologies if you thought I was disagreeing with your "carry where it's legal" stance.

[philip964]

Thanks for the note about it not having to be at the entrance.

I'll keep that in mind now when I'm in the chilled produce room now.

[RottenApple]

Thanks for the note about it not having to be at the entrance.

I'll keep that in mind now when I'm in the chilled produce room now.

[JP171]

Have you now been served with an official notice if you are a member?

No, you have not - at least in Texas.

(3) “Written communication” means:
(A) a card or other document on which is written language identical to the following: “Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by holder of license to carry a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (concealed handgun law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun”

Unless they email you that identical statement, you have not been given notice in accordance with 30.06.

I don't shop at Costco, but I would carry if I did.

I think you are incorrect, they may not be able to have you arrested but they can cancel your membership and ask you to leave, if you then refuse then enjoy the ride. They have given you effective notice as a "MEMBER" that they do want you to carry a weapon into the store and can cancel your membership, that's all that is up for grabs here the membership. if they post 30:06 on your membership application as per Texas law for criminal trespass by a concealed handgun license holder then you not only get your membership canceled but you get to go to jail. so you have ben given notice that you are not by the membership agreement to carry into a Costco and will loose your membership if you are caught, you have not been given effective notice of criminal trespass by a CHL until they tell you to leave because they don't want a gun in the store

[RottenApple]

<SNIP>you have not been given effective notice of criminal trespass by a CHL until they tell you to leave because they don't want a gun in the store

Which is exactly what he said when he commented, "you have not been given notice in accordance with 30.06". TPC 30.06 doesn't give a rip what a company's membership policy is or whether your membership can be terminated. It is concerned only with criminal trespass by a license holder. And in that regard they must either provide a proper sign, provide written communication with the EXACT verbiage in 30.06, or verbally give you notice.

Since you acknowledge that Costco's (hidden) policy is not effective notice of criminal trespass by a CHL....exactly what are you disagreeing with again?

Oh, and btw, this policy is not in the membership application or agreement that I signed. I doubt if its in a membership app or agreement that ANYONE has ever signed & agreed to. Instead, Costco has seemingly gone to great pains to hide it from their members and prospective members. So I dispute that this is in anyway remotely binding on my, or anyone else's, Costco membership.

[baldeagle]

1) There is no legal requirement for the 30.06 sign to be placed at an entrance. It must merely be posted in a place conspicuous to the public.

After giving this some thought, I question the logic. Costco is a membership-only store. The public cannot enter. For the sign to be conspicuous to the public, it would have to be posted at the entrance. I would think this same logic would apply to all stores. Once you enter any store you are no longer in public. For the owners to comply with the law, the sign would have to be posted at the entrance.

I don't know if public is defined in the law, but perhaps it would be in common law. According to Blacks Law Dictionary:

What is PUBLIC?

Pertaining to a state, nation, or whole community; proceeding from, re- lating to, or affecting the whole body of people or an entire community. Open to all; notorious. Common to all or many; general ; open to common use. Morgan v. Cree, 46 Vt. 786, 14 Am. Rep. 640; Crane v. Waters (C. C.) 10 Fed. 621; Austin v. Soule, 36 Vt. 650; Appeal of Eliot, 74 Coun. 586, 51 Atl. 558; 0′IIara v. Miller, 1 Kulp (Pa.) 295. A distinction has been made between the terms “public” aud “general.” They are sometimes used as synonymous. The former term is applied strictly to that which concerns all the citizens and every member of the state; while the latter includes a lesser, though still a large, portion of the community. 1 Greenl. Ev.

Law Dictionary: What is PUBLIC? definition of PUBLIC (Black's Law Dictionary) http://thelawdictionary.org/public/#ixzz2W9Vru9lq" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(Emphasis is mine.)

[sdmahoney]

...They have given you effective notice as a "MEMBER" that they do want you to carry a weapon into the store and can cancel your membership, that's all that is up for grabs here the membership...

I'm not really sure what the argument here is in regards to Costco. They have never given me notice that I cannot carry. It is not in my membership agreement, it is not posted in the store that I have seen, and they have not given me any other type of notice that they do not want me to carry. A third party saying it on the Internet is not notice from them. If they give me notice, they will not have to cancel my membership, I will do that myself, and send them a letter explaining why I did.

[Jaguar]

Have you now been served with an official notice if you are a member?

No, you have not - at least in Texas.

(3) “Written communication” means:
(A) a card or other document on which is written language identical to the following: “Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by holder of license to carry a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (concealed handgun law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun”

Unless they email you that identical statement, you have not been given notice in accordance with 30.06.

I don't shop at Costco, but I would carry if I did.

I think you are incorrect, they may not be able to have you arrested but they can cancel your membership and ask you to leave, if you then refuse then enjoy the ride. They have given you effective notice as a "MEMBER" that they do want you to carry a weapon into the store and can cancel your membership, that's all that is up for grabs here the membership. if they post 30:06 on your membership application as per Texas law for criminal trespass by a concealed handgun license holder then you not only get your membership canceled but you get to go to jail. so you have ben given notice that you are not by the membership agreement to carry into a Costco and will loose your membership if you are caught, you have not been given effective notice of criminal trespass by a CHL until they tell you to leave because they don't want a gun in the store

Yeah, that's what I said. Which part is incorrect?

I did say email, but really any written communication (mail, fax, email, handing a flyer as you enter the store) would do as long as it has the identical wording.

Club membership may have a restriction, but unless you violate the law the police are not supposed to arrest you. The only club I belong to is my local Gun Club, if I shoot full metal jackets at the steel targets the police won't come arrest me, but I will be kicked out of the club and not allowed back under the trespass laws.