Can't carry in Bass Pro Shops?

jnkirk1974 · Post by **jnkirk1974** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 4:48 pm

I'm a little confused as to why the gentleman at the front of the store asked for a licensed (CHL) man's gun to be checked with him. I'm talking about the location in Garland, Texas.

Of all places, why at Bass Pro?!

Dougmyers5 · Post by **Dougmyers5** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 4:51 pm

I am of the impression that if you don't say anything as in its concealed they don't care but if you tell them you are carrying they want it checked.

jnkirk1974 · Post by **jnkirk1974** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:06 pm

I understand. However, I never announce that I'm carrying.....unless it's a law enforcement officer.

Two weeks ago, I saw the guy ask the man ahead of me to check his firearm at the counter.

Trying to decide if I really want to continue to go there. There's plenty other shops around.

I love that store, but that's extremely annoying when they do that. I'm not handing my gun over for someone else to keep.

KBCraig · Post by **KBCraig** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:23 pm

This has been asked and answered multiple times on every internet gun forum.

The answer is: Bass Pro (Gander Mtn., Big Five, Dick's, Academy, et al.) don't care if you're carrying concealed. But if the gun will be out of its holster for any reason, or if it's being openly carried (long gun or bow), they want to inspect it when you enter. Most traditional local gun shops I've been in are the same way.

And yes, they should do a better job of training their employees about this, and post better signs to make it clear to the customers.

Kevin

killerquad · Post by **killerquad** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:55 pm

How did he know you had a gun? Maybe your werent as concealed as you thought. I have never checked my gun in anywhere ...if its truly concealed no one should be able to tell that I am carrying.

jnkirk1974 · Post by **jnkirk1974** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:39 pm

It was the man in front of me that got stopped. I didn't have my gun at the time. I was waiting for a renewed license to come in.

jnkirk1974 · Post by **jnkirk1974** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:55 pm

It may very well have been a case of an employee not being properly trained.

That's why I'm asking the question.....is this a Bass Pro policy? If not, I'll just ignore the guy in the future and walk on through.

With the way I carry, he'd have to frisk me to find out I was carrying. I definitely conceal it well.

DSARGE · Post by **DSARGE** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:19 pm

KBCraig wrote:This has been asked and answered multiple times on every internet gun forum.

The answer is: Bass Pro (Gander Mtn., Big Five, Dick's, Academy, et al.) don't care if you're carrying concealed. But if the gun will be out of its holster for any reason, or if it's being openly carried (long gun or bow), they want to inspect it when you enter. Kevin

That's exactly the way the guy in the San Antonio BPS told me. He said "If you have a permit, I don't even want to know about it".

govnor · Post by **govnor** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:03 pm

If you're going to the gun range, check your guns so they can lock them until you make that trek over to the range (few hundred feet), where they can unlock them. If you are a CHL holder and are just shopping...walk in like nothing is going on. They shouldn't even ask you about it unless you're obvious.

One of my relatives works there and the reason they make everyone lock their guns at the door, and keep locks on the guns in the case is because one time someone asked to look at a shotgun, then loaded a round into it. At least that's the story I got. So now it's store policy to keep all the guns locked. I don't think they care if a CHL holder is packing in the store. That was the attitude I got when i went for the CHL class at Bass Pro, anyway. The instructors were packing and everyone in security knew it.

stroo · Post by **stroo** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:33 pm

I shoot at the Bass Pro in Grapevine occasionally. I regularly check the guns I am going to shoot, but not my carry gun which is concealed. Never had a problem. They also do not have a 30.06 sign. So you don't have to have your concealed weapon checked.

govnor · Post by **govnor** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:32 pm

stroo wrote:I shoot at the Bass Pro in Grapevine occasionally. I regularly check the guns I am going to shoot, but not my carry gun which is concealed. Never had a problem. They also do not have a 30.06 sign. So you don't have to have your concealed weapon checked.

I figured that was the case. Chris that works in the range is a relative of mine. They're all gun guys anyway. They're definitely not worried about a CHL holder walking around...

killerquad · Post by **killerquad** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:13 am

jnkirk1974 wrote:It was the man in front of me that got stopped. I didn't have my gun at the time. I was waiting for a renewed license to come in.

My apologies I missed that in the original post.

I would agree that it was probably a training issue..........sometimes I have to remind myself that not everyone is a gun person.

Hoppes · Post by **Hoppes** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 12:12 pm

DSARGE wrote:
KBCraig wrote:This has been asked and answered multiple times on every internet gun forum.

The answer is: Bass Pro (Gander Mtn., Big Five, Dick's, Academy, et al.) don't care if you're carrying concealed. But if the gun will be out of its holster for any reason, or if it's being openly carried (long gun or bow), they want to inspect it when you enter. Kevin
That's exactly the way the guy in the San Antonio BPS told me. He said "If you have a permit, I don't even want to know about it".

Two guys came into the Academy in Selma, Texas yesterday while I was there. One walked up to the gun counter and pulled out a loaded High Point .45ACP from his pants. It startled the clerk but he asked the guy, "May I help you?" The guy said, "Yes, I need a holster that will fit this pistol. I have a CHL."

Another clerk escorted the guy back outside and the clerk came back in holding the pistol at this point. I could see that the magazine was still in the pistol, I had no idea whether it was loaded at this point. The clerk behind the counter asked if he could see it. He held it and aimed it towards the ceiling. I got out of the way because I always assume a gun to be loaded.

I can only assume that the clerk escorted him outside to unload the pistol. It is just a standard risk policy of many businesses to check guns to make sure they are unloaded.

My thoughts - a concealed handgun license allows you to carry it concealed. When you pull it out of your pants in a store, it can and does startle some people. OTOH, a reasonable person would expect to see guns in a gun store.

Hoppes

Wildscar · Post by **Wildscar** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 12:42 pm

So just so I'm clear. If I have a CHL and some one asks me if I have a gun I can tell them no right?(As long as it not a LEO of some kind)

shaggydog · Post by **shaggydog** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 12:44 pm

Why reply at all? I would answer with "do you see a weapon of any kind?"

My point of course is that, unless it is an LEO, I am do not feel obligated to give anyone a definative answer about anything that I deem personal information and I consider the fact that I have a CHL and/or am legally carrying, personal information.