'Open Carry' Law Contoversy: Gun Owner Cited

The laws concerning "no firearms" signs are very specific.

For South Carolina:

SECTION 23-31-235. Sign requirements.

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, any requirement of or allowance for the posting of signs prohibiting the carrying of a concealable weapon upon any premises shall only be satisfied by a sign expressing the prohibition in both written language interdict and universal sign language.

(B) All signs must be posted at each entrance into a building where a concealable weapon permit holder is prohibited from carrying a concealable weapon and must be:

(1) clearly visible from outside the building;

(2) eight inches wide by twelve inches tall in size;

(3) contain the words “NO CONCEALABLE WEAPONS ALLOWED” in black one inch tall uppercase type at the bottom of the sign and centered between the lateral edges of the sign;

(4) contain a black silhouette of a handgun inside a circle seven inches in diameter with a diagonal line that runs from the lower left to the upper right at a forty five degree angle from the horizontal;

(5) a diameter of a circle; and

(6) placed not less than forty inches and not more than sixty inches from the bottom of the building’s entrance door.

(C) If the premises where concealable weapons are prohibited does not have doors, then the signs contained in subsection (A) must be:

(1) thirty six inches wide by forty eight inches tall in size;

(2) contain the words “NO CONCEALABLE WEAPONS ALLOWED” in black three inch tall uppercase type at the bottom of the sign and centered between the lateral edges of the sign;

(3) contain a black silhouette of a handgun inside a circle thirty four inches in diameter with a diagonal line that is two inches wide and runs from the lower left to the upper right at a forty five degree angle from the horizontal and must be a diameter of a circle whose circumference is two inches wide;

(4) placed not less than forty inches and not more than ninety six inches above the ground;

(5) posted in sufficient quantities to be clearly visible from any point of entry onto the premises.
 
so it covers establishment's ass when it comes to legal issue for whatever happened on its property but it does not hold a bearing as "law" for anybody on its property therefore you cannot get arrested nor criminally charged for breaking a store policy in a state that legally allows it.
In SC, businesses don't need a sign posted for CYA purposes.

The law says:

"(R) No provision contained within this article shall expand, diminish, or affect the duty of care owed by and liability accruing to, as may exist at law immediately before the effective date of this article, the owner of or individual in legal possession of real property for the injury or death of an invitee, licensee, or trespasser caused by the use or misuse by a third party of a concealable weapon. Absence of a sign prohibiting concealable weapons shall not constitute negligence or establish a lack of duty of care."
 
The laws concerning "no firearms" signs are very specific.

For South Carolina:

SECTION 23-31-235. Sign requirements.

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, any requirement of or allowance for the posting of signs prohibiting the carrying of a concealable weapon upon any premises shall only be satisfied by a sign expressing the prohibition in both written language interdict and universal sign language.

(B) All signs must be posted at each entrance into a building where a concealable weapon permit holder is prohibited from carrying a concealable weapon and must be:

(1) clearly visible from outside the building;

(2) eight inches wide by twelve inches tall in size;

(3) contain the words “NO CONCEALABLE WEAPONS ALLOWED” in black one inch tall uppercase type at the bottom of the sign and centered between the lateral edges of the sign;

(4) contain a black silhouette of a handgun inside a circle seven inches in diameter with a diagonal line that runs from the lower left to the upper right at a forty five degree angle from the horizontal;

(5) a diameter of a circle; and

(6) placed not less than forty inches and not more than sixty inches from the bottom of the building’s entrance door.

(C) If the premises where concealable weapons are prohibited does not have doors, then the signs contained in subsection (A) must be:

(1) thirty six inches wide by forty eight inches tall in size;

(2) contain the words “NO CONCEALABLE WEAPONS ALLOWED” in black three inch tall uppercase type at the bottom of the sign and centered between the lateral edges of the sign;

(3) contain a black silhouette of a handgun inside a circle thirty four inches in diameter with a diagonal line that is two inches wide and runs from the lower left to the upper right at a forty five degree angle from the horizontal and must be a diameter of a circle whose circumference is two inches wide;

(4) placed not less than forty inches and not more than ninety six inches above the ground;

(5) posted in sufficient quantities to be clearly visible from any point of entry onto the premises.
What happens if you as a CCW carrier ignored the sign?
 
If a sign is posted, and something illegal occurs with someone who has a weapon that has been prohibited according to the sign, and someone gets shot, the person who was injured or his/her family cannot come back and sue the establishment for negligence or damages. That is what I was referring to as "covering their butt". That holds true whether it is a CCW, an open carry, or a no carry state. It is considered to be a reasonable precaution.
In SC, the businesses can't be sued, sign or no sign.

"... Absence of a sign prohibiting concealable weapons shall not constitute negligence or establish a lack of duty of care."
 
What happens if you as a CCW carrier ignored the sign?
Depends. The whole point of concealed weapons is that other people aren't aware when you're packing a piece. ;)

However, if I see that sign, and I'm carrying (very unlikely), I don't go in.

Here's what the law says:

"A person who wilfully violates a provision of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both, at the discretion of the court and have his permit revoked for five years."
 
Depends. The whole point of concealed weapons is that other people aren't aware when you're packing a piece. ;)

However, if I see that sign, and I'm carrying (very unlikely), I don't go in.

Here's what the law says:

"A person who wilfully violates a provision of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both, at the discretion of the court and have his permit revoked for five years."

:ty: so I was wrong on the part where you don't get arrested for ignoring store's "No Gun Allowed" sign but this is limited to only South Carolina.

I wonder... How many people were convicted of this? :hmm:
 
I can only speak to my own motivations for carrying. I'm a 5'2", 125-lb mother of 2. I don't know karate and I frequently have a child on my hip (I can shoot one-handed if necessary but said kid would probably slow down my ninja moves). My mother was robbed in a Walmart parking lot (in the "nice" part of town). My best friend was raped outside of her workplace after leaving one evening (still light out). I don't live in a "bad" neighborhood, though I grew up in one. I often drive on long stretches of unlit, unpatrolled road.

I'm a law-abiding citizen, though I sincerely wish I could carry in my school. I live near Virginia Tech. Maybe less people would have died there had at least one person been able to legally carry. There's no way of knowing that, but if the alarm is sounded while I'm in class that there's a shooter on campus, I'd damn sure like to have a weapon of my own, not to be a vigilante, but for protection. Somebody mentioned Columbine: An armed teacher at Columbine might have been useful, instead of only terrified. That's not to belittle the actions of any heroes from that day, only to say that less lives lost is ALWAYS better.

I carry because, while I support the police and *hope* they will always be nearby to protect me, they cannot instantly appear at my side. Even if nothing prevents me from immediately making contact with them, there will always be a response time in which I or mine could be injured, raped or murdered. I hope I never need my car insurance, fire alarms or home security system (haven't yet). But I bought them to protect myself and my family. I hope I never, ever have to fire a weapon at another human being. But I bought and carry it for the same reason. Because shit happens and the difference between being dead or alive (in any situation) is often being prepared.

I too would love to see multiple links to news stories regarding law-abiding citizens suddenly losing their minds in anger and shooting someone. Could it happen? Sure. They could also go nuts and stab somebody. Drive their car into a crowd. Set someone's house on fire. Does it happen often enough that taking guns away from ALL citizens is warranted? I don't think so. Show me data that says otherwise. And go ahead and ban carrying knives, car keys and matches too then, because all are sometimes used as weapons in crimes of passion.

Removing guns from the hands of lawfully-armed people does NOT prevent crime. It only makes criminals better armed than their victims, because criminals don't follow gun laws. And yeah, they show up in grocery stores, convenience stores, offices, schools, parks...even in the nice parts of town. The idea that a grocery store is some special protected place where one is completely safe from crime is silly.

Here's my token example of 1) A man deterring murderers by displaying his gun (in his home) and 2) Criminals killing unarmed people with knives.

Dartmouth Murders - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
I have a token example of the deaths of innocent people from the availability of firearms. Check the CDC stats.
 
Or couldn't read? Didn't speak english? Or just stupid?

How about all of above? There's bound to be an idiot but I haven't heard of anything stupid like that for a long time (specifically an incident involving CCW holder). You came from gun-friendly state. You hear anything similar?
 
I have a token example of the deaths of innocent people from the availability of firearms. Check the CDC stats.

Any of deaths caused by CCW or OC in public?
 
How about all of above? There's bound to be an idiot but I haven't heard of anything stupid like that for a long time (specifically an incident involving CCW holder). You came from gun-friendly state. You hear anything similar?

Nope
 
How about all of above? There's bound to be an idiot but I haven't heard of anything stupid like that for a long time (specifically an incident involving CCW holder). You came from gun-friendly state. You hear anything similar?

I guess the old expression, ignorance is no excuse for not following the law missed you, huh?:giggle:
 
I can only speak to my own motivations for carrying. I'm a 5'2", 125-lb mother of 2. I don't know karate and I frequently have a child on my hip (I can shoot one-handed if necessary but said kid would probably slow down my ninja moves). My mother was robbed in a Walmart parking lot (in the "nice" part of town). My best friend was raped outside of her workplace after leaving one evening (still light out). I don't live in a "bad" neighborhood, though I grew up in one. I often drive on long stretches of unlit, unpatrolled road.

I'm a law-abiding citizen, though I sincerely wish I could carry in my school. I live near Virginia Tech. Maybe less people would have died there had at least one person been able to legally carry. There's no way of knowing that, but if the alarm is sounded while I'm in class that there's a shooter on campus, I'd damn sure like to have a weapon of my own, not to be a vigilante, but for protection. Somebody mentioned Columbine: An armed teacher at Columbine might have been useful, instead of only terrified. That's not to belittle the actions of any heroes from that day, only to say that less lives lost is ALWAYS better.

I carry because, while I support the police and *hope* they will always be nearby to protect me, they cannot instantly appear at my side. Even if nothing prevents me from immediately making contact with them, there will always be a response time in which I or mine could be injured, raped or murdered. I hope I never need my car insurance, fire alarms or home security system (haven't yet). But I bought them to protect myself and my family. I hope I never, ever have to fire a weapon at another human being. But I bought and carry it for the same reason. Because shit happens and the difference between being dead or alive (in any situation) is often being prepared.

I too would love to see multiple links to news stories regarding law-abiding citizens suddenly losing their minds in anger and shooting someone. Could it happen? Sure. They could also go nuts and stab somebody. Drive their car into a crowd. Set someone's house on fire. Does it happen often enough that taking guns away from ALL citizens is warranted? I don't think so. Show me data that says otherwise. And go ahead and ban carrying knives, car keys and matches too then, because all are sometimes used as weapons in crimes of passion.

Removing guns from the hands of lawfully-armed people does NOT prevent crime. It only makes criminals better armed than their victims, because criminals don't follow gun laws. And yeah, they show up in grocery stores, convenience stores, offices, schools, parks...even in the nice parts of town. The idea that a grocery store is some special protected place where one is completely safe from crime is silly.

Here's my token example of 1) A man deterring murderers by displaying his gun (in his home) and 2) Criminals killing unarmed people with knives.

Dartmouth Murders - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ah!!! You're a fellow Hokie!!!! So am I!

Good news- Virginia law currently does not prohibit CCW on its public school property.
 
Any deaths at all? Sure. You think those CCW or OC never get used? That is tantamount to saying the death penalty reduces crime.

Really? Got a source to back your claim that some of deaths was caused by CCW/OC. And no I'm not referring to dead assailants. Only innocent people.
 
I guess the old expression, ignorance is no excuse for not following the law missed you, huh?:giggle:

You could say that for those who support gun ban law but I have never heard of any stupidity nor ignorance shown by CCW/OC holders in public. And I have never heard of any innocent being killed or injured in public by CCW/OC holders.
 
You recently spent some time in Vermont - one of only 2 states that do not require any firearm license. Basically 100% gun-friendly state. How did it go? Did you encounter a Charles Bronson vigilante? A fool walking around with pistol in his pants like he's got something to prove? Anything?
 
Really? Got a source to back your claim that some of deaths was caused by CCW/OC. And no I'm not referring to dead assailants. Only innocent people.
How do you know they were not innocent if they are dead?
 
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