Broke that law and didn't even know it.

[rotorhead]

Ever since I started OC'ing, I've started looking on doors of businesses for a "firearms prohibited" sign. I can't recall of any in Greenville with such a sign. I also started to take notice at every restaurant I went in for alcohol. It's surprising that almost all restaurants serve alcohol, except for fast food places.

Sidenote: I went to Toyota of Greenville today to get some touchup paint for my car. They had a sign on the door that said "Firearms prohibited". I thought state law required the sign with the pistol with the red circle/slash over it? Dreamer, you probably know the answer to this one. If I am correct, can a CHP holder disregard such a sign if it isn't up to code?

No it doesn't have to be the common sign you are used to seeing. They can have it written in Crayon on a paper plate if they choose to and it still is legal for notification at their business.
Establishments are under no obligation to post using any sort of "approved" signage and a CHP holder (or OC'er for that matter) can technically be charged with trespassing if they disregard any posting a business has used.

One of my doctor's offices that I go to has a "different" sign hanging on his door that states "Absolutely no firearms allowed inside or on premises". This is sufficient to express his intentions legally.

 

[cricketdad]

No it doesn't have to be the common sign you are used to seeing. They can have it written in Crayon on a paper plate if they choose to and it still is legal for notification at their business.
Establishments are under no obligation to post using any sort of "approved" signage and a CHP holder (or OC'er for that matter) can technically be charged with trespassing if they disregard any posting a business has used.

One of my doctor's offices that I go to has a "different" sign hanging on his door that states "Absolutely no firearms allowed inside or on premises". This is sufficient to express his intentions legally.

Rotorhead is right, law says only that the sign has to be conspicuous, you should not have to look for it.
I don't. It it doesn't stick me in the eye when I go through a door, I don't worry about it.

 

[mekender]

Rotorhead is right, law says only that the sign has to be conspicuous, you should not have to look for it.
I don't. It it doesn't stick me in the eye when I go through a door, I don't worry about it.

Pretty sure the law also says that the sign has to specify that concealed carry is forbidden. No guns allowed signs do not fit that requirement but it would probably be sorted out by the courts.

 

[Dreamer]

mekender, I think you are confusing the mention of signs in the CC-related statutes with an actual statute codifying the signage.


In the CC statute, it DOES say you can't carry where it is posted. But NC does not specifically codify the wording or graphical format of "no guns" signage. As private property, all they have to do is post clear wording that they don't allow firearms to make it "off limits" for leal carry.

As "rotohead" so eloquently put it, they could write "No Guns Allowed" in crayon on a paper plate and tape it to the front door, and it would be just as legitimate as a fancy screen printed sign...

Some states (like AZ) actually DO codify their signage, and have downloadable versions on their government websites:

http://www.azliquor.gov/firearms.html

But in NC, there is no official legal standard for signs that prohibit carrying of firearms. Mostly you see the "circle-slash" signs, with a variety of wording. Most of the Malls don't do that--they post a lengthy text-filled poster with their "code of conduct" and somewhere buried in a mass of 12pt type is the line "no guns or weapons of any type allowed". Which makes you wonder how they can sell things like kitchen knives or baseball bats in those places...

If you violate a sign, its just a misdemeanor. If you are CCing OR OCing and they catch you carrying, it's an automatic midemeanor violation, even if you leave as soon as you are asked to leave, because the sign sets up a situation tha tyou have intentionally ignored--like hiking thorough someone's farm that has "No Trespassing" signs posted on it.

If you are OCing or CCing, and a business is NOT clearly posted, and you get caught, it's not a violation until someone asks you to leave and you refuse. Then it's misdemeanor trespassing. If you leave without a fuss, it's "no harm, no foul" and there can be no charges made.

HOWEVER, county and local government buildings are often not posted, and it is against many local ordinances to carry in government buildings, so if you get caught, you're gonna be in violation of SOME law, even if you didn't know about it, and it wasn't posted...

Tricky stuff, carrying here in NC...

I've been burning up the AG's phone line the last few months with questions like this.

 

[mattwestm]

I wonder why businesses ban firearms anyways. Maybe they don't want their customers to see a handgun being OC'd.

I've been thinking this for the longest time, ever since I started shooting. What's the big deal with gun control, banning guns, etc? If someone really wants to do harm, there are plenty of ways of achieving it without a firearm. I actually have more fear of dying from a car crash or getting run over by some crazy driver than I do dying from a bullet.

 

[JamesCanby]

So happy to be a Virginian

I can OC at any place* that serves alcohol and even quaff a brew or two -- but I don't when I'm carrying because it's just not a good idea.

I can CC at any place* that serves alcohol, so long as I do NOT have anything alcoholic to drink.

+1 for Virginia, even though the distinction between OC and CC in being able to drink or not seems strange....

*so long as the property owner has not prohibited firearms.

 

[American Patriot]

http://www.wcnc.com/news/Pizza-Hut-employee-shoots-kills-2-robbery-suspects-103917264.html

Pizza Hut employee was a LEO

 

[Northerner]

I wonder why businesses ban firearms anyways. Maybe they don't want their customers to see a handgun being OC'd.

I've been thinking this for the longest time, ever since I started shooting. What's the big deal with gun control, banning guns, etc? If someone really wants to do harm, there are plenty of ways of achieving it without a firearm. I actually have more fear of dying from a car crash or getting run over by some crazy driver than I do dying from a bullet.

My opinion: I believe it's due to their lack of understanding (or desire to understand), education around fire arms (guns to don't kill, people kill...), and their inability to form an opinion without the influence of the liberal media and the connotation that anyone with a gun is bad or a criminal.