jmonday7814
New member
A little bit of background on me:
I am new to this forum, but I am not new to firearms. I have some training and I handle all firearms responsibly at all times. With that being said, lately I have been trying to open carry more frequently because I don't know when a situation will arise that I will need to protect myself or other innocent people.
This past weekend I went to the mall with my girlfriend while open carrying a full-size firearm. This was a large public mall that does not serve alcohol to be consumed on the premises. I do have a CCW but on this occasion I chose to open carry. There are not any signs posted on the doors or near the doorway prohibiting firearms. While walking through the mall I was approached by mall security and told that I cannot have a firearm inside the mall and I must leave it in my vehicle. I followed the request only because I am unsure of my rights in this situation. Mall security specifically stated that there are signs posted but "they are very small" and that the mall is private property and they can ask me to leave my firearm in my vehicle.
Is the mall really private property?
Was I within my rights to carry openly inside the mall?
What would have been the best thing for me to do in this situation? Request that mall security contact local PD to verify my rights?
Would I have been better off just carrying concealed?
If a sign is not posted can a security officer ask me to leave the premises or leave my firearm in my car?
A slight concern with leaving the firearm in a vehicle is that someone may see me walk back to my car to leave the firearm there and break into my car to steal the firearm while I am inside the mall.
Thanks for all your help in advance.
I am new to this forum, but I am not new to firearms. I have some training and I handle all firearms responsibly at all times. With that being said, lately I have been trying to open carry more frequently because I don't know when a situation will arise that I will need to protect myself or other innocent people.
This past weekend I went to the mall with my girlfriend while open carrying a full-size firearm. This was a large public mall that does not serve alcohol to be consumed on the premises. I do have a CCW but on this occasion I chose to open carry. There are not any signs posted on the doors or near the doorway prohibiting firearms. While walking through the mall I was approached by mall security and told that I cannot have a firearm inside the mall and I must leave it in my vehicle. I followed the request only because I am unsure of my rights in this situation. Mall security specifically stated that there are signs posted but "they are very small" and that the mall is private property and they can ask me to leave my firearm in my vehicle.
Is the mall really private property?
Was I within my rights to carry openly inside the mall?
What would have been the best thing for me to do in this situation? Request that mall security contact local PD to verify my rights?
Would I have been better off just carrying concealed?
If a sign is not posted can a security officer ask me to leave the premises or leave my firearm in my car?
A slight concern with leaving the firearm in a vehicle is that someone may see me walk back to my car to leave the firearm there and break into my car to steal the firearm while I am inside the mall.
Thanks for all your help in advance.