Tennessee Firearms Assoc. Inc.

I have recently gone pretty active at posted locations by attempting, with polite and sensible conversation, to get proprietors to remove their signs.

So far the success rate is dismal but the desire hasn't diminished.

I know that a private business has the right to post a no firearms policy.

I know I have the right to take my business elsewhere.

I also have the right to discuss the matter with the owner.

He has the right to do nothing about the discussion and / or even ask me to leave and not return if he thinks I will break the law and enter with my firearm (which I will not).

Here is the question.

In a number of states, the law does not recognize a "no guns" sign as a law breaking event if violated unless when asked to leave, the carrier refuses at which time trespass or disturbance of the peace laws kick in. Here in Tennessee it can carry a $500 fine (see John, I been readin' your book)

Wouldn't this be the best of both worlds? You could still conceal and remain protected and yet the owner can, if he or she discovers you are carrying, can legally ask you to leave. It is up to you as to what to do from there.

Why do you patronize these establishment in the first place you may ask. Well what if you are with the family and a situation comes up, like a movie the kids want to see, or a store your wife just has to go in. Are you going to march the group back to the car to stash the gun to the tune of a lot of complaints, are you going to refuse to go in, or are you going to have to wait outside while the crew goes in? There must be thousands of better scenarios that can take place than I just described but I hope you get the picture. At some point a condition may develop that causes you to make a nuisance decision.

Along with the "no firearms in restaurants that serve" law, this is the one that bugs me the most.

When Tennessee went to a shall issue state they made a few reasonable rules such as the permit is a carry permit and not just a concealed carry permit. This was to supposed to stop a problem if a person accidentally exposed his or her firearm (even though here in East Tennessee a man was put against a wall for an accidental exposure in a Wally World).

Has the TFA or any other firearm supporting group made any attempt to have the law about posted business property altered.

Does anyone think this law has a chance of being changed. Is anyone else in favor of pursuing the efforts to get it changed. Please give me some thoughts on the matter.

My work recently posted notice. I don't carry at work, but I generally come in with my permit, in the event that if my vehicle is broken into and my weapon stolen, I can show the officers my permit.

However, my boss saw my permit while it was sitting underneath my car keys and that was the end of that.

Now I can't carry to work, even if I leave my weapon in the car, which means that I, for safety's sake, make fewer stops to and from work, especially with Christmas around the corner, and no telling who needs a little "extra cash."

It isn't as if I can forgo doing business with my company, as they pay the rent. And finding a new job, simply because they, within their legal right, posted notice, doesn't sound very reasonable.

But, if I violate the policy of my company, then I have broken the law. And as I am a law abiding citizen, I guess I just have to suck it up.