My bank posted a "No concealed Handgun" sign, what should I do?

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Snarlingiron

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Saturday, I stopped by my bank to pick up a cashiers check and noticed that in conjunction with their remodel they have posted a "30.06" Notice. In Texas if a business properly posts a sign with the verbiage:


"PURSUANT TO SECTION 30.06, PENAL CODE (TRESPASS BY HOLDER OF A LICENSE TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN) A PERSON LICENSED UNDER SUBCHAPTER H, CHAPTER 411, GOVERNMENT CODE (CONCEALED HANDGUN LAW), MAY NOT ENTER THIS PROPERTY WITH A CONCEALED HANDGUN."

"CONFORME A LA SECCIÓN 30.06 DEL CÔDIGO PENAL (TRASPASAR PORTANDO ARMAS DE FUEGO) PERSONAS CON LICENCIA BAJO DEL SUB-CAPITULO H, CAPITULO 411, CODIGO DE GOBIERNO (LEY DE PORTAR ARMAS), NO DEBEN ENTRAR A ESTA PROPIEDAD PORTANDO UN ARMA DE FUEGO."

Then you are prohibited from carrying on the premisis even though you have a Concealed Handgun License.

I have banked at this institution for 18 years. Should I move my account to an institution that does not have such restrictions? I am thinking so. What do you think?
 
First, verify that the sign fully conforms to the specific requirements of the law -- including not only language, but also letter size (and font?). If not, you can ignore it ... legally.

If so -- make a written complaint to the president of the bank, and to the chairman of the board. Request a written response. If you don't get a response, or if they tell you to pound sand ... move your account(s) to another bank, and write again to tell them why they lost a formerly-loyal customer.
 
Go up to the counter, tell them that you carry a gun and you want all your money!

:evil:


Seriously I'd contact the branch manager and make sure its a company wide thing ... if its not than go over his head and tell them you will be pulling your accounts if they don't get their monkey back in line. If it is a company wide thing than write a nice letter to the president of the bank explaining why you are pulling your accounts, but don't expect them to care.


On a side note, if you wanted to keep doing business with this bank could you just use the drive up window and still be legal?
 
I'll third that. If a company doesn't want my legally concealed weapon, then they don't really want my business. There is also a Section 30.05. What is the difference?
 
talk to the manager, then go over their head if it is company policy.

If nothing happened, pull your accounts and let the branch manager and higher ups know why.
 
What the sign says:

"PURSUANT TO SECTION 30.06, PENAL CODE (TRESPASS BY HOLDER OF A LICENSE TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN) A PERSON LICENSED UNDER SUBCHAPTER H, CHAPTER 411, GOVERNMENT CODE (CONCEALED HANDGUN LAW), MAY NOT ENTER THIS PROPERTY WITH A CONCEALED HANDGUN."
Click to expand...

How I read it:

Attention law abiding citizen who has been through a thorough background check: This business does not support the second amendment, or want your business. We don't trust you, or any other law abiding citizen.

Attention Criminals: This sign (or any laws) do not apply to you. Please continue to carry your weapons concealed without a permit or background check like you always do. What we don't know can't hurt us!
Click to expand...
 
What bank is this?

30.05 is vanilla criminal trespass. It also invalidates a generic "no guns" sign. If you're licensed and all legal (carrying your card, appropriate gun, etc.), and not otherwise trespassing, ignore it.
 
I would not only move to another bank, but I would tell them why. If my bank posted such a sign, that's what I'd do. Who wants to put their gun in the glove compartment every time you need to do some business at the bank? Any punk sees you do that, and he's liable to just wait till you're in the building, grab a rock and bang, he's got himself a nice handgun. In fact, explain that to them in detail when you tell them why you are moving to a different bank. You are concerned about your handgun getting into criminal hands.
 
Zundfolge, that's a good one. :D

I risk potential trespassing charges on a regular basis. If alternatives exist, I will generally go with the alternatives, but often, there is no alternative (other than disarming, which is not wise - the stupid laws in my area confer liability upon the victim of theft in the case of firearms ("you locked it in your car?? You might as well have just handed your gun to him!" garbage), and what rational being thinks that sign would deter a criminal?

If I ever have the misfortune to be "made" in such an establishment, I'll leave if asked, and conceal better next time. Concealed means concealed, and if no one can see it, where's the harm?
 
Snarlingiron, you have received some very good advice here. I'll be the first to tell you that this is a burning situation and I, for one, would like to know how you handle it. If you write letters, as suggested, let us know what their response was. You opened the door, now we expect a report.
 
Go to the manager

First,

Go to the branch manager and tell him that he has made his bank a "victim disarmament zone". Explain to him that crooks know that NO ONE will be carrying a firearm in his bank and that robbing the place will be a piece of cake.

If he tells you that it is "corporate policy" or that he won't take the sign down, tell him you are taking your business elsewhere and that you will encourage everyone you know to do likewise.

It may not have an immediate effect. But YOU will be doing the right thing.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum
 
When you meet with the bank officials bring a sign with you they can post just below the notice on the window that says:

"Criminals: As the above notice indicates, we have effectively disarmed anyone in our bank that could pose a serious threat to you. It is our pleasure to provide you with a safe working environment for conducting your armed robberies."
 
What they all said (except that thing about telling them you have a gun and want your money). Take your business elsewhere and make certain to write a clear, well-written letter to the bank manager. CC his boss, and his boss, and his boss. People pay attention to things like this, especially the slappies at the highest levels of management.
 
In response to a couple of posts, open carry is illegal in Texas.

I would ask to speak with the manager and explain to him how you feel about those signs, and explain that putting those up is nothing more than a "ROB ME NO ONE HERE IS ARMED" sign for criminals. Also make sure the manager knows that they are now 110% responsible for the security and wellbeing of everyone who steps through that door since they are denying the ability to defend ones self. Ask them if they are prepaired for lawsuits from their customers should they ever be robbed. Make sure they really know what those signs mean. They may not have thought any of this through.

If they ignore you, get a new bank. There are hundreds around that dont hang that sign.

One bank here in the Waco area - National Bank (now called The National) has those signs posted, and I guess someone pointed out what the signs mean because now they have a uniformed off duty copy standing in the lobby whenever their doors are open.

I personally like my small credit union.
 
See if there's a Frost Bank in your area. I've talked guns with the "guard" over coffee! 18 years! Good Lord..you've generated a lot of $$ for them over the years.

30.06 if (as mentioned earlier) properly presented pretty well says it all. But, Brother, after all those years I'd get the heck out and make darn sure the people from the Prez on down know why you're taking YOUR business elsewhere. I'd also let it be known you'll be speaking with friends as well.

Any idea what would prompt them to do this? Did the decision makers have collective strokes?! Someone said earlier the "30.06" just begs an armed "crew" to "come and get it!" Very true. Stupid move!

If people judge you by the "Company" you keep..get out now.
 
Thanks to all, the responses are pretty much what I expected. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to tell them I have a gun and I want my money. :neener:
Just so everyone knowes, I checked the signs very carefully. Someone has done their homework. They meet the code in every way. I see all kinds of signs that are meaningless. My father's appartment building has on posted that simply states "It is illegal to carry a handgun on this premisis". And many places have the picture of a handgun with the red circle and line through it. I totally ignore these, and frankly it is less an issue of what I will do as an issue of my banks attitude and whether I do business with them. It is very much like my refusal to knowingly buy French products. Is it going to put any of those French companies out of business? No. But it makes me feel better about myself.

I will write my letters today, and I will post the results.

For Azrael256, It is Summit Bank. Locations pretty much all over Tarrant County.
 
First, verify that the sign fully conforms to the specific requirements of the law -- including not only language, but also letter size (and font?). If not, you can ignore it ... legally.
Click to expand...

Some states make it illegal to CCW inside a bank, school, daycare, etc
even if you have a permit. No sign is required to warn you and violating
the no-carry zone is on you ("ignorance of the law is no excuse").

Good thing banks have drive-thrus, ATMs and online services. You
shouldn't actually have to set foot inside one these days :cool:
 
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