unload your gun before going into a gunshow?

[shep854]

There has been an unloading table at every gun show I have been to here in Alabama. I unload before going in, and let the deputy ziptie my pistol. They also ask that ammo be left at the table, and give a numbered slip of paper for ID. As soon as I exit the venue, I load and holster.

for me, playing by the show's rules is not a problem.

 

[Daemon688]

So, I'm going to a gun show, with $1000 or more in my wallet intending to make a purchase. I can't bring a loaded gun to the show. I'm not leaving my gun in my car so it comes with me. IF they ask if I have any loaded guns and they are not officers, I lie.

Now why lie? Because I'm not unloading my gun in a public place where there are hundreds of people walking around. Furthermore I'm not going to "reload' my gun when there are hundreds of people walking around. Where the hell are you supposed to safely load/unload your handgun in that kind of situation?

I've asked the event organizers in an e-mail about their procedure. They ignored my question and I ignored their policy. If you're willing to leave your gun in your car while you're at the show great. But it seems to me you're more of a mark than anything else.

 

[sacp81170a]

He was CCW'ing a Remington 700?

No, he was actually CCW'ing a Bersa .380. At least he knew that one was loaded. I cleared the action and kept his ammo and mag for him while he was in the show. No sweat, and he was being extra cautious after seeing the round pop out of his 700. Nothin' like a potential oopsie being caught to make you more conscious.

That aside, what I'd really like to see and what might help to relieve some of the angst I'm seeing on this thread is a portable clearing barrel or box with someone to clear or supervise the clearing of CCW weapons. That would show respect for CCW holders and at the same time enhance safety. When I'm clearing weapons to zip tie them, I feel uncomfortable because I don't have a safe direction (straight up in the air in an urban area is not a safe direction). As it is, the best I can do is try to make sure I don't sweep a line of folks going in to the show while I'm checking to see if grandpa's old deer rifle is loaded or not. If more of us would lobby the promoters for this, I think they would go for it.

 

[X-Rap]

Consider that the military is probably the only place you will find concentrations of weapons like a gunshow. They have around a half dozen different models to deal with and they regulate far harder than any gunshow that has literaly thousands of different makes and models.
Some have felt that they need to be on red while in the show, most that I have been to are elbow to elbow and collateral damage of even a justified shooting would be pretty much unavoidable in such crowds.
I'm not cop bashing but I personally don't want anyone poping a cap in a gunshow and would hope that LE's would refrain armed or not.
I have had a family member that was nearly hit while sitting at his table by a ND so it can and does happen and in a world of fools we sadly have to dumb things down to those fools level.
To those who can't keep ammo separated from the gun while in the show I am sorry but I would come to the door with weapon cleared and mag or speed loader in my pocket and not say a word. When I left I would probably load when I left the door or got to my car depending on what kind of neighborhood it was. I'd also think about using a revolver as my carry piece on gunshow day to simplify loading by not having to cycle the piece outside the door to the show.
To bad we can't stop stupid but we can work around it.

 

[TexasRifleman]

That aside, what I'd really like to see and what might help to relieve some of the angst I'm seeing on this thread is a portable clearing barrel or box with someone to clear or supervise the clearing of CCW weapons. That would show respect for CCW holders and at the same time enhance safety.

If you want to show respect for CCW then don't try to make us take out our concealed weapons in the first place.

You are never going to regulate stupid people, that's not going to happen. When you try you infringe on everyone else's rights.

If some moron pulls out his CCW in a gun show because he wants to try a holster or whatever then he needs to be arrested plain and simple.

Pulling your loaded CCW is brandishing, a crime, even in a gun show, and he needs handcuffs and a ride downtown.

There's no way I'd ever do business with a gun show that tried to disarm a legally carrying concealed weapon holder.