Was just asked to leave the Hanover mall

[Sniper061]

Just putting it on here that the mall in Hanover is apparently not a very friendly place to open carry. Here's what happened:

I was browsing around the Radio Shack looking for a few LEDs and other odds and ends for a project I've been working while my wife was picking up a book over at Waldenbooks. Once she was done, she came over to meet me in the store. As we were turning to leave, two of the mall security guys came up to us. After staring back and forth for a few seconds, them with the "What are we supposed to say?" and me with the "Yes?" look on my face, one of them managed to stammer out, "Sir, I need to ask you to leave as we don't allow weapons inside the mall". Since these two guys were both very young and obviously a bit skittish I just told them that it was fine and we were done shopping anyways but that I would be contacting their management to inform them of the state laws and clarify what their policy states.

I later found out from my wife that she heard someone on their radio say "... in Radio Shack", so it was probably one of the RS store clerks who called them.

Overall pretty much a non-event but something some of you need to be aware about until I can talk with the mall management on Monday. I actually think those two were kind of confused and didn't know exactly what they should do.

[BimmerJon]

Private property

They can restrict carry

[Evan]

I'm guessing that they have a no weapons policy, most malls do. Also, sorry to see that you live in Littlestown. I just moved away from there.

[Sniper061]

Private property

They can restrict carry

I kinda thought that they could. Thats why I plan on clarifying it with their management.

[ungawa]

I've heard that malls generally have no weapons policies in PA. I OC'd in two or three department stores (Macy's, the other two I forget) in malls in Whitehall, Palmer, and some other place I forget with my anti-Mom several weeks ago. Didn't notice any signs.

Regarding Radio Shack, my nearest one is Palmer. The store is right near the entrance to the mall, been in there about 10x. Never had what I needed. Been to another in Whitehall, never had what I needed.

The last time Radio Shack saved my ass was somewhere around 1997. I bought the resistors and transistors I needed to build an amplifier to tie into a control panel. With modest compliance of local codes, electrical codes, fire codes, and OSHA 1910.300 series regs.

In the 80s, they were the sh!t. Now, at least we have Mouser. I can get anything I want, much more than before, just not within the hour. Local electrical component warehouses are a thing of the past.

[headcase]

Just putting it on here that the mall in Hanover is apparently not a very friendly place to open carry. <snip>.

There is a sticky, at the top of this very forum entitled, "Open Carry and what you should know before you do it". In it, a couple of paragraphs down, is this little tidbit:

Knowledge:
1.) If you are going to carry a firearm, OC, CC, whatever, KNOW THE LAWS THAT APPLY. DO RESEARCH HERE. Even if you search the forums and come up empty, ask about what you are looking for and someone here will help you. There are more than a few people here who have been OC'ing for quite a while, who know the answer to just about anything you can think to ask...USE THIS RESOURCE!
2.)SEE #1!
3.) It bears repeating, you have the right to OC, whether you follow these suggestions or not, but please, PLEASE do not go out and OC, get into trouble and then come looking for help after the fact, expecting to be treated with kid gloves, especially if you should have known what to do before hand. If you do your homework, accept the risks and responsibilities, then you will find almost unlimited help here if you have a problem.
Some threads that should be required reading for OC'ers:
http://forum.pafoa.org/open-carry-14...ity-5-9-a.html (Pa. Patriot ARRESTED at the OC dinner @ The Old Country Buffet in Dickson City 5/9)
http://forum.pafoa.org/concealed-ope...nsylvania.html (READ FIRST: Where you CAN and CANNOT Carry weapons in the State of Pennsylvania)
http://forum.pafoa.org/concealed-ope...heres-why.html
http://forum.pafoa.org/concealed-ope...ou-can-cc.html (post #9 has a few other links)
http://forum.pafoa.org/open-carry-14...-why-i-oc.html
There are probably a hundred OC related threads here... While the OCB thread is way long, there is a wealth of information starting on page 15..
OASN~ While this applies to carry in general, for OC'ers it should be way up on the list- RESPECT PRIVATE PROPERTY POLICIES. There seems to be story after story of people OC'ing on private property, getting asked to leave, and then getting indignant about being asked to leave. Private property owners get to make the rules on their property, within the scope of the law. They have every right to tell you you may not be there because you have a gun. Malls seem to be a big issue. I will say this here on the chance that this is the one place someone who wants to OC will look before they do it.... Almost every mall has a no weapons policy. Oc'ing there will get you escorted off the premises almost 100% of the time. It serves no purpose, unless you have a fetish where you enjoy being told to leave someplace. Please don't OC at the mall.

You will note the whole "different color so as to denote importance" thing about private property rules and respecting them, including what to expect at the mall...

[wa3ra]

Most malls pretty well suck, anyway.

Radio Shack...you've got questions, We've got Blank Stares.

Fairly long ago, I actually asked a senior VP what they thought of firearms in the stores, back in the days where even Scranton had a Tandy Leather store.

He smiled and drew back his sport jacket; a brand-new Radio Shack two meter handie-talkie on one side, and a gorgeous filigreed wheelgun in a equally gorgeous holster that one of the leather store employees made for him. At that time, they also owned O'Sullivan, and I had a sweet deal for a while test-building furniture kits while proofing the instructions. Besides the middle-of-the-road knockdown stuff that they sell now (haven't been part of Tandy/RS since the mid 90's), they offered then, and still do...offer some high-end stuff.

Radio Shack, on the other hand, has batteries and cell phones and not much else.

Thank God for Mouser and Allied!

[XD40coyote]

Ah yes, malls- the gun free zones where now and then gangbangers and active shooters fail to see the teeny "no guns" signs, but if you OC you will get pounced upon by aggressive zombie...er security guards.

[IronButt]

In general, it's not that store policy is against carrying. They're usually just leasing the store from a mall development company & have to follow their policies, because they own the land & the building.

I never go in a mall unarmed, but I cover it & nobody knows the difference.

[Pagoda240]

two words - deep concealment