Reply #71: It may be for legal protection in case something bad happens. [View All]

[krispos42]

For example, let's say at a restraunt a guy busts in, robs the place, then decides he doesn't want any witnesses. Or maybe the cashier just wasn't sufficiently scared.

Anyway, robber starts shooting. Concealed carry permit holder, who had decided not to get involved over some money, draws and engages the robber when the shooting starts. He or she guns down the robber, but in the process wounds or kills a bystander.

Now, if the restraunt had the legal option to put up a sign saying "No guns allowed" and didn't, it is possible that the owner could be sued for not ensuring a gun-free area. By permitting concealed-carry on the premises, the restraunt was responsible for allowing the CCW person to have a gun and thus shoot the bystander.

However, if the restraunt did put up a "No guns allowed" sign, the restraunt avoids legal liability because the CCW holder was breaking the law, and if the owner had known the CCW holder was carrying, they would have asked them to leave.

Of course, if the sign was up and the CCW holder didn't have his or her gun as a result, the body count would most likely be much higher than an shot crook and a shot bystander.

This is just speculation on my part, but it would not surprise me in the least if that was the legal advice that was being given nowadays.