Signs in Oklahoma

[Liberty addict]

Does someone here know what is the legal standing of signs (like the Ghostbuster no guns sign in the 7-11s) in Oklahoma? I know in some states the signs mean nothing, but in others they have meaning and one has to be careful.

[MarkV]

As far as I know if there is a no carry sign you have to obey it to be legal.

[DanB]

from what I remember in the actual wording of the Self Defense Act. The owner of a property has the right to prohibit concealled weapons. If its posted you are not susposed to carry on the property. There is no wording in the law that is like TX with the 30-06 section. which states a sign must follow these criteria.

Now the old saying comes back, concealled means concealled. I shop at a Homeland and a branch for the Bank my company uses is in a Homeland both are posted and I carry in both. I conceal my gun and nobody knows.

[pete156]

From what I have understood, you can in any business sign or not. If you get made and asked to leave, then you must or you face at worst a trespassing charge. But I have nothing to go on but what I've read from others here, so who knows.

I would like to stay as legal as possibly and have even called OSBI. I was referred to one of their lawyers on staff and got the hateful "We're not here to interpret the SDA for you, if you can't read it and understand it then don't carry".

[MarkV]

"We're not here to interpret the SDA for you, if you can't read it and understand it then don't carry".

My response would have been. Thanks ****. Click.

[Buzz70]

From what I have understood, you can in any business sign or not. If you get made and asked to leave, then you must or you face at worst a trespassing charge. But I have nothing to go on but what I've read from others here, so who knows.

I would like to stay as legal as possibly and have even called OSBI. I was referred to one of their lawyers on staff and got the hateful "We're not here to interpret the SDA for you, if you can't read it and understand it then don't carry".

I agree with Pete. In my concealed carry class (years ago) the instructor advised that the signs have no backbone. With private property the worse the owner can do is request you leave. Now if you don't leave then they can file charges for trespassing. I'll be honest, I don't even see the signs anymore, I guess I subconsciously block them out (plausible deny-ability).

[pete156]

My response would have been. Thanks ****. Click.

Were you listening to my conversation? ;)

[green country shooter]

After a previous lengthy and thorough discussion we concluded that the law is actually unclear and can be interpreted in different ways.

Some folks believe that the provision allowing owners to prohibit carry makes carrying there a crime for which you can be arrested.

Others believe that at that point you have committed only a civil trespass, not a crime, and that the only sanction is being asked to leave or banned, though if you refuse to leave you have committed criminal trespass.

I would say at this point if the owner calls the police, and they come, the officer is probably going to decide what do do based on his or her understanding of the law and also based on your attitude and appearance. If the owner tells you to leave, leave. The sticky point would be if instead of telling you to leave they call the police without telling you and an officer appears and questions you.

We probably need a clarification in the law.

[okgr8outdrs]

I would like to add that there is nothing in the SDA law or otherwise as far as I know, that defines the penalty for carrying a firearm on posted private property. That is why I agree with the trespassing interpretation.

[Soulman]

I too would like an answer to this question.

[Jon3830]

i had this talk with a DA about 5 months ago and he said since it is not covered in title 21 ss1277 that it is only a trespassing but the first time it is just a warning pending on the way you act and if the officer is a understanding guy. the way i look at it is most of those signs are low on the door or hard to see on the window so i take the total deniability route. i have talked with people about this topic before and that no carry junk is a company thing and i have found out that in oklahoma most of the employees dont care. just think about say you are in a store and you are in line to pay and someone comes in to rob the store at gun point and you shoot the robber and nobody else gets hurt do you really think that company really gives a crap about that sign on their window.

[kgull85]

From my CCW class I took away the understanding that if you are notified either verbally or in writing that concealed weapons are not allowed, then you are breaking the law.

What wasn't clear is if you are guilty of just treaspassing or if you are now no longer covered under the SDA and are carrying a concealed weapoon "without a permit".

Luckily the law is a clear as mud. :nolike:

[Buzzdraw]

A sign or verbal notification tells you of the desires of the structure's operators. The penalty for failure to comply (and getting caught) can be a felony or it can be as little as a misdemeanor, depending on where you have chosen to enter. Misdemeanor trespassing (MT) can cost you a couple hundred bucks in some jurisdictions. MT will not cause you in itself to loose your SDA license or even be penalized/fined by OSBI.

SDA is pretty explict in its listing of felony-level places NOT to go with your concealed handgun. You CAN get into SERIOUS legal troubles if you carry there. Careful adherence to the SDA list will generally keep one out of the barred Hilton.