Was spending the day with my wife at St. Matthews Mall Shopping when as I entered seen a Mall Cop and noded at him because he was staring at me. I had on my NRA Shooting shirt, and my Beretta PX4 Storm on my hip. After walking threw a few store's The Local St. Matthews Police walked up to me and asked if I had a CCDW. I said no, Kentucky is a right to Open Carry state that I didn't need a CCDW. The police officer told me "Not in the St. Matthews Mall you don't" to go put it in my truck. Now when I walked in the Mall, there were not sign's on the doors saying no weapons or side arm's. So with out making a seen, I put my side arm in the truck. After doing so, talked to one of the officers and he said it was the Mall cop who called them.......Can they do that? make you put your side arm away in your car/truck in a public place like a mall? If not, maybe we should have a shopping spree at the mall of St. Matthews. All us AMERICAN citizens who O.C. in the state of Kentucky go shopping on a weekend. Would there be any laws broke if we did this?.....
As far as I know the mall itsself is owned and operated on a private property. Many businesses reside there and there is a lot of general public that visit which would give the impression of public property. But the real question would be what are the policy;s regarding the mall in mind? If the mall owner doesnt want firearms in the building that is the choice they have made. They can ask you to disarm or leave - if you do not do either then it is criminal tresspass.
The mall is a private property.. then yes.. they have every right to do that, just as you have every right to try another mall or do your shopping elsewhere.
http://www.ggp.com/properties/mall-properties/mall-st-matthews
that is the private company that operates and leases the mall in question, there are contacts on that page you may be able to get in touch with and speak to them about policy and notifying you are legally carrying. Maybe you can make a difference and a change.
Hope this helps!
And on the mass people in the forum meeting up for an OC event at a mall that has expressed through security that it doesn't want firearms in it? Personally I would not want part of it as there are other manners of settling this debate than o push our view on people forcefully. It would 100% end up with police and a big scenario that would maybe be avoided by alerting the property management and settling it in a professional manner, just my .02.
Another thing to think about, it the privately owned businesses in the mall, they would also have the right to ask you to leave the store space they rented. This may be a long fight to take on...
Disclaimer: I agree with the OC movement and I agree that it is legal and a right, I OC'd for years before my CDWL - still do on occasion.. I am not saying to be passive on the subject, only practical and professional about te scenario. you may gain more ground...
good luck!