Cabela's store policy

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I went to Cabela's this weekend to pick up some ammo and right when I walked in, an employee asked me if I was buying accessories for my gun (I was OCing, of course). I said no, and then he said that Cabela's does not allow you to unholster in their store. If you want to try out different holsters, clips, etc., you give them your gun and they escort you while you shop. I told him I was just buying some ammo and that I wouldn't unholster, and he said thanks and enjoy the store. Also, there are signs in the firearm section that states this policy that if you have a permit to carry, you cannot unholster (as opposed to not having a permit and unholstering?).

Has anybody else ran into this? Have you ever accepted their 'offer' to hold you gun and escort you while you shop? I like the store, but this is borderline BS; I understand why the policy is necessary (liability i'm sure: don't want a bunch of people handling guns, theft of accessories, etc) for the store, but I think I'll take my business eslewhere. The people at Blythes (where I bought my gun) are friendly and their prices aren't bad.

thoughts?

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ghengis86 wrote:

I went to Cabela's this weekend to pick up some ammo and right when I walked in, an employee asked me if I was buying accessories for my gun (I was OCing, of course). I said no, and then he said that Cabela's does not allow you to unholster in their store. If you want to try out different holsters, clips, etc., you give them your gun and they escort you while you shop. I told him I was just buying some ammo and that I wouldn't unholster, and he said thanks and enjoy the store. Also, there are signs in the firearm section that states this policy that if you have a permit to carry, you cannot unholster (as opposed to not having a permit and unholstering?).

Has anybody else ran into this? Have you ever accepted their 'offer' to hold you gun and escort you while you shop? I like the store, but this is borderline BS; I understand why the policy is necessary (liability i'm sure: don't want a bunch of people handling guns, theft of accessories, etc) for the store, but I think I'll take my business eslewhere. The people at Blythes (where I bought my gun) are friendly and their prices aren't bad.

thoughts?

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I've got no problem at all with that policy.

I, for one, am not disturbed in the least by people OC'ing. I do it all the time.

I AM disturbed by seeing someone unholster a firearm and start manipulating it in a crowded (or un crowded) store.

I love Cabelas policy and if I need an accessory/holster for my weapon I'll enter the store unloaded and check it. I might carry a second gun for protection and leave it holstered, but I don't think it's unfair of cabelas to ask you not be drawing your carry weapon while in the store.

On a side note, when my wife and I open our shop (one day we will) we will have the same policy.

No loading or unloading of firearms in the store. No manipulating a loaded firearm except for self defense. PERIOD.

Last Crown Point gun show some had an ND with a .38 revolver for just this reason. Thank God it hit the wall and no one was hurt... except one older gentleman whose hearing is all jacked up. I walked in just as the shot rang out.

A loaded holstered firearm is safe. A loaded firearm being inserted in and out of holsters (some of which you may not be familiar with since you don't know if it fits anyway) is an accident waiting to happen.

I love Cabelas policy on firearms. IMO it's perfect.

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+1 Prometheus

I think it is a great policy.

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A buddy and I will be heading to the Hammond Cabela's tonight. I'll keep my sig on my side holstered, and probably have my XD I need a holster for racked back without a mag. So long as they allow me to keep my sig attached to my side I'm alright with the policy. It'll actually be my first time OC'ing, other than around my house. If they give me any problems I'll be sure to let them know what I've learned from this site. On second thought maybe I'll have the XD in a case or something, since walking into the store with an unholstered firearm probably isn't a great idea.

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so on reading prometheus' comments, i guess this isn't so bad. much safer to limit the amount of handling...

thanks for the insight

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Jubbie wrote:

On second thought maybe I'll have the XD in a case or something, since walking into the store with an unholstered firearm probably isn't a great idea.

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+1. In a case is a great idea.

You shouldn't have any problems. I'm also glad to see more people OC'ing as well. For a time my wife and I were the only ones OC'ing in there. I was talking with one of the firearms managers not too long ago and he said it's becoming very frequent to see open carry in the store. "Not like when it was just you and your wife last year", lol. Kinda sounded like we started the whole OC movement, :lol:

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Wasn't too terrible of an experience. Got a boy and his dad staring at us as we're walking up to the entrance. We both OC'd and I also had my XD in my IWB in hand. Walked up to a worker and said I needed to find a new holster. She took me to the side while telling me the gun on my side needed to stay holstered. The lady had no idea how to check the chamber, so she had me do it for her. I showed her how I did it so maybe next time she'll be more comfortable. She put a trigger lock on and then called for someone to escort me. During the 5 minute wait two Hammond LEO's strolled in. They walked over near the registers, minding their own business. The older gentleman (was hopeing for cute girl) escorted us upstairs where he took off the trigger lock and then walked us over to the holsters. Kind of awkward having him place the gun in every holster I asked to see/feel it in. I've got a 12+1 Sig on my side and he won't let me touch the empty XD unless it's in a holster. After not being able to decide, I told him I'll have to think and come back and get what I decided on. So he placed my XD with the trigger lock back on back partway into my IWB, and placed that on the counter behind the sales counter. As he was walking away he said to come get him when I'm done shopping around. After shopping around we couldn't find him, so we found a cute girl to walk us down. Once downstairs she went to sign me out and found out the old guy never signed me in. Asked for my name, but never asked to see my ID to very my name.

As for signs, there was one on the entry doors mentioning needing to check in firearms that need repair, but that it doesn't apply to "conceal/carry license holders". Only when we were upstairs in the holster aisle was there a sign about keeping firearms in holsters at all times.

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"Only when we were upstairs in the holster aisle was there a sign about keeping firearms in holsters at all times."That's the only place I saw a sign too, not when I walked into the store.

In light of your experience (and comments here)it seems like a small inconveince to ensure the safety of everybody. I've been there on a saturday, and it's packed, so I can see how having 20+ people holstering and unholstering handguns would increase the accidental/negligent discharge probabilities.

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+1





Cabela's doesn't ban open carry or concealed carry, but they have the right (and an obligation) to ensure safe gun handling in the store. As a gun owner I have a responsibility to handle my firearms safely, but sadly there are too many people who are lax in this area.



There's a fine line cabela's has to straddle.I think they are doing the best they can in this situation without resorting to an outright ban. It's similar to gun ranges stipulating that all firearms be empty and/or actions locked open during a 'cold' line.

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The range I was going to had a ban on OC and CC. pretty funny to find a gun store that won't allow you to pack. Its like seeing the no smoking sign at the tobacco shop. bah