stalfos
Regular Member
Hi there!
First post, have to get that out of the way, to at least explain unfamiliarity with the law in certain areas in a moment. You'll understand in a moment hopefully.
More to the point, I was at the tacoma (tacompton as I've taken to calling it) earlier with my girlfriend, minding my own business, OC as always and was asked to leave by a "security guard" on a seway (lol) who must've been all of roughly 15 years old.
Anyway, after telling said security guard I'd leave without a problem, I made a point of mentioning to him that there were no signs posted at the entrance I came through and they should remedy the situation as I'd done my part, to the letter of the law and made sure there was nothing posted about firearms being "prohibited" or otherwise on the premises. He of course claimed there were at every entrance (more on this in a moment).
I proceeded toward the same set of doors I'd entered through, primarily to get back to my car, but also to do a little more thorough examination of the entrance I used when entering the mall and make 100% sure there were no signs posted, just as I'd already done when entering the mall initially. I happened across another "security guard" on my way out and engaged him in conversation, essentially looking for verification that what I saw was correct and to explain to him that *something* needed to be posted and clearly visible for people entering the mall to see. He and I went back and forth with the issue, refused an OC pamphlet claiming he "knows the law" but agreed to accompany me to the exit.
When we reached the exit, he took me over to the left side of the entrance and showed me this poster type deal that was roughly 3'x2' entitled "code of conduct" or something to that effect, and pointed to number 13 or some silly garbage where it said no weapons, firearms, knives, etc were allowed (they sell knives and swords in the mall?) on the premises. The lettering on this sign used roughly 1/2" characters, and this sign was placed on the wall, literally just inside the door, several feet to the side of the opening, in a place where no one sees it nor would anyone think to even look in a place that's constantly bombarding you with advertisements and others assorted garbage from the second you set foot through the doors. With that being said, this sign was posted INSIDE the mall, to warn people that weapons were prohibited INSIDE the mall they'd already be standing in by the time they found out they were prohibited!
What kind of crap is that? We have a sign that tells you the rules, and that guns are prohibited, even when legally carried, yet you have to COME INSIDE THE MALL to read the sign that tells you they're prohibited?? So by the time you find out, assuming you notice this joke of a sign with 1/2" text, just inside the door, where you wouldn't even look on entry to the mall, you're already in violation of their rules?? You have to be kidding me.
Anyway, back to my point, I told the security guard that information should be clearly posted outside of the mall for all to see BEFORE they make their entry. They have the standard "no smoking within 25 feet of doors" yadda yadda yadda signs posted on BOTH sides of the entry, why can't they post something regarding firearms as well, maybe with those stick on decals everyone uses? His reply consisted of "well, no one ever reads those signs anyway"..!
I explained that I was not no one, I know the law, I know my rights and I knew to look for a posted warning outside the mall before entry and for him to use that argument was bull. Eventually his cyclical "reasoning" got the best of my patience and I left, angry, irritated and frustrated. I did make it clear I would be contacting the mall or whoever I had to to at least get their policies changed and the situation remedied so this didn't happen to others. Imagine if they'd responded differently and called the police? I'd say I never saw a sign and they'd argue they had one clearly posted, then they'd play buddy buddy with the police, who I'm sure they're on a first name basis with, I would be arrested and god knows where things would go from there.
Put simply, I'm angry, I'm irritated. I feel setup and I want to fix this. Any suggestions? Are there any rcw's I can quote regarding the notification of firearm prohibitions on private property and how they need to notify the public, etc?
Please let me know, thanks!
First post, have to get that out of the way, to at least explain unfamiliarity with the law in certain areas in a moment. You'll understand in a moment hopefully.
More to the point, I was at the tacoma (tacompton as I've taken to calling it) earlier with my girlfriend, minding my own business, OC as always and was asked to leave by a "security guard" on a seway (lol) who must've been all of roughly 15 years old.
Anyway, after telling said security guard I'd leave without a problem, I made a point of mentioning to him that there were no signs posted at the entrance I came through and they should remedy the situation as I'd done my part, to the letter of the law and made sure there was nothing posted about firearms being "prohibited" or otherwise on the premises. He of course claimed there were at every entrance (more on this in a moment).
I proceeded toward the same set of doors I'd entered through, primarily to get back to my car, but also to do a little more thorough examination of the entrance I used when entering the mall and make 100% sure there were no signs posted, just as I'd already done when entering the mall initially. I happened across another "security guard" on my way out and engaged him in conversation, essentially looking for verification that what I saw was correct and to explain to him that *something* needed to be posted and clearly visible for people entering the mall to see. He and I went back and forth with the issue, refused an OC pamphlet claiming he "knows the law" but agreed to accompany me to the exit.
When we reached the exit, he took me over to the left side of the entrance and showed me this poster type deal that was roughly 3'x2' entitled "code of conduct" or something to that effect, and pointed to number 13 or some silly garbage where it said no weapons, firearms, knives, etc were allowed (they sell knives and swords in the mall?) on the premises. The lettering on this sign used roughly 1/2" characters, and this sign was placed on the wall, literally just inside the door, several feet to the side of the opening, in a place where no one sees it nor would anyone think to even look in a place that's constantly bombarding you with advertisements and others assorted garbage from the second you set foot through the doors. With that being said, this sign was posted INSIDE the mall, to warn people that weapons were prohibited INSIDE the mall they'd already be standing in by the time they found out they were prohibited!
What kind of crap is that? We have a sign that tells you the rules, and that guns are prohibited, even when legally carried, yet you have to COME INSIDE THE MALL to read the sign that tells you they're prohibited?? So by the time you find out, assuming you notice this joke of a sign with 1/2" text, just inside the door, where you wouldn't even look on entry to the mall, you're already in violation of their rules?? You have to be kidding me.
Anyway, back to my point, I told the security guard that information should be clearly posted outside of the mall for all to see BEFORE they make their entry. They have the standard "no smoking within 25 feet of doors" yadda yadda yadda signs posted on BOTH sides of the entry, why can't they post something regarding firearms as well, maybe with those stick on decals everyone uses? His reply consisted of "well, no one ever reads those signs anyway"..!
I explained that I was not no one, I know the law, I know my rights and I knew to look for a posted warning outside the mall before entry and for him to use that argument was bull. Eventually his cyclical "reasoning" got the best of my patience and I left, angry, irritated and frustrated. I did make it clear I would be contacting the mall or whoever I had to to at least get their policies changed and the situation remedied so this didn't happen to others. Imagine if they'd responded differently and called the police? I'd say I never saw a sign and they'd argue they had one clearly posted, then they'd play buddy buddy with the police, who I'm sure they're on a first name basis with, I would be arrested and god knows where things would go from there.
Put simply, I'm angry, I'm irritated. I feel setup and I want to fix this. Any suggestions? Are there any rcw's I can quote regarding the notification of firearm prohibitions on private property and how they need to notify the public, etc?
Please let me know, thanks!