Private property wins; the bank is within their legal rights. However, there may be many customers who will close their accounts in protest. I certainly would. One of my bank’s managers carries, and that (plus not taking TARP) is an added incentive to keep my money there.
Hi Pollster1, I hope you are well.
Oklahoma went open carry 15 months ago. The week after the law went into effect, I noticed that the “No Weapons” sign was taken off of my bank’s front door. I asked if they had replaced the glass, and forgotten to put the restriction on the door. They told me “No, we feel much safer if we allow firearms.”
Guess which bank gets my deposits.
I’ve got an account in a Nevada institution, also. Behind closed doors I have compared “carry” handguns with the female bank manager. They have the prohibition on their door. Her attitude, and belief, is that if the bad guys carry surreptitiously, she will too.
Gwjack
LOL...I had to do a banking transaction at Wells Fargo [not my usual bank]....the employees were the rudest, most inefficient business people I have ever encountered....I mean, they make the DMV look like high achievers in a five-star hotel! I would never ever, do business with them again, or heaven forbid use their *services*. My *encounter* with them had me so riled up....if I was carrying...I would have been tempted to shoot the place up. Instead, left an *ear full* with the branch manager, which was pretty satisfying in itself. Meh.
All of you that are saying “private property wins” don’t know Florida law. This is from Florida Statutes 790.251 (4)(c):
No public or private employer shall condition employment upon either:
1. The fact that an employee or prospective employee holds or does not hold a license issued pursuant to s. 790.06; or
2. Any agreement by an employee or a prospective employee that prohibits an employee from keeping a legal firearm locked inside or locked to a private motor vehicle in a parking lot when such firearm is kept for lawful purposes.
(d) No public or private employer shall prohibit or attempt to prevent any customer, employee, or invitee from entering the parking lot of the employer’s place of business because the customer’s, employee’s, or invitee’s private motor vehicle contains a legal firearm being carried for lawful purposes, that is out of sight within the customer’s, employee’s, or invitee’s private motor vehicle.
(e) No public or private employer may terminate the employment of or otherwise discriminate against an employee, or expel a customer or invitee for exercising his or her constitutional right to keep and bear arms or for exercising the right of self-defense as long as a firearm is never exhibited on company property for any reason other than lawful defensive purposes.