Active Self Protection

Carrying a gun in a business, such as Walmart or a restaurants that have "no gun allowed" signs on them

do y'all do it? do you leave it in the car or at home? or just not go to those places at all.

I avoid if at all possible. Also, note that the sign on the Walmart's in my area don't say no carry, they say "Please refrain from openly carrying". I don't go to movies and I purposely will avoid businesses who disallow it if I can get the goods elsewhere. If I cannot avoid, then lock into a tethered safe in my vehicle if I am out and about, where I do want it. If it's a trip to the doctor or hospital, and immediatel home after, I just leave at home. Also note that not every state does a sign on a privately owned business hold force of law, so check your state laws to know if your state is one of them.

I’m with Cara on this.

I’ve never seen a Walmart posted no carry.

You should know whether the sign is simply a statement of store policy, in which case the only thing they can do is order you to leave IF THEY FIND OUT, and then trespass you if you do not immediately leave. OR, does the sign carry the weight of law, in which case you are breaking a criminal law when you carry past it. You have to know the law in that state; best location is at handgunlaw.us. One example: in Texas, if the store sign does not meet exactly the requirements of Texas statute 30.06 (concealed carry), or 30.07 (open carry) then it is only store policy. If, however, the sign meets the 30.06/30.07 requirements, then carry past is breaking a law.

P.S. Acknowledging Cara's response: here in Arkansas there are different interpretations as to whether carry past such a sign is always breaking the law. My opinion is that the sign must mach exactly the language in the statute to have the force of law. I know of others who consider carry past any sign breaking the law. With no Arkansas court case to rely on, we have to use our own judgment.

Here in Ohio, other than site types specified by law, the property owner has the right to ask you to leave and failure is trespass. As I understand it, that's a relatively recent change, and it used to carry weight and force of law. If so, that was before my time as an Active Defender.

Where it makes sense (jewelry store, for example), I simply lock it in the gun safe in the vehicle for the duration of my visit.

Ohio somewhat recently (2014? 2016?) clarified a hole in the property rights law which indicates that if you are in your vehicle, you are on YOUR property. The moment your foot hits the ground, you are on THEIR property.

The Post office, being federal in nature, leaves a remaining grey spot but I figure discretion is the better part of valor; if I must, I lock it in the gun safe before exiting the vehicle; if it is a trip solely for the purpose of visiting the Post Office, I might consider locking it at home.

I'm stubborn enough that if I found it to be a real issue, I'd park near the post office and lock it in the safe, and risk the short walk.

These intrusions into our convenience make me want to pass a law that makes a similarly senseless inconvenience to non-gun-holders and enforce the ever loving crud out of it. Let 'em see what it's like.

Teaching 'em to read doesn't seem to have helped. The Constitution is astoundingly clear on the matter, yet Supreme Court justices have corrupted its meaning .... okay, I'll stop now.
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In NC, these signs have "force of law" but at worst its a trespass situation and if you're a dope about it, a $500 civil fine. If it's a private business, I follow "concealed is concealed."

If it's a doctor's office, I leave it at home and go straight home after. You never know when you're going to have to "turn your head and cough" or the hygienist might bump you while cleaning your teeth.

I straight up do not mess around with post offices, schools, and government buildings. If I have to go to one of those, I follow my doctor's office rule.

"... do not mess around with post offices, ..."
You may have read recently (january 2024) that a Federal judge ruled the Post Office prohibition on firearms is unConstitutional. Yes, that did happen, but it was in the Middle DIstrict of Florida court, not an appeals court, so it does not change the law, even in that Circuit.
Do not try to test this "new law" unless you have already lined up a LOT of money for your defense if you get charged, and are ready for a long battle in DIstrict and Circuit Appeals courts.