Carrying in the Georgia Aquarium?

[buzz_knox]

I may be heading to Atlanta and might want to see the new whale sharks. So, is carrying legal in the Aquarium?

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

Legal? Sure. Allowed? No. They use metal detectors.

 

[buzz_knox]

Crap. Ah, well. I'm glad I got warned before heading there.

 

[GTSteve03]

Don't even think of going in there with a dangerous Leatherman Micra on your keychain, either.

They'll claim it's a "pocketknife" and make you turn it into security to pick up when you leave.

First and last time I'll be at the GA Aquarium.

 

[mzmtg]

When I went, they only used wands. An ankle holster would have worked...

 

[atlctyslkr]

I knew about the aquarium because my wife has been (I haven't). I have wondered on what authority do they have to ban concealed weopons. Forgive my ignorance but is the building owned by the state county or city government?

 

[Mongo the Mutterer]

Do you guys in Atlanta have drive bys in your Aquarium?? Geez, I thought St. Louis was tough...

Why the metal detectors??

 

[mzmtg]

I knew about the aquarium because my wife has been (I haven't). I have wondered on what authority do they have to ban concealed weopons. Forgive my ignorance but is the building owned by the state county or city government?

They have as much authority as any other private business owner. They can ask you to leave if they find your gun. If you refuse, you can be charged with criminal trespass.

Since they use metal detectors, they will most likely find it...

Like I said, when I went, they just wanded people around the waist. They may have upgraded to walk-through types now. they also do cursory bag searches.

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

Yep, just as much authority as you have in your house.

To the original poster, there is a very in depth description of someone's visit there over at www.georgiapacking.org

 

[Wiley]

Well hello M.P.! What kept you?

 

[AJ Dual]

While I still err on the side of the CCW'ers, and I'm sure much of the aquarium's reasons are "PC" ones, I can sort of see that the Aquarium also has a practical interest in banning firearms too.

I'm sure the biggest tanks, tunnels, or viewing windows, are probably polymer, and could probably stop a .50 BMG, but a bullet in one would still necessitate a multi-million dollar repair job. But I'd have to think it's also likely there's lots of "smaller" exhibit tanks that could shatter. It could still be thousands of gallons of water. Not to mention the fish...

Lockers for CCW's at the security checkpoint would be a good compromise IMO.

You're very unlikely to need your CCW in the aquarium, but from what I hear, you stand a good chance of needing it to, and from, your car.

 

[Beachmaster]

The metal dectectors are there to keep people from bringing in fishing hooks, so they can't catch the fish on display and have lunch! Any guns or knives they stop while searching for fishing hooks is just a bonus.

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

Wiley, I did not know about this site until relatively recently - oh, and working for a living . . .

 

[LoneCoon]

Which begs the question, what caliber do you use for a whale shark?

"I swear officer, he was coming right for me."