Citizens Bank Park

[P30shtr]

So we're headin down for the game tonight, rescheduled from Sat night (Irene). I had always just put it in my waist and been fine, until the last game we went to. The gentleman doing security checks felt it. Went and locked it in the car disassembled (not the biggest fan) So... I'm actually gonna do the firearms check tonight. Should not be an issue from what others have said but being my first time we'll see. Go Phils. Will update later.



Phillies PHAIL,

Went to the command center,

Me. Hi, I'd like to check a firearm.
Gary Cooper. Puzzled look.
GC. Uh, Who are you with.
Me. Puzzled look, who am I with?
Me. I'm a civilian.
GC. Oh well, our policy, yada, yada, LEO.
Me. Well I've researched it a bit and am under the impression that I can check my firearm.
GC. How did you get here?
Me. I drove
GC. Well youre gonna have to take it to youre car.
Me. What if the car gets broken into? Weapon in the wrong hands?
GC. Well our WRITTEN policy is LEO, yada, yada
Me. May I have a copy of the WRITTEN policy?
GC. NO
ME. NO????
GC. Maybe you should look at the Phils website.
Me. I did, theres nothing pertaining, may I have a copy of the WRITTEN policy?
GC. NO

I stand there for a minute with my thumb up my butt and he gets on the phone to some super.

GC. My supervisor said thats the deal and if you want we"ll have someone escort you around, refund your tickets and you have a good night.

Me. I guess we"ll go watch the Iron Pigs and we left.

Old lady was LIVID. (shes usually pretty good but this was our last game we had ticks for. She goes "Why do you need that thing attached to your hip, now we're walkin back to the car through the hood." ME, "you just answered your own question huh") The above is a brief of what was said but close. I guess I have an E-mail to send to someone tomorrow.

Thoughts? What should I say? What would you have done in this scenario?

You know, I try to do the right thing and... I guess its true, nice guys finish last

Well..."say goodnight to the bad guy" (T.M.) Because I'm at the point, unless its a Post Office forget'em. "No firearms" policy, I'm comin in. You find it or ask me to leave thats fine but otherwise you got a "BAD GUY" with a gun on your premises.

 

[P30shtr]

Update- email sent


To whom it may concern,

Last night 9/15/11 I tried to attend the evening game of the double header against the Marlins. I am a firm believer in ones right to own, posses and carry a firearm for hunting, recreation and, self protection. With the current crime level in the city of Philadelphia and surrounding region I feel it in my best interest to to carry a firearm for self protection. I am aware that the Phillies organization offers a "Firearms Check" where one can store his or her firearm in a safe locked location while enjoying a game of Baseball. Then when the game is over you can retrieve your firearm from this location and be on your way. Never being un-armed during the walk to and from your vehicle. One of the times you are most vulnerable in my opinion. Leaving a weapon unattended in a vehicle for 3hrs is a terrible idea. How many cars get broken into and vandalized each year at these games? Your theoretically putting weapons into the hands of criminals if you think this is a god idea. Which is what I was instructed to do by one of your staff, a Mr. Gary Cooper. I went to the command center to check my firearm and Mr. Cooper seemed uncooperative right from the get go. He then asks me if I am a Law Enforcement Officer. To which I reply no I am not sir, just a citizen exercising my 2nd amendment rights. He tells me that service is only for Law Enforcement. Why and why should it matter if I am LEO or not? He then states that is the written policy. If its written I could not find it. I asked Mr. Cooper for a copy of this written policy and was plain refused. He said maybe I should look on the website for this policy pertaining to Only L.E.O. may check their firearms upon arrival which I did and came up with nothing. Mr. Cooper then got on the phone supposedly with his supervisor who offered to have someone escort us out and give us a refund for our tickets. We left without getting any refund and did not stay for the game which was a big shame because it was the last game we had tickets for this year. But you know what, its not about the tickets or the cost of the tickets. Its an issue concerning 2nd amendment rights and mine being violated. I have been a Phillies Phan my whole life but I can simply not continue to patronize an organization who steps on these rights and doesn't respect its law abiding fans. All I would like to do is check my firearm upon arrival and enjoy a game. Not be instructed to put in my car and quite possibly arm a criminal. There is no reason why a L.E.O. should be given this privilege and a citizen of the United States with a License to legally carry and possess a firearm should not. I would greatly appreciate a response concerning this matter. Thank you very much.

B.D.


We'll see what comes of this.

 

[ATBackPackin]

Did you receive any response?

This is taken straight from there website.

Security
Additional security may be required for certain events at The Phillies' discretion. Supplemental staffing charges will apply. No weapons are permitted in the Ballpark unless carried by an on duty Philadelphia police officer or otherwise expressly approved by The Phillies. Anyone bringing a weapon to the Ballpark must check the weapon in at the Ballpark Command Center, even if the individual is licensed to carry the weapon.

http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/phi/ballpark/events/index.jsp?content=policies

 

[M-Cameron]

i actually work security at a sports stadium......

and official policy is, that if someone comes in with a firearm....that we escort them to our command center, they lock it up, and they can retrieve it after the event.

we dont send them to leave it in their car for that very reason, its a liability, and theres a chance it could be stolen.

 

[ATBackPackin]

Cameron, while Pennsylvania is pretty gun friendly, Philadelphia is not and I can see them purposefully lying to try to deter this kind of law abiding and common sense behavior.

Shawn

 

[X-Rap]

and official policy is, that if someone comes in with a firearm....that we escort them to our command center, they lock it up, and they can retrieve it after the event.

we dont send them to leave it in their car for that very reason, its a liability, and theres a chance it could be stolen.

Only to play the devils advocate but what happens when 5000 fans show up with guns, sounds like official policy has some potential for quite a rodeo. Might be a good place to see what happens when the system gets overloaded.
I think a couple years ago when UT had the Olympics the law was allow carry or provide a secure place to store at the venue. Any UT folks know if this is right or not and how it was handled?

 

[ATBackPackin]

I just called Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles stadium, and they most definitely have a firearms check in their command center.

P30, it sounds like you were just flat out lied to. I would take down to them a print out copy of their policy next time, if their is a next time.

Shawn

 

[M-Cameron]

Only to play the devils advocate but what happens when 5000 fans show up with guns, sounds like official policy has some potential for quite a rodeo. Might be a good place to see what happens when the system gets overloaded.
I think a couple years ago when UT had the Olympics the law was allow carry or provide a secure place to store at the venue. Any UT folks know if this is right or not and how it was handled?

well i agree, if there were an influx of fans with guns.....there would be a problem.

but that applies to anything where more people show up than expected.

if i had my way, ide let them continue to carry, guns dont bother me any......but its private property, and i dont make the rules.

that being said, in all my time working there, i have never once seen anyone declare a pistol.....so chances are slim they are going to be overloaded any time soon.