Disney guest charged

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RobXD9

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http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2007/12/9/disney_guest_found_with_gun.html


Guest Found With Gun At Disney Theme Park
Sunday, December 09, 2007 5:15:25 PM
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A woman is facing charges after deputies said she tried to get inside a Walt Disney World theme park with a loaded handgun.

Disney security spotted the semi automatic weapon on Mary Ann Richardson, 63, Sunday during a mandatory bag check at the Magic Kingdom.

Richardson was with other family members at the time.

She told security and later deputies that she travels with the gun, and forgot it was in her purse.

The gun was loaded with seven bullets.

Richardson is now charged with possession of a concealed weapon.

When it comes to weapons, strict, zero tolerance policies have been in place at all Central Florida theme parks, including Disney, since the Sept. 11 attacks

Something stinks here.

1) The last paragraph is fallacious.

2) She can't be charged unless she doesn't have a permit. But they don't say whether she had a valid permit or not.

Thoughts?
 
Don't carry off body. They don't wand people so if you have a normal holster they won't find it.

I've carried at Disneyland numerous times. Never had a worry about being discovered.

As to Disney managments reaction by having her arrested that was a bit much. They could have told her to leave it in the car, or even one of the lockers outside the park.

It would be interesting to know if the woman was staying at an on-park hotel if so do they prohibit guns in those and what do they do about it? In Anaheim I've stayed at two of the Disney hotels and I don't recall anything being said about weapons.
 
They don't wand people so if you have a normal holster they won't find it.

Perhaps. Not sure about DisneyWORLD but a theme park here in VA has enclosed metal detectors you have to walk through. Beeeeeep.
 
Warren,

If she did not have a permit, then I can understand the arrest. None of the news stations are saying yay or nay on the permit. (Big surprise right?)

I have a feeling this is going to be blown up more than necessary given the recent Nebraska and Colorado shootings.

I do enjoy the last paragraph of the story though. A "strict zero tolerance policy" eh? Yep. Cause you know, that really helped in Omaha. And Virgina Tech. And And And....

The funny thing is, Disney security might as well be mall security. They're a bunch of old fart know-nothings. So they catch one lady carrying a firearm - how many other guns do you suppose went right past security today? 2,000? 3,000?
 
Do you need a permit on private property? I don't know. It was still a very stupid reaction by the Disneydrones to call the cops. She is 63 YO and there with her family. Just a bad decision on their part.

Some parks do have more rigorous searches, Knotts Berry Farm will wand randomly. Though I never was.

My default is to leave the gun behind but it is not always possible. When we visit the park if there is a safe in the hotel room I will leave my gun there. If not it goes with me. Though after 10 hours of the park I really start to feel the weight.

Also it is so unlikely that you will have a problem inside the park that shooting would be the best solution for you could leave the gun behind with no worries. And there is virtually no chance of having a clear backstop. There will be a crowd nearby and any miss is very likely to strike some innocent.
 
Warren: Also it is so unlikely that you will have a problem inside the park that shooting would be the best solution for you could leave the gun behind with no worries. And there is virtually no chance of having a clear backstop. There will be a crowd nearby and any miss is very likely to strike some innocent.

Right.
There have been probably close to a dozen people mugged in the parking lots at Downtown Disney this year. Robbed at gunpoint.

You're right. No reason to carry at Disney. ;-)
 
They are making an example using a 63 year old lady?

There have been probably close to a dozen people mugged in the parking lots at Downtown Disney this year. Robbed at gunpoint.
If that is fact then a lawsuit is imminent.
 
ServiceSoon,

All the local stations in Orlando have covered it when the muggings have happened.

I don't doubt a lawsuit would be forthcoming. However Disney, in their ultimate glory will disavow any responsibility for the safety of its guests.

"We can keep you safe at all times...except for when you need to be kept safe," said a hypothetical Disney spokesperson.

Listen, the main reason this is news today is because of the Nebraska and Colorado shootings. Otherwise this doesn't make the news at all. I've talked to Disney security people before. They find guns regularly. They tell the owner to lock it in their car.
 
Maybe in Orlando it is advisable. In Anaheim I felt perfectly safe leaving the gun in the room. I'm not advocating people disarm, I made my choice and am fine with it.
 
She can't be charged unless she doesn't have a permit. But they don't say whether she had a valid permit or not.

Given, that she was charged with the possession of a concealed weapon, it seems likely that she did not have a concealed weapons permit. Otherwise, it would have been Mrs. Richardson please leave the park premises while you are carrying a firearm...the end. I run into a lot of older folks who just carry and don't worry about permits or have some sort of permit from some county sheriff they got 30 years ago making them an honorary deputy that they feels is all the permission they need (my grandfather for one).

If she does have a permit to carry thats valid in Florida, then she wouldn't be charged with carrying a concealed weapon at the worst it would have been criminal trespass and that only if she refused to leave (this if course being true for any reason when asked to leave a private business in Florida, weapons not withstanding). I carry into the parks all of the time, I just carry it on my person.

I am curious about the park in Virginia that uses metal detectors, what do they do let 10 people an hour into the park? I mean logistically how do you do it, you have ten of thousands of people trying to get into a park in when it opens, it must be insane especially in Virginia given that they have nearly as many concealed weapons permit holders as Florida and also do not recognize private signage as being restrictive to permit holders.
 
I was at Disney's MGM studios just last night (viewing Christmas lights- I have an annual pass) and I had my Sig229 on me.
 
We are all now a little safer because Mary Ann is off the streets.
ServiceSoon,

All the local stations in Orlando have covered it when the muggings have happened.

I don't doubt a lawsuit would be forthcoming. However Disney, in their ultimate glory will disavow any responsibility for the safety of its guests.

"We can keep you safe at all times...except for when you need to be kept safe," said a hypothetical Disney spokesperson.

Listen, the main reason this is news today is because of the Nebraska and Colorado shootings. Otherwise this doesn't make the news at all. I've talked to Disney security people before. They find guns regularly. They tell the owner to lock it in their car.
I agree with the reasoning for why this made the news.
I was at Disney's MGM studios just last night (viewing Christmas lights- I have an annual pass) and I had my Sig229 on me.
Admiting to a crime on a public message board. May God have mercy on your soul.
 
Admiting to a crime on a public message board. May God have mercy on your soul.

Oh, for Pete's sake! It's not a crime to carry a weapon at a theme park in Florida. Assuming divemedic has a concealed carry permit (a reasonable assumption on THR), he was perfectly legal.
 
I have a permit. It is not illegal to carry a concealed weapon in a theme park. Read the following and not that it does not mention theme parks, public gatherings, or any other nonsense:

FS 790.06(12):

(12) No license issued pursuant to this section shall authorize any person to carry a concealed weapon or firearm into any place of nuisance as defined in s. 823.05; any police, sheriff, or highway patrol station; any detention facility, prison, or jail; any courthouse; any courtroom, except that nothing in this section would preclude a judge from carrying a concealed weapon or determining who will carry a concealed weapon in his or her courtroom; any polling place; any meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality, or special district; any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof; any school, college, or professional athletic event not related to firearms; any school administration building; any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to such purpose; any elementary or secondary school facility; any career center; any college or university facility unless the licensee is a registered student, employee, or faculty member of such college or university and the weapon is a stun gun or nonlethal electric weapon or device designed solely for defensive purposes and the weapon does not fire a dart or projectile; inside the passenger terminal and sterile area of any airport, provided that no person shall be prohibited from carrying any legal firearm into the terminal, which firearm is encased for shipment for purposes of checking such firearm as baggage to be lawfully transported on any aircraft; or any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law. Any person who willfully violates any provision of this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

Edited to add:

Here is the charge details, from: the Orange County Clerk

Defendant: MARY ANN RICHARDSON Count #: 501
Offense Date: 12/9/2007 Citation #:
Complaint Date: 12/9/2007 Information Date:
Statute: 790.01(2)-2616 - CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPON FIREARM
Charge Level: FELONY Charge Degree: THIRD DEGREE

Florida Statute 790.01(2) is:

790.01 Carrying concealed weapons.--

(1) Except as provided in subsection (4), a person who carries a concealed weapon or electric weapon or device on or about his or her person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2) A person who carries a concealed firearm on or about his or her person commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(3) This section does not apply to a person licensed to carry a concealed weapon or a concealed firearm pursuant to the provisions of s. 790.06.
 
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I still say for the one gun they caught going into the parks, another 2,500+ went right past their Barney Fife security.

I've often thought it'd be humorous to go in packing as much as you possibly can. Have someone video tape as you go through security and have them bag check you. Even film the security gaurd etc.

Then go into the handicap stall and videotape everything they missed.

Would make for a beautiful YouTube video. (provided you were in fact licensed).
 
That's right. Didn't they do the video of the kid "packing" like 20 different guns in his pants? hahah That one was funny.
 
That's right. Didn't they do the video of the kid "packing" like 20 different guns in his pants? hahah That one was funny.
That was a sales video put out by Garrett Metal Detectors, trying to solicit schools to buy their detectors (and adopt school uniforms).

If I recall the 9/11 Logan Airport Security footage, their handheld metal detectors failed to pick up the boxcutters that set off the walk-through unit.
 
the area surrounding Disney and the other theme parks is probably the highest crime area outside of the ghetto in Orlando/orange county... i will say that the parks and the areas around them do have pretty comprehensive securtiy and the night spots are usually patrolled by off duty police/sheriff... parking lots and hotels are a whole different ball game...

i spent almost 4 years delivering food in the northern tourist areas (near universal) and i carried 100% of the time... i had several co-workers get mugged/robbed and know several business owners that were robbed at gun point in situations where shots were fired...

but the lady above should have known the statutes and had a permit... no excuse for that
 
I work for Disney (anaheim), if there's anyplace in the world that should allow, and encourage their employees to CCW, it's a high profile theme park. Sadly, the exact opposite is true. As difficult as it is to get canned from a union position at the park, a weapons violation is one sure way to do it. Shame.
 
We have gotten the Disney thing out of our system shortly after moving to Florida. There is something very wrong with paying almost $ 6.00 dollars for a coffee and brownie after being raped for admission and parking. Did I CCW ? I'll never tell.
 
We have gotten the Disney thing out of our system shortly after moving to Florida. There is something very wrong with paying almost $ 6.00 dollars for a coffee and brownie after being raped for admission and parking. Did I CCW ? I'll never tell.
 
We have gotten the Disney thing out of our system shortly after moving to Florida. There is something very wrong with paying almost $ 6.00 dollars for a coffee and brownie after being raped for admission and parking. Did I CCW ? I'll never tell.
 
Actually I spent 6 days in many of the Orlando theme parks and carried every one of them, rode the "Rockin Roller Coaster" too. Lets not hijack this thread with the what if scenario let me just say my pancake will not let go until I need it to.
Carry on your self N if you bag it they will check it.
 
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