Guns and roller coasters

[X-Rap]

I don't know but just as there is a discussion going on now about how a woman was shot in the heart by a IWB holstered gun and no one can quite figure it out I think one could imagine some strange things possibly happening with a gun on a roller coaster.
Just think that might rate on the list of the 10 places I wouldn't want to have a gun on. I don't know if I could think of even 10 but that is an idea for someone to do a poll on.

 

[Skribs]

Maybe not a poll, per say (since the options would be the posts) but yeah that would be an interesting thread.

 

[gunsandreligion]

After learning how amusement parks make money,( seriously, look at the piles of wallets, coins, and flipflops in the saftey nets under the roller coasters) ive had a rule to bring as little as possible into an amusement park.

 

[Rembrandt]

For you young pups, I remember seeing "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" attacking the roller coaster and those on it.....if only they had been carrying.

 

[JonathanE]

I've never lost my glasses on a roller coaster. They seem far less secure than my retention-strapped Colt.

 

[Sam1911]

Did a little more field testing last night. A good IWB will keep a 1911 securely in place through the most intense of the new rides that push some negative Gs.

 

[Dr. Sandman]

1. Just because one can does not mean that one should. What if someone had noticed that you had a gun and called the security team? The larger parks will treat that kind of situation very seriously, especially in light of recent events. They might get the swat team in there. I would imagine that you getting arrested for having a gun in the park would make a better show than the teenie boppers singing "rock Around the Clock", though. It would at least be very embarrassing and possibly worse (getting shot by an inexperienced team member, trumped up charges like resisting, psychological scarring of your kids seeing their Dad perp walked). If you can't be without your gun, then you should not go to a park where they are prohibited. Please obey the rules and don't ruin it for the rest of us.

2. If I was attacked at an amusment park I would force the attacker to eat some deep fried twinkies and a hot dog. If the grease poisoning doesn't get him, the botulism will!

 

[Sam1911]

1. Just because one can does not mean that one should. What if someone had noticed that you had a gun and called the security team? The larger parks will treat that kind of situation very seriously, especially in light of recent events. They might get the swat team in there. I would imagine that you getting arrested for having a gun in the park would make a better show than the teenie boppers singing "rock Around the Clock", though. It would at least be very embarrassing and possibly worse (getting shot by an inexperienced team member, trumped up charges like resisting, psychological scarring of your kids seeing their Dad perp walked).

Thank you for your concern, but that's not the way the law works here in PA, at all. I'm well-versed in the law and how such matters are dealt with.

Under the law, if someone sees my gun (the horror!) the park officials may ask me to leave. That's it. There is no crime committed and that's all there is to it. Calling the police, were it to happen (and this is PA, so I'm quite certain the park has such minor incidents come up regularly) will only result in them asking me to go put the gun in the car, or escorting me to the park gates as I, very politely, willingly leave.

If you can't be without your gun, then you should not go to a park where they are prohibited. Please obey the rules and don't ruin it for the rest of us.

I comprehend your fear. I don't share it, and I will continue to follow the law, as opposed to hand-wringing concerns about somehow ruining "it" (whatever "it" is?) for the rest of "us" (whoever "us" are). I CAN be without my gun, and often am, because I MUST be. Where I can be a little better defended, and a little more prepared to protect my loved ones, I WILL be.

You are free to do as you wish, though.

2. If I was attacked at an amusment park I would force the attacker to eat some deep fried twinkies and a hot dog. If the grease poisoning doesn't get him, the botulism will!

While very, very, VERY funny, this isn't a very thoughtful response to the problem of predators that do prey on populations of visiting, distracted, tired, money-toting folks who gather at these places, especially as they enter and leave.

If I knew where I might be accosted, I wouldn't go to that place at all. If I avoided any place were a violent attack is possible or even likely? I wouldn't go anywhere, ever.

 

[King_John_I]

This is a good point of knowing and trusting your equipment. Holsters are made for everything from free falling out of aircraft to concealed carry.

There is no substitute for experience when it comes to firearms.

 

[Manco]

Not so often IN the park, but in the parking lot, sometimes.

That's right, things like muggings aren't uncommon in parking lots, even at parks that seem to be rather safe. For instance, I nearly got mugged myself once in one of Disneyland's parking lots. I was unarmed (voluntarily followed the rules) but managed to avert the incident by pretending to be; I've probably told the whole story here at some point. There have been multiple reports of robberies and sexual assaults in the area, so it would have been nothing unique.

And even inside the park, sometimes the security force--which in the case of Disneyland usually appears very quickly and in force whenever necessary, seemingly out of nowhere--can sometimes falter. For instance, last year there was an incident involving an unruly guest that got a bit out of hand (infamously publicized on YouTube) because both security and the in-park Anaheim police presence happened to be tied up with two other emergency situations simultaneously (by coincidence). So obviously one never knows when one may need to defend oneself.

As for riding roller coasters while carrying, those who have a reason to be concerned about NDs and/or losing the weapon should consider getting a better holster, whether they actually ride roller coasters or not. I say this because your gun needs to be safe and secure even if you take a hard fall (more g force than most coasters can put on you) or get into a scuffle.

 

[Dr. Sandman]

Sam, such sharp criticism of my post! Here are some things to ponder.
1. I'm sure that you are an absolute expert in the laws of PA. What about FL, where the OP is from? What about my own humble IN? Our LGS here is full of people who claim to know the law. If I had a nickle for everytime I met one who did not know what he was talking about, then Mrs. Sandman and I could build that place on the lake and retire.
2. I think that the inability to visit an amusement park without a heater reflects a great deal of fear.
3. If you were invited to the home of a friend , and they asked you not to bring your gun, would you still go armed? I think that this reflects a great deal of rudeness. Don't go to their house if you are not ready to follow their rules! The amesment park is a business, owned by a person or a group of people. It's their park and their rules. Be polite and obey them or don't go to the park. Why would you want to support an anti-gun park anyway?
4. As far as ruining "it" for the rest of "us", I'll spell it out for you. Us are people who like guns and want them around, it is the ability to have guns. Right now, it is a right. As long as most people want it to be a right, it will likely remain so. If you engage in behaviour that may draw attention to guns in a negative way, you may convert neutral gun people into anti gun people. Some examples would be open carry (say, at a mall) when not needed, showing off your gun at a kids birthday party, strapping a bullet ridden deer to the roof of your SUV, or taking a sidearm where your hosts do not want it. That's what I was talking about.
5. I feel sorry for those who cannot laugh at a joke. But, then again, some people do not give a wit!

 

[Sam1911]

1. I'm sure that you are an absolute expert in the laws of PA. What about FL, where the OP is from? What about my own humble IN? Our LGS here is full of people who claim to know the law. If I had a nickle for everytime I met one who did not know what he was talking about, then Mrs. Sandman and I could build that place on the lake and retire.

What about those places? I'm sorry if I took your post to be a direct response to mine, if it was not. (Though my reactions remain unchanged.) If you are unsure of the laws in your area, inform yourself before you carry anywhere at all, certainly.

Or were you asking me to look up the laws in those places for you?

Indiana: http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/indiana.pdf

“No Firearm” signs in Indiana have no force of law unless they are posted on property that is specifically mentioned in State Law as being off limits to those with a Permit/License to Carry. If you are in a place not specifically mentioned in the law that is posted and they ask you to leave, you must leave. If you refuse to leave then you are breaking the law and can be charged. Even if the property is not posted and you are asked to leave you must leave.

Florida: http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/florida.pdf

“No Firearm” signs in Florida have no force of law unless they are posted on property that is specifically mentioned in State Law as being off limits to those with a Permit/License to Carry. If you are in a place not specifically mentioned in the law that is posted and they ask you to leave, you must leave. If you refuse to leave then you are breaking the law and can be charged. Even if the property is not posted and you are asked to leave you must leave.

Feel a little less better?

2. I think that the inability to visit an amusement park without a heater reflects a great deal of fear.

I think my desire to be as well defended as practicable reflects a great deal of critical thinking and balancing of risks.

3. If you were invited to the home of a friend , and they asked you not to bring your gun, would you still go armed? I think that this reflects a great deal of rudeness. Don't go to their house if you are not ready to follow their rules!

If a personal friend asked me that, we'd have a deep discussion about the matter and I'd either decide to agree, not visit, or possibly end the relationship, as his request would by necessity speak volumes of his opinion of me.

The amesment park is a business, owned by a person or a group of people. It's their park and their rules. Be polite and obey them or don't go to the park. Why would you want to support an anti-gun park anyway?

There's nothing polite or impolite about it at all. I will go patronize that business or I won't. I will follow the law. If they desire to (try to) fully disarm all patrons they are free to institute metal detectors, pat-downs and invasive searches. As long as they aren't doing anything more than a cursory bag-check, and thus not denying criminals, gang members, and predators from carrying their weapons ILLEGALLY, they also won't be deterring me from carrying mine LEGALLY.

Why would I patronize such a place? Because that's the option I have for such a resource. If there were two such places equally distant and they had differing policies, I might consider patronizing one over the other. But that's not the case, so a moot point. I can follow the law and still patronize that establishment on my terms, so I do. My choice. You may choose otherwise.

4. As far as ruining "it" for the rest of "us", I'll spell it out for you. Us are people who like guns and want them around, it is the ability to have guns. Right now, it is a right. As long as most people want it to be a right, it will likely remain so. If you engage in behaviour that may draw attention to guns in a negative way, you may convert neutral gun people into anti gun people. Some examples would be open carry (say, at a mall) when not needed, showing off your gun at a kids birthday party, strapping a bullet ridden deer to the roof of your SUV, or taking a sidearm where your hosts do not want it. That's what I was talking about.

Well, some of those things are public and some are not. Some might influence public opinion and some will not. All are up to the discretion of the individual and are choices we make for our own reasons. I don't see open carry as a negative thing only producing negative reactions. (The experiences of those members here who do so would indicate quite the opposite.) I don't see a privately held CONCEALED firearm as having any impact at all on public opinion --- UNLESS I AM FORCED TO USE IT.

And if I am forced to use it, I don't care one tiny little bit about public opinion at that point. I'll just be glad, oh so very glad, that I have it with me.

 

[Dr. Sandman]

Sam, I have made my points. It is up to reasonable people to agree or disagree with me. This is from the State of Indiana CCW FAQ page...

Does Indiana state law define areas where it is illegal to carry a handgun even
with a permit?
Yes, and for your information the following state statutes and administrative code
references are provided. Please be aware that local municipalities and counties may
have enacted ordinances that are not listed, primarily limiting firearms in public buildings
and property. Also, the right to carry a firearm may be restricted on private property and
businesses by the owners. Be attentive for signs warning of restricted areas when
carrying firearms into public places.

Here is the website...
http://www.in.gov/isp/files/firearms_FAQ_02_08.pdf