Concealed Carry At Florida Theme Parks

MR.G · April 8, 2002, 12:24 PM

Anybody know about concealed weapon searches at any of the Florida theme parks? Visited Busch Gardens, Tampa Florida, the other day. They have signs posted that metal detectors are in use in the park, and that they may search all carry bags. Didn't hear any beeps while I was there.

RikWriter · April 8, 2002, 04:58 PM

Anybody know about concealed weapon searches at any of the Florida theme parks? Visited Busch Gardens, Tampa Florida, the other day. They have signs posted that metal detectors are in use in the park, and that they may search all carry bags. Didn't hear any beeps while I was there.

I haven't been to Busch Gardens in a long time, but I was just at Disney back right after Christmas and they were searching all carry bags. No metal detectors though. I carried while I was there and so did my wife, onbody, without detection---it's totally legal, no matter what their preference in the matter is.
These are all new protocols instituted since 9-11...prior to that, there were never any searches. I find it a bit hard to imagine Busch Garden having metal detectors as this would cause ENORMOUS delays, but it might be true.

LonWilson · April 8, 2002, 07:17 PM

Busch Gardens is local, so I'll give them a call. This is wierd, since Anheiser Busch has been, as far as I know, been very pro-gun.

If this is just something Busch gardens did by themselves, gun owners can start a letter writing campaign to their parent, Anheiser Busch, and get the to make an exception for those who are lawfully allowed to carry (LEO's, carry permit holders, and the like).

lonegunman · April 8, 2002, 08:51 PM

I really doubt they have metal detectors in place, the confusion and delay this would cause would be tremendous.

I was at Disney World not long ago, and the bag search is a total joke. If you couldnt figure out a way to get a weapon past security there, you are not a threat with one anyway.

And sure, I let them look in our bag, like a nice little sheep should.... but he never noticed the 1911 under my shirt.

stickslinger · April 8, 2002, 10:02 PM

I just got back from Six Flags / Astro World in Houston. At the entrance to the parking lot and at intervals all the way to the main entrance were signs stating in effect "no concealed carry even if you do have a ccw." Before I got to the ticket counter I had to go through a metal detector and yes they confiscated my folding Buck knife with the 2" blade. I did get the knife back after haggling with the kid over which one was mine. The place was also loaded with Houston PD.

LonWilson · April 8, 2002, 10:10 PM

Was it a 30.06 sign? If it's not, it has no legal effect on you.

Btw, your concealed handgun license is only for concealed handguns, FYI.

mjustice · April 8, 2002, 10:38 PM

Six Flags is anti-gun as far as I am concerned. Even in NJ, where most people cannot carry, they make a point of disarming everyone. From what I have been told, even off-duty NJ LEOs cannot bring their guns. How screwed up is that?

While it sucks, at least they are consistent.

MJ

freeride21a · April 9, 2002, 03:34 AM

busch gardens tampa bay servers alcohol in the park....would that make a difference?

Hkmp5sd · April 9, 2002, 04:16 AM

The Florida CCW is not for handguns only. It allows the holder to carry any legal weapon concealed, with the exception of machineguns, which is the only weapon specifically banned.

Serving alcohol in the park would not prevent the holder from carrying in the park. The Florida statute allows for carry in places that serve alcohol, buy the holder may not enter the area designed primarily for the consumption of alcohol (ie the bar area in a resturaunt).

The way the parks are situated at Disney World and the ability to move between parks, including hotels, resturaunts and the Disney Village, it is completely impossible to prevent someone from taking a weapon into the park if they really want to.

Navy joe · April 9, 2002, 12:38 PM

I couldn't do it personally. First time that damned mouse screwed with me there would be pieces of foam ears everywhere. I see Disney kinda like I see Cali. An isolated fantasy land where the normal laws of human discourse, common sense, physics, etc. do not apply. Never been to either, don't plan on going.

Menehune · April 9, 2002, 02:29 PM

Six Flags in Atlanta has metal detectors in place at everygate, and almost everyone sets them off. They had some form of security looking into bags as you passed through, but no individual searches. Like I said, everyone was detting them off, they were muted, but the lights were flashing like crazy. I know I lit it up, but they did not stoo me.

April 8, 2002, 12:24 PM	#1
MR.G Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2001 Posts: 641	Concealed Carry At Florida Theme Parks Anybody know about concealed weapon searches at any of the Florida theme parks? Visited Busch Gardens, Tampa Florida, the other day. They have signs posted that metal detectors are in use in the park, and that they may search all carry bags. Didn't hear any beeps while I was there.

April 8, 2002, 04:58 PM	#2
RikWriter Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 1999 Posts: 2,104	Anybody know about concealed weapon searches at any of the Florida theme parks? Visited Busch Gardens, Tampa Florida, the other day. They have signs posted that metal detectors are in use in the park, and that they may search all carry bags. Didn't hear any beeps while I was there. I haven't been to Busch Gardens in a long time, but I was just at Disney back right after Christmas and they were searching all carry bags. No metal detectors though. I carried while I was there and so did my wife, onbody, without detection---it's totally legal, no matter what their preference in the matter is. These are all new protocols instituted since 9-11...prior to that, there were never any searches. I find it a bit hard to imagine Busch Garden having metal detectors as this would cause ENORMOUS delays, but it might be true.

April 8, 2002, 07:17 PM	#3
LonWilson Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2002 Location: Aloha, Oregon Posts: 759	Busch Gardens is local, so I'll give them a call. This is wierd, since Anheiser Busch has been, as far as I know, been very pro-gun. If this is just something Busch gardens did by themselves, gun owners can start a letter writing campaign to their parent, Anheiser Busch, and get the to make an exception for those who are lawfully allowed to carry (LEO's, carry permit holders, and the like).

April 8, 2002, 08:51 PM	#4
lonegunman Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2001 Location: deep in georgia Posts: 1,724	I really doubt they have metal detectors in place, the confusion and delay this would cause would be tremendous. I was at Disney World not long ago, and the bag search is a total joke. If you couldnt figure out a way to get a weapon past security there, you are not a threat with one anyway. And sure, I let them look in our bag, like a nice little sheep should.... but he never noticed the 1911 under my shirt.

April 8, 2002, 10:02 PM	#5
stickslinger Member Join Date: April 8, 2002 Posts: 62	I just got back from Six Flags / Astro World in Houston. At the entrance to the parking lot and at intervals all the way to the main entrance were signs stating in effect "no concealed carry even if you do have a ccw." Before I got to the ticket counter I had to go through a metal detector and yes they confiscated my folding Buck knife with the 2" blade. I did get the knife back after haggling with the kid over which one was mine. The place was also loaded with Houston PD.

April 8, 2002, 10:10 PM	#6
LonWilson Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2002 Location: Aloha, Oregon Posts: 759	Was it a 30.06 sign? If it's not, it has no legal effect on you. Btw, your concealed handgun license is only for concealed handguns, FYI.

April 8, 2002, 10:38 PM	#7
mjustice Member Join Date: September 12, 2001 Location: Nassau County, NY, US Posts: 93	Six Flags is anti-gun as far as I am concerned. Even in NJ, where most people cannot carry, they make a point of disarming everyone. From what I have been told, even off-duty NJ LEOs cannot bring their guns. How screwed up is that? While it sucks, at least they are consistent. MJ

April 9, 2002, 03:34 AM	#8
freeride21a Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2001 Location: occupied state of kommiefornia Posts: 273	busch gardens tampa bay servers alcohol in the park....would that make a difference?

April 9, 2002, 04:16 AM	#9
Hkmp5sd Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2001 Location: Winter Haven, Florida Posts: 4,303	The Florida CCW is not for handguns only. It allows the holder to carry any legal weapon concealed, with the exception of machineguns, which is the only weapon specifically banned. Serving alcohol in the park would not prevent the holder from carrying in the park. The Florida statute allows for carry in places that serve alcohol, buy the holder may not enter the area designed primarily for the consumption of alcohol (ie the bar area in a resturaunt). The way the parks are situated at Disney World and the ability to move between parks, including hotels, resturaunts and the Disney Village, it is completely impossible to prevent someone from taking a weapon into the park if they really want to.

April 9, 2002, 12:38 PM	#10
Navy joe Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2001 Location: VA, USA Posts: 1,804	I couldn't do it personally. First time that damned mouse screwed with me there would be pieces of foam ears everywhere. I see Disney kinda like I see Cali. An isolated fantasy land where the normal laws of human discourse, common sense, physics, etc. do not apply. Never been to either, don't plan on going.

April 9, 2002, 02:29 PM	#11
Menehune Junior Member Join Date: May 15, 2001 Posts: 13	Six Flags in Atlanta has metal detectors in place at everygate, and almost everyone sets them off. They had some form of security looking into bags as you passed through, but no individual searches. Like I said, everyone was detting them off, they were muted, but the lights were flashing like crazy. I know I lit it up, but they did not stoo me.