CCW at an amusement park??

[Animal_Mother556]

Went to a local amusement park with my girlfriend/squeeze the other day. On the way there I kept trying to imagine myself on the different rides, and thinking, "will my CCW rig handle that without my gun falling out??" I ultimately decided that it wasn't worth the risk so I left the full-sized Kimber and Crossbreed in the car. Now, while I was on the rides, I did try to pay attention to g-forces and "what's going where" on my body. I THINK I would have been okay to carry it.

Anyone else have any experiences carrying in a fun-park? Bad or good?

Thanks

[ShipWreck]

In Tx, if the place is open 180 days or more in a year, you cannot carry into an amusement park....

[CCK]

I carry everywhere there isn't a metal detector. If I fear my firearm may be exposed; I don't go there.

[maximus83]

Interesting question. We just took our kids to a park a couple weeks ago, and I wondered about the retention issue too. Obviously the regs on CCW are going to be park-specific, so it's worth checking the rules online. As for retention issues, if you're going on wild rides that will have you stopping, hanging upside down for extended periods, and possibly scrunching up against others (as I did), it's obviously a lot safer to leave the gun in the car. There are plenty of quality holsters with good retention that would probably do ok in this situation, but I didn't want to find out the hard way, so I left mine behind.

[ST911]

Anyone else have any experiences carrying in a fun-park? Bad or good? Thanks

No problems carrying on various rides, roller coasters, and attractions at different parks. Some will require body weight against, or hands/feet covering the holster to ensure retention, but it can be done.

Exp... In a pocket holster, cover with a hand. With an ankle holster, place the opposing foot over the top of the holster. With a belt holster, an elbow over the top or body weight against the structure of the ride.

It should NOT be attempted by the inattentive, boneheads, or casual carriers, nor by those using one-size-fits-all or bottom end gear.

[jck397]

I'm all for carrying anywhere where you can pull it off, and I'm sure with a good holster the gun wouldn't go flying, but I'm thinking of a busy day at Disney, for example, and wondering if there's any situation where you could actually get a clean shot with a good backdrop. Just something else to think about.

Our state fair is in a very bad neighborhood, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to have something to/from the car. I'd probably go with my 642 and a pocket holster for the least chance of flying out. But outside of that situation, even though an amusement park is a great soft target, given the backdrop situation and retention issues, I'd go cold.

[Animal_Mother556]

As far as being LEGAL to carry into the park, there were no posted signs and the website did not have it listed in the "rules and regs" of the park.

This park doesn't really have any rides that are freakin' nuts (placing your nose in your crotch repeatedly), so I think next time we go, I am gonna go for it. All of the rides that we went on, I would have been able to place a body part, namely my elbow, over the top of the rig for extra insurance. I will let you guys know how it turns out if/when we go again.

Thank ya much

[Animal_Mother556]

given the backdrop situation and retention issues, I'd go cold.

I carry in malls when they are busy as hell, I carry at outdoor festivals/functions that are packed...I guess the massive amount of people never bothered me much. Just because I have it, doesn't mean I have to smoke someone, i guess. It's all situational dependent.

Thanks for your $0.02, man.

[SteveL]

My wife used to work at Disney World and Universal Orlando and neither place permits carry on their property. Now having said that, odds are that if you choose to carry your sidearm, and do so RESPONSIBLY (more on this below) that you won't have any problems because noone will ever know. Keep in mind though that an amusement park is private property, despite the fact that many people think otherwise. It may not be against the law to carry there, but you will be trespassed from the property if you're caught with a firearm. Given the cost of your ticket, and the fact that anyone else in your party may or may not be kicked out with you, this could be rather inconvenient to say the least.

Also keep in mind that your usual method of carry may not work out so well at an amusement park. My wife used to tell me stories about having to shut down a ride and send maintenance and security out to recover someone's pistol that had fallen out of their holster while they were upside down riding a roller coaster. Best case scenario it would land in one of the nets above the crowd. Then there are the times that it would end up in the water somewhere or just go falling to the concrete among the crowd.

Also NEVER EVER put anything valuable, especially your sidearm, in any of the lockers they have on site. IIRC the last time I was at Universal Studios they had removed those lockers because they are robbed so often. Also don't trust anyone standing at the lockers offering to help you with them. These people don't work there, although they will almost certainly be wearing a polo with an embroidered logo (which they bought or stole from one of the gift shops).

I'm not trying to talk you out of carrying your pistol while at an amusement park. People just need to realize that visiting an amusement park puts you in circumstances you don't normally encounter, like being upside down and getting slung around so that your untucked shirt may move and reveal anything at your waist. A fanny pack in lieu of your normal IWB/OWB with no retention might be something to think about. It certainly won't make you look out of place at an amusement park. However, they tend to check bags as you enter now so you'll have to keep that in mind also.

[Animal_Mother556]

Solid points...thank you very much, sir.