ShooterMcGavin
Regular Member
Hi all. I just wanted to share my experience from last weekend. I attended the Kent Valley Ice Centre for some skating. I was wearing my Ruger SP101 OWB in a retention holster. I was wearing a loose-fitting fleece, but I was not worried about concealment in the least. My Ruger was exposed once in a while as I skated, but I did have a fall where people noticed my gun. I dusted myself off and went to get off the ice, when the manager of the rink motioned to talk to me. Here are the basics of the conversation (paraphrased):
He: Do you have a concealed gun?
I: Yes.
He: I assume or... do you have a concealed license? If you have a concealed license, then it needs to be concealed.
I: I have a license, but the law does not require me to conceal it.
He: Some people saw that you have a gun and it can't be on the ice.
I: Why?
He: It can be carried in the areas around the ice but it could go off if you fall.
I: No, it can't go off unless the trigger is pulled.
He: It could fall out of the holster...
I: No, I have a locking holster. It won't come out even if you grab it and pull. It is like what the police use.
He: Yeah, but police don't go skating on the ice.
I: Umm, ok?
He: I'm a gun owner and I leave my gun in my car. We still don't allow guns on the ice.
I: I haven't heard a good reason why guns cannot be brought onto the ice. If it is simply your policy, then that is a different reason.
He: That is our policy.
I: Are you the manager or may I speak with one?
He: I am the general manager.
I: Is the rink owned by a corporation, a franchise, or tax funded?
He: It is privately owned.
I: Ok. I want to be in compliance with your policies, as I am with all laws. Can you please provide me with your written policy on firearms in your facility?
He: It's just that, we don't want them on the ice. I mean, kids could get curious and try to touch it...
I: Nobody touches my gun, not even me.
He: I'm not saying you would but.... We have found bullets in the ice when we do maintenance, etc....
I: Well, I don't use my gun, unless it is for lawful self defense. I am a member of many firearms organizations and, if it is your policy to forbid firearms in sections of your facility, I would like to see it in writing, so that I can reference the exact policy in my discussions with others who might want to visit here.
He: Ok. Let me get back to you.
I: Thanks.
5 minutes passed...
He: I just spoke with the owner of the rink. You were right, it is not against our policy for you to carry your firearm onto the ice. It just needs to be concealed.
I: Thanks. If you follow state law, it does not need to be concealed.
He: I will have to read up on some of the laws about firearms...
I: Please speak with the owner and tell him that I sincerely thank him for his understanding and compliance with the state's firearms laws.
He: I will.
I: Thanks. Bye.
I wasn't going to get into an OC discussion with him. I felt I had won enough, with him at least learning that it is not against the law or even their policy to carry onto the ice. He was very polite and very nice to talk to. My experience was a very good one and I highly recommend taking a trip to Kent Valley for some ice skating
He: Do you have a concealed gun?
I: Yes.
He: I assume or... do you have a concealed license? If you have a concealed license, then it needs to be concealed.
I: I have a license, but the law does not require me to conceal it.
He: Some people saw that you have a gun and it can't be on the ice.
I: Why?
He: It can be carried in the areas around the ice but it could go off if you fall.
I: No, it can't go off unless the trigger is pulled.
He: It could fall out of the holster...
I: No, I have a locking holster. It won't come out even if you grab it and pull. It is like what the police use.
He: Yeah, but police don't go skating on the ice.
I: Umm, ok?
He: I'm a gun owner and I leave my gun in my car. We still don't allow guns on the ice.
I: I haven't heard a good reason why guns cannot be brought onto the ice. If it is simply your policy, then that is a different reason.
He: That is our policy.
I: Are you the manager or may I speak with one?
He: I am the general manager.
I: Is the rink owned by a corporation, a franchise, or tax funded?
He: It is privately owned.
I: Ok. I want to be in compliance with your policies, as I am with all laws. Can you please provide me with your written policy on firearms in your facility?
He: It's just that, we don't want them on the ice. I mean, kids could get curious and try to touch it...
I: Nobody touches my gun, not even me.
He: I'm not saying you would but.... We have found bullets in the ice when we do maintenance, etc....
I: Well, I don't use my gun, unless it is for lawful self defense. I am a member of many firearms organizations and, if it is your policy to forbid firearms in sections of your facility, I would like to see it in writing, so that I can reference the exact policy in my discussions with others who might want to visit here.
He: Ok. Let me get back to you.
I: Thanks.
5 minutes passed...
He: I just spoke with the owner of the rink. You were right, it is not against our policy for you to carry your firearm onto the ice. It just needs to be concealed.
I: Thanks. If you follow state law, it does not need to be concealed.
He: I will have to read up on some of the laws about firearms...
I: Please speak with the owner and tell him that I sincerely thank him for his understanding and compliance with the state's firearms laws.
He: I will.
I: Thanks. Bye.
I wasn't going to get into an OC discussion with him. I felt I had won enough, with him at least learning that it is not against the law or even their policy to carry onto the ice. He was very polite and very nice to talk to. My experience was a very good one and I highly recommend taking a trip to Kent Valley for some ice skating