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WEBN Fireworks Open Carry/Firearm Education Get-Together (2015) - Cincinnati

BB62

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Every Labor Day weekend Cincinnati radio station WEBN and various corporate sponsors put on a festival called Riverfest, featuring food, drink, and entertainment, concluding with a HUGE fireworks show. The festival is on both the Ohio and Kentucky sides of the Ohio River in Cincinnati, and an estimated 500,000 people attend.

Last year, as with prior years, the sponsors prohibited "weapons", in violation of Ohio law and their contracts with Cincinnati. So the open carry event was part social, part education, and part protest - since multiple communications with WEBN/Clear Channel, the Cincinnati Police Department and the Cincinnati Law Department failed to receive a response. Finally, following a report on Channel 12 news, the City Solicitor acknowledged what was already known: that WEBN/Clear Channel's "no weapons" policy wasn't backed by law.

Despite this, it wasn't until the morning of the fireworks that signage was changed. Also, some "security" people insisted that guns and visible knives were still forbidden, and WEBN's website remained unchanged. Regardless, the event went off quite well, and was a great success in all aspects. Some of us also walked over to Kentucky and back.

THIS YEAR, although WEBN's website initially indicated "no weapons", it was changed a few days ago following my note to a representative of Clear Channel. So this year's open carry event will be part education and part social.

Everyone is hereby invited to come armed (** SIDEARMS ONLY **, please) openly, concealed, both, or neither, to the event and the fireworks afterward. Event meetup point and timing is to be determined and will be based on the number of people who accept the invitation.

Please read more on the Facebook event page, found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/882765588471581/
 

BB62

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* Communications Status Report *

Despite the passage of more than a week, and apparently demonstrating the low regard with which radio listeners and the citizenry, respectively, are held - neither WEBN/ClearChannel or the City of Cincinnati has responded to my e-mail of 8/12/15 (to Justin Tabas of ClearChannel/IHeartMedia, cc'ed to the authorities) which said in part:

"As you may recall, I communicated with you last year (8/21/14) regarding WEBN/Clear Channel's "weapons" prohibition at the WEBN Fireworks.

Despite the fact that last year neither you or anyone else from WEBN/Clear Channel, the Cincinnati Police Department or the Cincinnati Law Department contacted me back, after a TV report in which the City Solicitor finally acknowledged that the "prohibition" wasn't legal, signage was changed at the entrances to the event. Unfortunately, the signage wasn't changed until *the morning of the event*, "security" people at at least one entrance thought that weapons of all kinds (guns & knives) were still prohibited, and WEBN's website remained unchanged.

...So, I'm writing to ask 1) if whatever signage you have will will either reference "illegal" weapons or not reference weapons at all, and 2) if your "security" staff will be appropriately informed regarding Ohio law and WEBN's revised weapons policy.

In another vein, this communication is meant to notify the authorities that it is my intention to carry one or more *sidearms* at the event, openly and/or concealed. I trust that the appropriate parties will be notified of the legality of me doing so.

Also, and simply because last year I and others enjoyed not only the fireworks, but also the drinks, food, and social aspects of attending, it's quite possible that I will be joined by other similarly armed individuals this year, in what I hope and expect will be a strictly social get-together.

Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to hearing back from you as well as any other addressee of this e-mail."

No response is apparently par for the course!
 

Ken56

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Oct 29, 2010
Messages
368
Location
Dandridge, TN
Come on now, you (the sponsors, city officials) can't play the ignorance card by acknowledging an e-mail like this. Typical. For some "law breakers" ignorance is no excuse right? for others its a perfectly fine excuse. For those folks that wish to believe the tripe fed to them and willingly give up their rights then that's fine with them too. That's why most of us are here on OCDO. The info and insight of these posts are priceless, if only that it makes us do our own research to confirm the info imparted here. Thank you too all who are diligent to make others aware.
 

color of law

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Remember, WEBN and the city had notice a year ago. All BB62 really did is reassert that notice from a year ago. WEBN and the city cannot plea ignorance. Nor can any police officer placed on duty for the event plea ignorance.
 

Ken56

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Dandridge, TN
In spite of that we all know their tactics and that will not stop them from perpetuating and preying on peoples ignorance of the law, otherwise, carry, record and let the lawsuits begin. IANAL and this should not be construed as legal advice.
 

BB62

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In spite of that we all know their tactics and that will not stop them from perpetuating and preying on peoples ignorance of the law, otherwise, carry, record and let the lawsuits begin. IANAL and this should not be construed as legal advice.
The casual phrase "let the lawsuits begin" is understandable, but in real life legal activity is time-consuming, expensive, and unfortunately at times, unproductive.

This is why, whether one is doing something solo, or inviting others to an activity, it pays to put those in authority on notice.

While I'm not suggesting that one do so every time one OC's, doing so in certain circumstances tends to improve the perceptions of one's actions by the general public as well as being helpful if court activity is involved.
 
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BB62

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** location updated **

For those who may not be familiar with the Fireworks, I have changed the event location to where one entrance is located, that being at Sawyer Point Park.

If you look at Google Maps, for instance, use the Earth view and you can see the east entrance, which will be located underneath the squiggly line at the NE end of the park.

You could also come in the west entrance, located in-between the US Bank Arena and the Ohio River.

Either way, come down to the walkway **at the top of** what is called the "Serpentine Wall" (the undulating structure on the river, within Yeatman's Cove Park), and walk around until you see a fellow carrier.

The area near Wheel Fun Rentals, at the east end of Yeatman's Cove Park, is shaded, and it's quite possible that the group will be there.

Meet-up time is still to be determined, but be aware that the later you come, the further away the parking, and the larger the crowd.
 
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color of law

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I guess someone forgot to post.

Jeffry Smith
I'll be at Yeatman's Cove Park at 1:30 or so, entering via the east entrance. Last year people showed up at various times, for various amounts of time, and I expect the same this year. Please show up when you can, walk the length of the walkway, and I'm sure we'll find one another as we did last year.

Unfortunately, I didn't pay close attention to *when* the crowd starting getting heavy, but when it did there was no point in walking through the throngs of people while OCing, so after some of us crossed into KY, walked around and returned, we parked ourselves in a corner and talked until just prior to the fireworks. This year I'll pay closer attention to timing, so if there's a demand to do this again next year, things will be more defined.

I'm not sure what time the food booths open, but I'm sure they'll be open early afternoon.

To help people meet one another: there are four flagpoles in the park, on the walk just above the Serpentine Wall. They have from four to one blue rings around them about halfway up, the one with four rings being at the EAST end of the park. You may want to use the flagpoles as landmarks.

If you have questions or comments, please post them - otherwise, see you there!
 

BB62

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** Meetup Time **

I'll be at Yeatman's Cove Park at 1:30 or so, entering via the east entrance. Last year people showed up at various times, for various amounts of time, and I expect the same this year. Please show up when you can, walk the length of the walkway, and I'm sure we'll find one another as we did last year.

Unfortunately, I didn't pay close attention to *when* the crowd starting getting heavy, but when it did there was no point in walking through the throngs of people while OCing, so after some of us crossed into KY, walked around and returned, we parked ourselves in a corner and talked until just prior to the fireworks. This year I'll pay closer attention to timing, so if there's a demand to do this again next year, things will be more defined.

I'm not sure what time the food booths open, but I'm sure they'll be open early afternoon.

To help people meet one another: there are four flagpoles in the park, on the walk just above the Serpentine Wall. They have from four to one blue rings around them about halfway up, the one with four rings being at the EAST end of the park. You may want to use the flagpoles as landmarks.

If you have questions or comments, please post them - otherwise, see you there!

(thanks to Color of Law for posting this previously)
 

BB62

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** Parking **

NOTE: a fireworks regular posted says that the crowds will thicken after the Cincinnati Reds game, around 4 PM. The fact that the Reds are in town will affect parking too. Their game starts at 1:10 PM.

** The Reds were out of town last year **

If you're coming from Ohio, or coming from KY and want to park in Ohio, there is a lot west of Sawyer Point Park (which also has its own lot), on Butler Street, and another lot directly across from it. These are the closest lots to the East entrance to the event. There are other lots & garages around the East entrance, just drive around that area a bit.

If you want to park in KY, there are two links below which will help you, one of which is to the general transportation page on WEBN's website, and the other which is the Northern KY specific link found there.
Also, be aware that the bridges are closed at various times, for instance the Purple People bridge was closed at 6:00 PM a couple of years ago. Various automotive bridges close at 7:00 PM or so, depending on traffic.

General Transportation link: http://www.webn.com/…/transportation-street-closings-87540…/

KY specific link: http://img.ccrd.clearchannel.com/…/2015_riverfest_tank_info…
 

BB62

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** Parking Alert **

BEWARE: on the Ohio side, it seems like the City of Cincinnati has conspired with parking lot owners to drive people to parking lots. Numerous signs are posted on parking meters, and some on parking signs saying "No Parking after 11 AM Sunday".

Such signs can be found >> as far north as Eighth Street <<, and possibly further. * It's sickening. *

ALSO, meters in the area I drove in ** are no longer free on Sunday **.

In the lots I saw, prices ranged from $10-$30.
 
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