jaredbelch
Founder's Club Member
imported post
Hogle Zoo claims it's private property - Uses Salt Lake PD to force me to leave or conceal.
I went to the zoo yesterday with my family and as usual was open carrying. I was approached twice, once by zoo security and once by 3 Salt Lake City Police Officers and one zoo manager.
Here's what happened.
Zoo Security (Brett): How's it going man
me: how are you
Brett:uh people get nervous when they see a gun in the zoo
me: ok
Brett:can I see some Identification or reason you are carrying a gun in the zoo
Me: it's legal here. The state of Utah you don't need to have ID
Brettk so you're not with a ... a police department or
Me: No sir
Brett: you're just walking around with a gun on you?
me:Yep just an armed citizen
Brett:It makes people nervous at the zoo you know with the animals, so we had a report and I thought I'd come talk to you
Me:Yeah, cool, I appreciate you talking to me
Brett:You don't want to put it away to where people can't see it?
Me:I can't hide it with these clothes, it's on an outside waistband holster and won't hide. If I lift my arms it pops right out. But I usually carry it open anyway - (I got pretty flustered here and wasn't sure what to say)
Brett:alrighty
me:I appreciate you checking up on me though
Brettk (starts leaving)
me:what was your name?
Brett:Brett
me: Brett? - Jared - thanks
Salt Lake City Police Officer Carling:How's your day at the zoo today?
Me:Good how are you?
Carling:Is your family inside?
me: uh yeah
Carling:Ok - We're here because I'm sure your aware with the issue of security and your open carry. And they have concern because it's brought up some alarm with other visitors here at the zoo.
me: ok
Carling:few options here, they would like it I guess to give you the option of concealing it, or at least pulling your shirt over it so it's not visible or taking it to your car or just leaving
Me: ok um isn't the zoo owned by the city?
Carling:It's private
Me: It is private?
2nd officer -Hunter (sgt):No
Carling:it's private that's recieving funds they just get grants but it's owned by the
Hunter: (Cuts in) It's a grey area .... that's why we're not requiring it, but we're trying to meet you half way we just request that you just cover it up.
Me: ok, so .. and if I don't?
Carling:well do you have a concealed carry permit?
Me: I do
Carling:you do, ok.
Me: So I'm trying to find out what the... if I don't then what happens?
Carling and Hunter: ...Nothing (laughing)
Me: Nothing, (laughing) ok
Hunter:But we are trying...
Me: I appreciate your concern, I do appreciate the concern
Hunter:look around, you have to understand the concern of everyone around you. I think you do have a right, and I appreciate the right...
Carling:I carry when I'm off duty
Me: It's protection, there's a deterrent factor, we all have that right.
Hunter:I understand we all have that right
Me: I think if the Zoo want's me to leave then they can ask me to leave. If not, I'd just like to go about my business.
Hunter:you could just take your shirt and cover it up.
Me: I could (sarcasm)
Hunter:isn't that a good compromise?
Me: If there is a legal requirement, then I believe it would be agood [compromise].
Carling:I guess the issue has been made and ... it's a grey area and we have options on both sides.
Me: what does that mean?
Carling: you have options where you can stay and enjoy but make that little exception because it is a private facility. but at the same time so it is kind of a quasi private public facility.
Hunter: they're here to ask you to leave (zoo manager? arrives)
Carling: or if those ... aren't met you have to leave.
Me:They've asked me to leave?
Carling: (uninteligible) yes
Me: ok that's what I asked you if I don't what are my options
Carling:I'm giving you those options
Me: so they are asking me to leave - the Zoo is asking me to leave or cover up?
Carling: right
Me:Great (I cover the gun with my shirt)
Carling: (to zoo manager) are you satisfied with that?
Zoo Manager Gunner:Yeah
Officer Carling- Jennifer Carling Police Officer
Officer Hunter?-(sgt)
Officer Benzon- Jared S Benzon Police Officer
Gunner (zoo manager)-
So I talked to Clark yesterday and he called to zoo to find out why they are saying they aren't owned by the City. They are going to get back with him on Monday.
So just a heads up if you plan on OC'ing at the zoo, they are not ok with it. Once we are sure it's definitely owned by the city, I'll be going back and anyone who wants to is welcome to come. We have to make sure they know that they can't bully people around and claim they don't fall under preemption.
Hogle Zoo claims it's private property - Uses Salt Lake PD to force me to leave or conceal.
I went to the zoo yesterday with my family and as usual was open carrying. I was approached twice, once by zoo security and once by 3 Salt Lake City Police Officers and one zoo manager.
Here's what happened.
Zoo Security (Brett): How's it going man
me: how are you
Brett:uh people get nervous when they see a gun in the zoo
me: ok
Brett:can I see some Identification or reason you are carrying a gun in the zoo
Me: it's legal here. The state of Utah you don't need to have ID
Brettk so you're not with a ... a police department or
Me: No sir
Brett: you're just walking around with a gun on you?
me:Yep just an armed citizen
Brett:It makes people nervous at the zoo you know with the animals, so we had a report and I thought I'd come talk to you
Me:Yeah, cool, I appreciate you talking to me
Brett:You don't want to put it away to where people can't see it?
Me:I can't hide it with these clothes, it's on an outside waistband holster and won't hide. If I lift my arms it pops right out. But I usually carry it open anyway - (I got pretty flustered here and wasn't sure what to say)
Brett:alrighty
me:I appreciate you checking up on me though
Brettk (starts leaving)
me:what was your name?
Brett:Brett
me: Brett? - Jared - thanks
Salt Lake City Police Officer Carling:How's your day at the zoo today?
Me:Good how are you?
Carling:Is your family inside?
me: uh yeah
Carling:Ok - We're here because I'm sure your aware with the issue of security and your open carry. And they have concern because it's brought up some alarm with other visitors here at the zoo.
me: ok
Carling:few options here, they would like it I guess to give you the option of concealing it, or at least pulling your shirt over it so it's not visible or taking it to your car or just leaving
Me: ok um isn't the zoo owned by the city?
Carling:It's private
Me: It is private?
2nd officer -Hunter (sgt):No
Carling:it's private that's recieving funds they just get grants but it's owned by the
Hunter: (Cuts in) It's a grey area .... that's why we're not requiring it, but we're trying to meet you half way we just request that you just cover it up.
Me: ok, so .. and if I don't?
Carling:well do you have a concealed carry permit?
Me: I do
Carling:you do, ok.
Me: So I'm trying to find out what the... if I don't then what happens?
Carling and Hunter: ...Nothing (laughing)
Me: Nothing, (laughing) ok
Hunter:But we are trying...
Me: I appreciate your concern, I do appreciate the concern
Hunter:look around, you have to understand the concern of everyone around you. I think you do have a right, and I appreciate the right...
Carling:I carry when I'm off duty
Me: It's protection, there's a deterrent factor, we all have that right.
Hunter:I understand we all have that right
Me: I think if the Zoo want's me to leave then they can ask me to leave. If not, I'd just like to go about my business.
Hunter:you could just take your shirt and cover it up.
Me: I could (sarcasm)
Hunter:isn't that a good compromise?
Me: If there is a legal requirement, then I believe it would be agood [compromise].
Carling:I guess the issue has been made and ... it's a grey area and we have options on both sides.
Me: what does that mean?
Carling: you have options where you can stay and enjoy but make that little exception because it is a private facility. but at the same time so it is kind of a quasi private public facility.
Hunter: they're here to ask you to leave (zoo manager? arrives)
Carling: or if those ... aren't met you have to leave.
Me:They've asked me to leave?
Carling: (uninteligible) yes
Me: ok that's what I asked you if I don't what are my options
Carling:I'm giving you those options
Me: so they are asking me to leave - the Zoo is asking me to leave or cover up?
Carling: right
Me:Great (I cover the gun with my shirt)
Carling: (to zoo manager) are you satisfied with that?
Zoo Manager Gunner:Yeah
Officer Carling- Jennifer Carling Police Officer
Officer Hunter?-(sgt)
Officer Benzon- Jared S Benzon Police Officer
Gunner (zoo manager)-
So I talked to Clark yesterday and he called to zoo to find out why they are saying they aren't owned by the City. They are going to get back with him on Monday.
So just a heads up if you plan on OC'ing at the zoo, they are not ok with it. Once we are sure it's definitely owned by the city, I'll be going back and anyone who wants to is welcome to come. We have to make sure they know that they can't bully people around and claim they don't fall under preemption.