Lord Sega
Regular Member
Well, had a nice family vacation with my 2 girls (16 & 11) from 4-15 July driving around Oregon.
We went to: Oregon Zoo, OMSI, Skibowl, ran around north central Oregon rock hounding, and finished with Oaks Amusement Park.
Oaks Park security was friendly, but asked me to conceal or store in the car, since I was not going on rides there I CC'd.
At Skibowl I did go on the rides so I secured my firearm in the car prior to entering.
OMSI (private, non-profit), I CC'd there with no problems (the Mummies didn't even complain).
The Oregon Zoo was the only place that there were some issues, and I plan to send them the following letter.
Please read & critique, let me know of any changes or re-wording you would suggest.
I will post any reply from the Oregon Zoo here.
----------
To: The Oregon Zoo Director
CC: Oregon Head of Security
From: Doug xxxxxxx
Re: Carry of firearms at the Oregon Zoo
First, let me say that my daughters and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Oregon Zoo. Friday July 5th was a beautiful day, the facilities look top notch, and the animals were in great shape and fairly active until the heat of the day hit around lunchtime. It has been some time since I had visited and the Oregon Zoo is still as good as I remember it from my youth.
The reason for this letter is to help clarify the law regarding the carry of firearms at the Oregon Zoo. I have two concerns that I noticed from my visit that I would like to bring to your attention.
I carry a personal firearm everywhere I legally can for defense of my family, myself, and others. Note: I'm not an activist, just a believer in the US 2nd Amendment and the Oregon state Constitution. By choice I prefer to open carry (OC) instead of concealed carry (CC), but I do have an Oregon Concealed Handgun License (CHL). I just want to make sure that everyone is on the same page and to avoid anyone (myself included) getting arrested for misunderstood laws, rules, or regulations.
My first concern is the Zoo rules sign at the exterior ticket booth states that firearms (weapons) are not allowed except under ORS 166.173(2)(c) & ORS 166.370(3)(d). The wording of the sign is misleading in that it implies a CHL is required to carry at the Oregon Zoo, it is not. The Oregon Zoo is public property under Metro, a municipal corporation. As such, ORS 166.170 applies. Both loaded OC and CC are allowed under Oregon law with a CHL, but under Portland ordinance 14A.60.010, without a CHL the firearm must be unloaded.
After purchasing our tickets we proceeded to the interior entrance and handed over our tickets. At this point, I was asked to step to the side and await security since I was open carrying my firearm. Both the ticket person and the responding security person were polite, cordial, and did not escalate the situation, so I can see that staff & security have some training in dealing with firearm carriers.
My second concern is while talking with security there were three misconceptions:
1) Security asked to see my CHL, however a CHL is not required in Oregon to openly carry a firearm. But, since Portland has an unloaded firearm ordinance (14A.60.010, allowed under ORS 166.173) that a CHL exempts, and I was carrying loaded, I provided my CHL.
2) Security then stated that having a CHL required me to conceal my firearm, it does not. While having a CHL allows me the option to legally conceal, it is not a requirement.
3) Security stated that zoo regulations required me to conceal, however, as I stated to him, a zoo regulation does not override state law. Any zoo regulation restricting firearms, per ORS 166.170(2): “Ordinances that are contrary to this subsection are void.”
I would ask that you consider changing the misleading wording of the Zoo rules sign at the exterior ticket booth. I would humbly suggest:
“Under state & city law, lawful concealed carry and open carry of firearms are allowed on zoo premises.
Firearms must be unloaded unless in possession of an Oregon Concealed Handgun License (CHL).
Please keep all firearms holstered unless and until need arises”
OR, due to space constraints on the sign, simply:
“Legally carried weapons / firearms are allowed, per state law”
I would also suggest that your zoo security receive refresher training of Oregon state law & City of Portland ordinances for firearm carry. Again, both loaded OC and CC are allowed under Oregon law with a CHL, but under Portland ordinance 14A.60.010, without a CHL the firearm must be unloaded.
Again, there was minimal disruption of my family’s visit by zoo staff, and law enforcement was not called, I just wish to clarify some misconceptions by your security and to correct the misleading sign.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Doug xxxxxx
EDIT: response at #16 below
We went to: Oregon Zoo, OMSI, Skibowl, ran around north central Oregon rock hounding, and finished with Oaks Amusement Park.
Oaks Park security was friendly, but asked me to conceal or store in the car, since I was not going on rides there I CC'd.
At Skibowl I did go on the rides so I secured my firearm in the car prior to entering.
OMSI (private, non-profit), I CC'd there with no problems (the Mummies didn't even complain).
The Oregon Zoo was the only place that there were some issues, and I plan to send them the following letter.
Please read & critique, let me know of any changes or re-wording you would suggest.
I will post any reply from the Oregon Zoo here.
----------
To: The Oregon Zoo Director
CC: Oregon Head of Security
From: Doug xxxxxxx
Re: Carry of firearms at the Oregon Zoo
First, let me say that my daughters and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Oregon Zoo. Friday July 5th was a beautiful day, the facilities look top notch, and the animals were in great shape and fairly active until the heat of the day hit around lunchtime. It has been some time since I had visited and the Oregon Zoo is still as good as I remember it from my youth.
The reason for this letter is to help clarify the law regarding the carry of firearms at the Oregon Zoo. I have two concerns that I noticed from my visit that I would like to bring to your attention.
I carry a personal firearm everywhere I legally can for defense of my family, myself, and others. Note: I'm not an activist, just a believer in the US 2nd Amendment and the Oregon state Constitution. By choice I prefer to open carry (OC) instead of concealed carry (CC), but I do have an Oregon Concealed Handgun License (CHL). I just want to make sure that everyone is on the same page and to avoid anyone (myself included) getting arrested for misunderstood laws, rules, or regulations.
My first concern is the Zoo rules sign at the exterior ticket booth states that firearms (weapons) are not allowed except under ORS 166.173(2)(c) & ORS 166.370(3)(d). The wording of the sign is misleading in that it implies a CHL is required to carry at the Oregon Zoo, it is not. The Oregon Zoo is public property under Metro, a municipal corporation. As such, ORS 166.170 applies. Both loaded OC and CC are allowed under Oregon law with a CHL, but under Portland ordinance 14A.60.010, without a CHL the firearm must be unloaded.
After purchasing our tickets we proceeded to the interior entrance and handed over our tickets. At this point, I was asked to step to the side and await security since I was open carrying my firearm. Both the ticket person and the responding security person were polite, cordial, and did not escalate the situation, so I can see that staff & security have some training in dealing with firearm carriers.
My second concern is while talking with security there were three misconceptions:
1) Security asked to see my CHL, however a CHL is not required in Oregon to openly carry a firearm. But, since Portland has an unloaded firearm ordinance (14A.60.010, allowed under ORS 166.173) that a CHL exempts, and I was carrying loaded, I provided my CHL.
2) Security then stated that having a CHL required me to conceal my firearm, it does not. While having a CHL allows me the option to legally conceal, it is not a requirement.
3) Security stated that zoo regulations required me to conceal, however, as I stated to him, a zoo regulation does not override state law. Any zoo regulation restricting firearms, per ORS 166.170(2): “Ordinances that are contrary to this subsection are void.”
I would ask that you consider changing the misleading wording of the Zoo rules sign at the exterior ticket booth. I would humbly suggest:
“Under state & city law, lawful concealed carry and open carry of firearms are allowed on zoo premises.
Firearms must be unloaded unless in possession of an Oregon Concealed Handgun License (CHL).
Please keep all firearms holstered unless and until need arises”
OR, due to space constraints on the sign, simply:
“Legally carried weapons / firearms are allowed, per state law”
I would also suggest that your zoo security receive refresher training of Oregon state law & City of Portland ordinances for firearm carry. Again, both loaded OC and CC are allowed under Oregon law with a CHL, but under Portland ordinance 14A.60.010, without a CHL the firearm must be unloaded.
Again, there was minimal disruption of my family’s visit by zoo staff, and law enforcement was not called, I just wish to clarify some misconceptions by your security and to correct the misleading sign.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Doug xxxxxx
EDIT: response at #16 below
Last edited: