Do people carry guns in zoos in the USA?

[Westcoastperson]

Ok, I understand the history of proud gun ownership and carrying and that it is rooted in the revolutionary war against the British and in the wars against the indigenous tribes (which resulted in genocide).

But even if we foreigners know the historical roots of this and the whole first ammendment rights etc it is not going to make us understand any more easily the toxic love affair that people in the USA seem to have with purchasing, carrying and committing atrocities with firearms.

Ok let me making it easier. Why does England still have the Queen. She no longer holds any real power. She is still there and people still adore her because they always have had a Queen. It’s what they have been raised with. That is how Americans feel with guns. Also it is shown not as a sign of death but a sign of power. In American culture many people seen with guns are seen as powerful people who can handle powerful weapons.

 

[TinoPup]

Ok let me making it easier. Why does England still have the Queen. She no longer holds any real power. She is still there and people still adore her because they always have had a Queen. It’s what they have been raised with. That is how Americans feel with guns. Also it is shown not as a sign of death but a sign of power. In American culture many people seen with guns are seen as powerful people who can handle powerful weapons.

I really disagree with this

 

[Jambo]

I really disagree with this

I agree to disagree! The fact that the use of guns as a symbol of power is crazy in itself. Are you going to threaten someone with their life just to be powerful?? I don’t understand how guns and power can be a good thing.

I’m not trying to be offensive here, but take a look at the US; there are a lot of injuries, murders and accidental deaths caused by guns. In a country such as New Zealand, they don’t have that problem because they don’t allow the legal use of guns for the public. It has seemingly prevented the high scale attacks, like those in the US that happen far to often for my liking.

I also don’t see why you should need to be ‘powerful’ when you are visiting a zoo?

 

[Westcoastperson]

I really disagree with this

Ok then that’s how I was raised with it and that was always how my family treated guns but if it’s different I wouldn’t be shocked.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Ok let me making it easier. Why does England still have the Queen. She no longer holds any real power. She is still there and people still adore her because they always have had a Queen. It’s what they have been raised with. That is how Americans feel with guns. Also it is shown not as a sign of death but a sign of power. In American culture many people seen with guns are seen as powerful people who can handle powerful weapons.

So you are equating a constitutional monarchy with a TECH-9 semi automatic ?

I'm not keen at all on monarchies (constitutional or otherwise) but obviously there is a difference between an ancient old crone in a crown and a semi automatic weapon which fires 32 rounds per minute and has been used in school shootings and massacres etc.

 

[Westcoastperson]

So you are equating a constitutional monarchy with a TECH-9 semi automatic ?

I'm not keen at all on monarchies (constitutional or otherwise) but obviously there is a difference between an ancient old crone in a crown and a semi automatic weapon which fires 32 rounds per minute and has been used in school shootings and massacres etc.

It's not the ideas themselves but why they are both still around. They have been in their countries for ages ad aren't changed partially because people fear change.
Also we should probably revert back to the original topic this conversation has drifted very far away from the main point of the thread.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

It's not the ideas themselves but why they are both still around. They have been in their countries for ages ad aren't changed partially because people fear change.
Also we should probably revert back to the original topic this conversation has drifted very far away from the main point of the thread.

Well yes I agree with you there, both monarchies and deadly assault weapons in the hands of civilians are reactionary and I would say this is why they should both be consigned to the past.

 

[ChIkEn NuGrEt]

They usually are banned, but unless they make everyone go through metal detectors, it isn't going to stop a lot of people.

@ChIkEn NuGrEt, you have a pretty idealized view of Texas, it seems. It's very far from a few people.

It may just be the area I live in. Fort Worth isn’t as bad as most of the other major Texan cities.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I agree. This went from a relevant aside about dealing with smokers to a debate about gun control and guns' role in society, and frankly I don't think this is the appropriate forum or context for that kind of discussion.

To return to the original topic: a behavior that I've only ever seen the results of but know I would confront if I witnessed it is throwing coins into animal pools; I remember during my earlier visits seeing the bottom of LA's tomistoma pool littered with peoples' loose change. I cannot understand for the life of me why people feel the need to throw coins in bodies of water that are not wishing wells.

Otherwise I've only occasionally given stern requests not to bang on viewing windows or holler at sensitive animals. In general I've found that people become defensive or sullen in the face of confrontation, rather than becoming thoughtful about their behavior.

I think it arose as a discussion on people carrying weapons in US zoos and it is relevant because as @TinoPup mentioned there is a danger where a potential confrontation meets a normalized culture of concealed carry of firearms.

 

[Batto]

The Queen and her family might be a costly anachronism for the British taxpayer. However, the days of the British monarchy killing people are over. (Hopefully...) These days, they only attract tourists and the yellow press, not school shootings, killing sprees and trigger-happy cops. I'm not adversed to guns in general and, as a non-American, have no need to lecture you, but given the ongoing development and increased fatalities, one might want to reconsider such traditions. The example of other countries shows that you can have your private guns and still not have to practise regular school shooting drills.

Don't at least some American zoos outlaw the private carrying of guns on zoo grounds in their company rules?

 

[Coelacanth18]

I think it arose as a discussion on people carrying weapons in US zoos and it is relevant because as @TinoPup mentioned there is a danger where a potential confrontation meets a normalized culture of concealed carry of firearms.

I know why it arose. TP's initial mention of it was relevant and the potential danger or consideration of that as a factor is relevant; I was saying the overall debate about where people should be allowed to carry firearms and the role of guns in society is not relevant to this discussion. Even if it was, I still don't think this is the right place to discuss sensitive topics like that.

Don't at least some American zoos outlaw the private carrying of guns on zoo grounds in their company rules?

Without encouraging further debate or opinions about it, I can clarify this for you. Yes, many American zoos ban the private carrying of guns on zoo grounds. However, many zoos cannot enforce such a ban because they are located on public property, and are thus subject to their respective state's laws concerning firearm carrying in public spaces. Zoos that privately own their property outright can ban whatever they want, and often do. Federal property also bans civilian firearm carrying.

 

[Batto]

@Coelacanth18 : thank you for the clarification. I'm glad that I don’t have to worry about that at WdG.

Without encouraging further debate or opinions about it,

Would that be such a bad thing?

 

[Coelacanth18]

Would that be such a bad thing?

For our society in general, not at all. For this unrelated public Internet forum where people get into heated arguments about whether a zoo should be breeding a random species of gazelle, I'm not so sure

 

[Batto]

For our society in general, not at all. For this unrelated public Internet forum where people get into heated arguments about whether a zoo should be breeding a random species of gazelle, I'm not so sure

Oh, please cut your fellow Zoochatters some slack. After all, gazelle breeding IS a far more emotionally charged topic than international differences in gun control. At least on ZooChat.

 

[imaginarius]

It is really a sad state of affairs, actually. I’ve seen a guy whip out a pistol and point it jokingly at an elephant and say, “Imma get me a trophy” then laugh about it with friends. No zoo personnel were around to see, and I was too afraid to report him to the staff about it. Which I deeply regret, ten years later. I won’t say where it happened, but... yeah. He could have killed that poor animal. The US is a crazy place.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

It is really a sad state of affairs, actually. I’ve seen a guy whip out a pistol and point it jokingly at an elephant and say, “Imma get me a trophy” then laugh about it with friends. No zoo personnel were around to see, and I was too afraid to report him to the staff about it. Which I deeply regret, ten years later. I won’t say where it happened, but... yeah. He could have killed that poor animal. The US is a crazy place.

Doubt he would have had the skill to kill an elephant with a pistol even if he wanted to, I think he would have needed something of a much higher calibre for that.

Anyway, yes , a disturbing scene.

 

[Jambo]

It is really a sad state of affairs, actually. I’ve seen a guy whip out a pistol and point it jokingly at an elephant and say, “Imma get me a trophy” then laugh about it with friends. No zoo personnel were around to see, and I was too afraid to report him to the staff about it. Which I deeply regret, ten years later. I won’t say where it happened, but... yeah. He could have killed that poor animal. The US is a crazy place.

Doubt he would have had the skill to kill an elephant with a pistol even if he wanted to, I think he would have needed something of a much higher calibre for that.

Anyway, yes , a disturbing scene.

That is absolutely absurd and the worst thing I have ever heard of happening in a Zoo! You definitely should have spoken up and reported that guy. Even if he intended it as a joke, he still could have accidentally pulled the trigger or something. It blows my mind that some people actually do these things.

 

[Zooplantman]

It is really a sad state of affairs, actually. I’ve seen a guy whip out a pistol and point it jokingly at an elephant and say, “Imma get me a trophy” then laugh about it with friends. No zoo personnel were around to see, and I was too afraid to report him to the staff about it. Which I deeply regret, ten years later. I won’t say where it happened, but... yeah. He could have killed that poor animal. The US is a crazy place.

I believe that his actions may actually have broken the law as well as endangered both animals and visitors. It is a shame that you didn't report him

 

[15399]

It's also worth noting this isn't a whole USA thing. A number of states, like Massachusetts where I live have banned open carry. I imagine people do bring them to zoos in open carry states, but I've never seen a gun be brought into a zoo in Massachusetts (or anywhere, for that matter).
I do remember though when I went to Cleveland Zoo there was a sign outside the entrance stating that based on Ohio state law, they were required to allow firearms outside, in bathrooms, and in shelters. They were banned in all the animal buildings though.

 

[Zooplantman]

It's also worth noting this isn't a whole USA thing. A number of states, like Massachusetts where I live have banned open carry. I imagine people do bring them to zoos in open carry states, but I've never seen a gun be brought into a zoo in Massachusetts (or anywhere, for that matter).
I do remember though when I went to Cleveland Zoo there was a sign outside the entrance stating that based on Ohio state law, they were required to allow firearms outside, in bathrooms, and in shelters. They were banned in all the animal buildings though.