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Cincinnati zoo

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 2:36 pm
by The German
Well, the Cincinnati zoo is plastered with signs and when I asked for the reason why they changed their policies (apparently in 2013 or so), this was the response I got.

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Good Afternoon Mr. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I appreciate your asking of our no weapons policy. As a private business we are by law able prohibit weapons of any sort from entering our property. As a licensed conceal carry person myself I know your frustration but our company’s policy is as it is. This goes for our employees as well as our visitors.

I will say, that we used to not have signs posting our no weapons policy but a “licensed conceal carry” individual threatened one of our zoo staff by stating he had a gun and felt like using it after the zoo staff asked him to extinguish his cigarette. Just within the last year and a half we had an incident where a “licensed conceal carry” individual got into a verbal altercation with another guest and further put his hand on his concealed weapon causing a flurry of law enforcement response because the other person called 911.

I have no doubt you are a responsible conceal carry individual and I am glad you take that training to heart for the protection of your family and yourself.

We have had no issues with when a concealed weapon becomes unconcealed or noticed with asking the armed individual to remove the weapon from zoo property.

If you have further questions or concerns feel free to email me back or call my office number.

Have a wonderful day!

Wayne

WAYNE R. LOHMOELLER
Security, Safety and Emergency Response
3400 Vine Street
Cincinnati, OH 45220


Edit to remove phone and email address per ToS. Stryker74

Re: Cincinnati zoo

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 3:10 pm
by djthomas
Truly unfortunate. I've come to learn that blunders by doo doo heads is why the Chick Fil A in Fairview Park is now posted too. The way I read the ending of that letter it sounds like there may be a silver lining. It would probably be against the ToS to point it out so I'll leave it as an exercise to the reader.

PS - also per the ToS you may want to remove the gentleman's contact information from your post.

Re: Cincinnati zoo

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 3:34 pm
by pirateguy191
Harambe

Re: Cincinnati zoo

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 4:08 pm
by Stryker74
It is unfortunate when a specific incident (or multiple in this case) causes a location to post. It makes getting such signs removed that much more difficult at a location.

Re: Cincinnati zoo

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 4:28 pm
by The German
Thanks - just saw that I left the details in when copies&pasted (thanks for removing it).

I agree with the interpretation, but if one carries into a posted place and, even if it is just because he/she did not see the post and there is an issue being made out of it for whatever reason, it simply reflects badly on all CHL owners.
djthomas wrote:Truly unfortunate. I've come to learn that blunders by doo doo heads is why the Chick Fil A in Fairview Park is now posted too. The way I read the ending of that letter it sounds like there may be a silver lining. It would probably be against the ToS to point it out so I'll leave it as an exercise to the reader.

PS - also per the ToS you may want to remove the gentleman's contact information from your post.

Re: Cincinnati zoo

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 4:50 pm
by marca
The German wrote:From the letter:
Good Afternoon Mr. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I appreciate your asking of our no weapons policy. As a private business we are by law able prohibit weapons of any sort from entering our property. As a licensed conceal carry person myself I know your frustration but our company’s policy is as it is. This goes for our employees as well as our visitors.
I think this has been hashed before, but how is the zoo, that is financed by tax levies, a private business?

Re: Cincinnati zoo

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 4:52 pm
by 147Doc
djthomas wrote:Truly unfortunate. I've come to learn that blunders by doo doo heads is why the Chick Fil A in Fairview Park is now posted too. The way I read the ending of that letter it sounds like there may be a silver lining. It would probably be against the ToS to point it out so I'll leave it as an exercise to the reader.

PS - also per the ToS you may want to remove the gentleman's contact information from your post.
I see the way the letter is phrased... but the premises are clearly posted, so in my opinion it would be a big lift to try and convince anyone in the judiciary that you didn't see anything.

I personally carry until I park, lock up, see the animals and flowers, then rearm when I return to the car.

Re: Cincinnati zoo

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 7:17 pm
by JediSkipdogg
marca wrote:
The German wrote:From the letter:
Good Afternoon Mr. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I appreciate your asking of our no weapons policy. As a private business we are by law able prohibit weapons of any sort from entering our property. As a licensed conceal carry person myself I know your frustration but our company’s policy is as it is. This goes for our employees as well as our visitors.
I think this has been hashed before, but how is the zoo, that is financed by tax levies, a private business?
Anyone can have a levy and ask for money. We could create the OFCC Hamilton County Tax fund if we wanted to. The problem is, nobody has done it in history because it would never pass.

Now, what many don't realize is the City of Cincinnati purchased the zoo in 1932. It is run by the Cincinnati Boards of Parks Commissioners which is a government entity under Cincinnati. So, they claim to be private property but they really aren't. However, they get away with it because nobody really challengers it.

Re: Cincinnati zoo

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 9:02 pm
by Brian D.
They also claim to be part of the Cincinnati Public School system, when they want to use that to prohibit things and try to grab more funding.

Re: Cincinnati zoo

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 3:43 pm
by The German
Thanks, yes, it looks as if they are still owned by the city / Hamilton County

Pg. 12 ff.: http://www.hamiltoncountyohio.gov/hc/hc ... 0CZ&BG.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Question is if that is a correct interpretation and if it is worth to try to get it fixed? Technically, if it is a government owned property and not a building, they would not be able to restrict carrying, or?

Re: Cincinnati zoo

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 4:50 pm
by Brian D.
The German wrote:Thanks, yes, it looks as if they are still owned by the city / Hamilton County

Pg. 12 ff.: http://www.hamiltoncountyohio.gov/hc/hc ... 0CZ&BG.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Question is if that is a correct interpretation and if it is worth to try to get it fixed? Technically, if it is a government owned property and not a building, they would not be able to restrict carrying, or?
I'd say you're correct. But this zoo (and many others) seem to make similar claims about what their legal classification is: Public, private, park, amusement park, auxiliary/satellite school. Whatever makes them off limits to carry. I honestly think they're worried about one of us lethally attacking one of their animals, and it overrides all logical thought at some level.