There seem to be some people here who do not believe that the Ohio Expositions Center (home of the State Fair) buildings are covered under ORC 2923.126(G)(3) I totally disagree with that interpretation. Here is why:
One cannot equate the State Fairgrounds to the numerous small, rural, county fairgrounds in Ohio. A visit to that facility on a weekday, at some time other than the State Fair, will prove this. There is a lot more that goes on at that venue than a 12 day fair.
From the Ohio Expo Center website:
Our versatile, 360-acre, 20-building complex can host almost any kind and size of event. From a small meeting to a large convention, from a sporting event to a concert and from a horse show to a black-tie celebration, the Ohio Expo Center is perfectly accommodating.
In 2010, The Ohio Expo Center hosted
155 nonfair events that covered a total of 343 event days. These events generated $5.6 million in operating revenue in 2010, representing 42.1% of receipts in that year. Although some of these events may only last a day or a weekend, many run much longer. There is considerable work performed by state employees to set up, tear down, and make utility modifications for such events, which can take considerable time to accomplish, both before and after each event.
The buildings commonly thought of as “only” animal barns during the Fair also contain, workshops, maintenance areas, offices, meeting rooms, etc. where full time state employees may work daily, or a least on a regular basis. The largest such “animal barn” is the Gilligan Complex. From the Expo Center website, here is a description of that building:
This utilitarian complex is designed primarily for livestock and equine events-and all the conveniences they'll need. But it adapts easily to provide a large area for just about any function, such as a trade show, consumer show or swap meet. It features over 1,000 horse stalls, 1,200 cattle ties, wash stalls, outside wash racks and a milking parlor. There's a parking deck for 750 cars. Food's right there in a 150-seat, air conditioned restaurant. Plus, you have access to showers, air-conditioned office spaces and two meeting rooms. We've made sure the Gilligan Complex is convenient and complete.
While some of these buildings may be used predominately to showcase/house animals at the Fair, that same building may very well be used for a trade show, or other type of event, the very next week.
There are employees working in those buildings year round. As soon as one event ends, buildings must be transformed to meet the requirements of the next event. It is an ongoing, year-round conversion of a multi use facility.
I do not have current numbers of fairground employees available, but below are a couple of links that show what the employment levels have been in past years.
In June 2005, the Expo Center employed 82 permanent, and 48 seasonal (not fair) employees. This figure does not include the approximately 1000 additional seasonal employees hired for the State Fair. See page 1 of the PDF:
http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/fiscal/fisca ... ga/exp.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Also see ………
Ohio Expositions Commission Staffing Levels 2000 – 2005 (see page 7 of the PDF)
http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/fiscal/redbo ... se/exp.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
So as you can see, after the State Fair has concluded, the employment at this facility does not drop down to just a General Manager, his secretary, and a single janitor, all of whom sit in the administration building watching Oprah reruns.
While I would like to see all gun buster signs go down the toilet, the
law is the law. I do not feel that the State Fairgrounds is/was violating the law
except for the postings at the locations exempted in ORC 2923.126(B)(9); and by the garbage that most of the Troopers were spewing at the gate which I refer to as “Imaginary ORC 2923.126 (BS)”.
As I see it, except for the buildings at the State Fairgrounds that are exempted by (B)(9) the remainder of them do fall into the description stated in ORC 2923.126(G)(3). I cannot say the same for some of the buildings at many, if not most, county fairgrounds.
I feel the only way to make it legal to carry in all the buildings at any fairgrounds is to get 2923.126(B)(9) totally scratched from the books. That would be a tough nut to crack, but wouldn’t that be sweet. Personally I don’t think we will ever see that happen.
In addition, one would have to hope that the legislature did not instead replace it with a law, such as is on the books over in Indiana (and several other States) which specify no carry whatsoever at their state fair.
State of Indiana Code wrote:80 IAC 4-4-4 Deadly weapons prohibited
Authority: IC 15-13-2-9
Affected: IC 15-13-2; IC 15-13-7
Sec. 4. (a) This rule does not apply to a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer or to a person who has been employed or authorized by the state fair commission to provide security protection and services during the annual state fair.
(b) No person in possession of a deadly weapon shall be permitted onto or be permitted to remain on the fairgrounds during the annual state fair.
(c) Any deadly weapon found in the possession of a person while on the fairgrounds during the annual state fair is subject to immediate confiscation by law enforcement officers or other persons authorized by the executive director of the state fair commission.
(d) Any person properly licensed to carry a firearm must secure the firearm in a locked compartment of his or her vehicle, and it shall not be visible to passersby. (State Fair Commission; 80 IAC 4-4-4; filed Jul 7, 2003, 3:15 p.m.: 26 IR 3538; readopted filed Oct 4, 2007, 10:29 a.m.: 20071024-IR-080070451RFA)
That could happen here if we get too pushy. Remember the saying; “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.”
Just my opinion…………………I have been wrong before (many more times than I want to admit!)
but not in a building. Especially when it started raining!
Just curious, commercials are already on the radio, and I love fair food!