Cutting Tool at Nationwide Arena

[milligan740]

I know this isn't strictly related to CHL, but I"m sure I'm not the only CHL-er who likes to carry a cutting tool in addition to, or in place of, their carry gun. I recently attended a Blue Jackets game at Nationwide Arena and forgot that I had my Kershaw Leek clipped inside my left pocket. When I entered the front doors, there were security guys with handheld magnetometers (popularly referred to as "wands") checking for weapons in accordance with their anti-self-defense policy. I mean, safety policy. When I saw the wands, I immediately told one of them that I had a pocket knife and that I'd forgotten about it. He said, "Oh, let me see it, it's not a big deal if it's under a certain size." So I show him the knife and he tells me "Oh, no, that's no problem" and he had me hold the knife so he could "wand" the rest of me before ultimately telling me to go ahead in. I appreciated his common sense approach to this non-issue and went about enjoying myself at the game.

So, the first period concludes, Jackets are up 1-0, and I'm hungry for chicken tenders with ranch. I make my purchase and prepare to go back to my seat when I'm accosted by a funny little man in a burgundy jacket who is with Nationwide Arena security. He saw my knife clip and stopped me to ask what "I had clipped in my pocket there?" I told him it was a pocketknife that I had cleared with security upon entering the arena and started to walk away as though that would clearly answer the question and settle the matter. Of course, he wasn't finished yet. He demanded to see the knife and asked who had permitted me to enter the building (like I'd been paying attention to their identity? I just wanted to get to my seat…) and said that I should never have been allowed in with a "speed assist" knife like this one. I guess if you have to open your cutting tool with a thumb-stud, it's perfectly harmless and could never be used in an altercation, but if you can flip a little piece of metal on the tang on the blade, WHOA, you're a bad actor and should be accosted. Anyway, after some argument about not being allowed to have it in the arena despite having been allowed to have it in the arena, he ultimately confiscates it and tells me I can pick it up after the game. I decided that was better than being tossed from the Arena and returned to my seat to watch CBJ Carry the Flag to victory. After the game, I did retrieve the knife without incident from a different security guy and went about my way.

Take from this what you will.

[milligan740]

I'm going to see if I can find their official policy about knives to see if size really does matter.

[carmen fovozzo]

So how were the chicken fingers....? I didn't know chickens had fingers.....

Here is what I take away from this..Security guy #1 has no clue...

[milligan740]

So how were the chicken fingers....? I didn't know chickens had fingers.....

Here is what I take away from this..Security guy #1 has no clue...

The chicken tenders were overpriced but delicious nonetheless! Good thing I didn't need to cut them up…

[djthomas]

Whenever I lawfully carry weapons or tools in a facility filled with security personnel I completely conceal everything. I find it cuts down on the opportunity for hassle by some wannabe thinking he just scored the pinch of the night.

If it were me in that case I'd have probably let him have the knife only after giving me a receipt for same. If I was feeling really ornery I would take his picture on my phone. Valuable tools have a tendency to go missing and you'd be able to describe that guy just about as well as you described the front door guy.

[pleasantguywhopacks]

http://specialcircumstancesinc.blogspot ... ducts.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
They specialize in non magnetic tools and sheaths for same. Pricey but cool.

[mreising]

Non-magnetic can still be detected by metal detectors if there is metal in the object. Magnetometers only detect ferromagnetic materials (iron, steel, nickel, cobalt) but metal detectors operate on a different principle. After having said all that, the knives PGWP linked to are carbon fiber and titanium. Depending upon the sensitivity of the detector, and the amount of Ti in the object, the knife may not make it past the security checkpoint.

[Stryker74]

I recall seeing something like those non-metal knives at a Westland Mall show a few months ago. Seemed sharp enough, but I wondered how long they would keep an edge.

I might have to look around for those again this weekend.

[Tweed Ring]

Choate Industries (?) used to market something called the Executive Letter Opener. About $ 12.00 today, over the counter. Made of plastic and one sharpens it with a nail file. Dagger-like in appearance. It will cut a sweet roll, but not much else. It's more of a stabbing device. I do not believe it will kick a metal detector.

They also made an Executive Ice Scraper. Same idea.

[Buggyman]

A similar incident happened to me at Kennywood in Pa. several years back. I had my small size Leatherman in my pocket when they wanded me they held it in security till the end of the day. If I can't carry I usually have a thumb assist pocket knife all the time I have removed it at sporting or playhouse events. I wonder can you make a plastic pocket knife on one of those new 3D copy machines ??

[WestonDon]

Just curious. If they wand everyone entering, how long does it take the crowd to enter this arena? Are there long lines to get in?

Sounds to me like the security guys make up the policy as they go along.

[ROME]

Just curious. If they wand everyone entering, how long does it take the crowd to enter this arena? Are there long lines to get in?

I can't speak for Nationwide Arena but a couple weeks ago I was at the Horseshoe. They weren't wanding but they were checking all bags/purses and they asked that I lift my coat and sweater and turn around. Because everyone doesn't enter the game at the same time and there are so many entrances with so many people checking at each entrance there was hardly any wait, at least no more than a couple minutes. I was also up the Big House in Ann Harbor earlier this year with about the same results but security there is a lot more relaxed but that could have also been because it was warmer and everyones clothing was not as heavy.

I was in Pittsburgh last year at The Rivers Casino and had my knife clipped to my front pocket with the clip showing, I was talking to a security guard and he noticed it and told me that he should kick me out for it but he said he carries one with him everywhere too, then he asked me to just drop it inside my pocket. After that I stopped carrying my knife out so much, it is just a pain that the laws/rules are so different everywhere.

[BB62]

...it is just a pain that the laws/rules are so different everywhere.

And of course our esteemed legislators and governor have allowed rules to be put in place which demand that in order to be issued a gaming license, casinos must ban carry.

[Werz]

...it is just a pain that the laws/rules are so different everywhere.

And of course our esteemed legislators and governor have allowed rules to be put in place which demand that in order to be issued a gaming license, casinos must ban carry.

Actually, we, the people, ceded that authority to the Ohio Casino Control Commission. The Governor just appoints them, with the consent of the Ohio Senate. Ohio Const. Art. XV, § 6(C)(4).

"We have met the enemy and he is us."
-- Pogo

Of course, you can always hire a lawyer and file a lawsuit for a declaratory judgment under R.C. 9.68.

[evan price]

I would have said "none of your business" and walked away.