Knoxville Zoo posted?

[Guest Jon]

Some people just like to argue. Thanks for supporting the zoo with your season passes. It enables me to have a paycheck. The surrounding area is definitely shady and I've kept my gun in my truck a few times I actually brought it to work and I was always hesitant it would get broken into and stolen.

haha no prob. The time before last that I was there they was having some kind of car show/car audio contest. Lotta half finished "whips" with a lotta odd people hangin around outside the fence lol

[Griffin]

Well I'm going to revive this old thread. I had quite an interesting visit to the zoo today. My son is in cub scouts and I took him to the zoo today to attend a program they run to get an activity pin. I walked up to the ticket window to check in and they told me to head over to the ranger station to meet the guide. Well I walked in the ranger station and told them we were there for the cub scout program, they said the guide will be out in a minute. I said thanks and turned to walk out. Before I reached the door one of the guys with security said sir I turned replied to him, and he asked if I had a weapon. I told him I did and he politely asked if I would check it in, as weapons were not allowed on the property. I reluctantly walked in the back room where they had a safe to check in my gun. He asked me to make it safe, I did then he took it and locked it up. They took a copy of my DL and told me to pick it up on my way out. I had not entered the zoo at this point and did not see any signage prohibiting carry. They do have it posted at the gate behind the ticket booth where you hand over your ticket. It is not the correct signage per TN law and I was unaware of the city ordnance. I would have taken it back to my Vehicle once I had seen the sign but I had not gotten that far when they asked me. Now as much as I dislike being disarmed, I really have to give the security guy credit. I'm not 100% sure why he asked if I had a weapon maybe it was Larue Tactical hat, because there is no way he seen my S&W 380 bodyguard in my front pocket. In retrospect, I should have asked what made him ask me. He was very professional and never rude or threatening me with tickets or the cops so I gave him the same respect back, checked in my gun and had a great day with my son. I picked up my pistol on the way out and that's the end of the story. 

[Peace]

wow.

[Peace]

--- I removed this post. ...forgot which city I live in. My apologies. Edited May 5, 2013 by Peace

[Oh Shoot]

Oh, and Grassmere, where it sits, is technically land included in metro parks jurisdiction, so I don't think it has to be posted. Anyone else want to weigh in on that?

 

The official status of the Chilhowee Park area seems to be rather fluid. Certainly owned by the city, but not listed on their city parks page:

 

http://www.cityofknoxville.org/parks/

 

It even has its own website, which doesn't clarify its status either, beyond "multi-use venue".

 

http://www.chilhoweepark.org/default.html

 

But they allow guns there for gun shows, and there's nothing in the City Code I can see that allows that exception regardless of exactly what they call it, as it certainly fits the definition in the ordinance as "a Park means a park, reservation, playground, beach, recreation center or any other area in the city owned, leased or used by the city and devoted to active or passive recreation".

 

- OS

Edited May 5, 2013 by Oh Shoot

[Griffin]

That is why I had not really thought about it when I was headed out that way, I have been to a dozen gun shows at Chilhowee. I have even seen Knoxville police send people back to their car with loaded guns to remove the Mag/Ammo as no loaded guns are allowed in the show. Needless to say the whole thing was handled very well, and no doubt security at the zoo is top notch. I would bet the guy was retired military or LEO.