Georgia aquarium

[MudBugjr]

Me and my family are spending a couple days in Atlanta. Went to the aquarium had my firearm concealed. To my surprise they where taking lighters , knives, and using metal detectors. So I asked security about my gun before I hiked back to the hotel where our in room safe is broken anyway. They escorted me to a secure location had a set of lock boxes in a room where you had to be buzzed in. Put my gun in and took the key. Treated me very well and same when I retrieved my gun. Not happy I couldn't take it in but I felt that it was safer there than my room.

[2.ooohhh]

If everyone is required to go through the metal detectors/security and they gave me a locker to properly secure my legally carried handgun I wouldn't have an issue. This is how many courthouses(no court in session) handled it when I entered them armed on my previous job and it's certainly better than being asked to leave it in the car which means I'll be walking to/from my car unarmed.

[MudBugjr]

I felt special. Everyone else was having to put their knives and lighters in a zip lock they kept out front. People where taking other peoples stuff when the attendant walked away for a few minutes.

[dawgdoc]

I had heard that the Georgia Aquarium used metal detectors, but I didn't know they had a place to store guns.  The people I know apparently went back to their cars.  The locker solution is relatively reasonable.  I assume that they are pretty paranoid about anything metal being used to scratch of break the glass (although they let in the Ghost Hunters that one time).

 

I wish more places that can functionally prohibit guns (whereby using metal detectors or the law) had such a system.

[Garufa]

This is an aquarium, not a government building or courtroom, right?  With searching, metal detectors, lock boxes, no lighters, etc?

 

Screw that.

[2.ooohhh]

This is an aquarium, not a government building or courtroom, right?  With searching, metal detectors, lock boxes, no lighters, etc?

 

Screw that.

 

I much prefer actual security via guards, lockboxes, metal detectors, ect. to the BS security theater such as sticking a gunbuster on a business's door and assuming we're all safe now that there are no guns here thanks to that handy sticker.  :squint:

[MudBugjr]

I didn't see any signage either. If I was home I would have said something. Didn't want to ruin the day for the family. I was just surprised they actually treated me civil instead of freaking out. I usually avoid places that don't when I can.

[Garufa]

I find the whole idea of such security at an aquarium completely absurd.

[Oh Shoot]

I find the whole idea of such security at an aquarium completely absurd.

 

Perhaps with guns they're afraid of someone breaching a tank. But for the other items, completely beyond the pale of any logic.

 

- OS

[peejman]

Perhaps with guns they're afraid of someone breaching a tank. But for the other items, completely beyond the pale of any logic.

- OS

It would take high powered rifle esque power to come close to penetrating those tanks. The walls in the big tanks are upwards of 4" thick acrylic. There would be more risk of ricochets than anything else.

And I agree, that level of security is absurd. Makes me wonder if there's a particular reason why, other than being in the middle of the cesspool that is downtown Atlanta.

[MudBugjr]

What's funny they looked in my wife's bag but didn't remove her knife or looked real hard. She wasn't carrying today if so they probably would have missed it.

[npgunner]

What's absurd is the last time I went (about 1.5 years ago) this is what happened ...

I didn't know it was gun-free or that they would wand you. Get in line to the point that I see they're wanding, but also too the point I'm not getting out of line. I get wanded and it picks up my pocket .380 which is behind my phone. Guy says "empty your pockets." I pull out keys/wallet in left hand, phone in right hand; was planning on saying something about the gun, but he wands me again, but more toward my center. He goes "do you have a belt on?" I say "yes" and show him the metal closure. He says "ok that's what is setting this off." Lets me put phone and etc. back in pocket and wishes me a good day. I walk in, .380 and all feeling somewhat like "wtf" and somewhat glad I didn't create a situation.

... just goes to show you how thorough they are

[MudBugjr]

It would be a mess if those tanks did get breached. Don't think a bic lighter and pocket knife would do it even for McGyver. Over 10 million gallons in tanks.

[Clod Stomper]

I'm sure a handgun wouldn't penetrate the tanks, but it would probably make a divot.  I doubt they want to have to replace any of those "walls", or whatever they call the tank sides.  Same with knives.  Given enough idiots (there are plenty in "the ATL" in my experience), the glass (poly-whatever) walls would have enough initials and gang symbols scratched into them that they would have to be replaced every year or so probably.  Due to cosmetics if nothing else.

 

Not defending their policy, but in this one case, I get where they're coming from.  If I opened an aquarium in Maryville, I probably would not post it.  If, however, there was a constant stream of people from Atlanta coming to patronize my aquarium, I probably would institute the same policy.

 

Jeez, I feel kinda slimy even saying that....

[Guest livefreeordie1]

Thanks for the info,  I'll make it a point not to go there. 

[MudBugjr]

Man seems like the whole city is anti lighter knife and gun. Went two other places that had metal detectors etc. Maybe the world of Coke thinks someone will try and still the original recipe that they say is in the vault lol. Also the Skyline Ferris wheel . I'm surprised the didn't pat me down when we crossed the state line.

[runco]

The coke museum across the plaza is the same, they use metal detectors.  I had to bury a pocket knife once in the mulch outside.  I was far from the hotel room and car.

Edited October 19, 2014 by Runco

[dawgdoc]

Man seems like the whole city is anti lighter knife and gun. Went two other places that had metal detectors etc. Maybe the world of Coke thinks someone will try and still the original recipe that they say is in the vault lol. Also the Skyline Ferris wheel . I'm surprised the didn't pat me down when we crossed the state line.

 

The city of Atlanta would like to think that state pre-emption doesn't apply to them when it came to the airport (they lost that one), special events in Centennial Olympic park, the zoo, etc.  After HB60 was passed, the mayor wanted to put in screened security at every city-owned building such as recreation centers in order to keep out lawful carriers.  I'm sure the attitude bleeds over into the private businesses.  Also, those businesses might be legitimately afraid of the unlawful carriers who probably frequent those areas, although why a gang banger would want to go to the World of Coke is beyond me.

 

If I had a car with a license plate that was out of state (or even a Georgia tag from outside the metro area) along with pro-gun stickers, I would be very hesitant to park it anywhere in that area because the criminals might correctly guess the high likelihood of a gun being found inside.

[RAJBCPA]

I don't visit gun-free zones and I certainly would not give them any money.

[daddyo]

I don't need to go anywhere so badly that I would willingly disarm.