During the 1990's I ran afoul of Walt Disney World's unposted "weapons" policy. The security checkpoint confiscated my Leatherman tool at the gate to the Magic Kingdom, but I was permitted to pick it up from Guest Services later. The policy includes ALL pocket knives, those silly little tear gas sprays, and a lot of other things. I was permitted to carry my Mini-MagLite with me--after they had me prove that it wasn't a gun.
This issue is complicated, involving corporate responsibility, public safety, Good Will and public image.
It is sobering to see your own name on some organization's hit list. I was in Army intelligence during the 1980's and I spent seven years in the Middle East employed as an anti-terrorist security officer. A handgun is a first aid kit against violence. How many medical emergencies is that bandaid box inadequate for?
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The individual who lost control of his gun in Dinosaur was wrong on a couple of counts. Leaving his gun on the seat of a ride is a no-no. It happens to police all of the time--don't think a badge makes someone idiot-proof. WDW security is nearly all unarmed--there may be some armed body guards protecting corporate executives, but if armed force is needed you can bet the farm that WDW will call the local police, just like everybody else. It has to do with liabilities--if the cops screw it up, a government organization takes the hit. Corporate security, on the other hand, can do nothing right. One of the issues of the Zimmerman case is that George Zimmerman was "in-house" security at the gated community--much like WDW's security force is "in-house."
At the moment there is NO "duty to protect" by sworn law enforcement officers. Corporations with their private police do have an implied "duty to protect" unlike city, county, state and federal governments, but remember the signage in WDW parking lots to the effect that WDW is not responsible for damage or theft? WDW has disavowed all "duty to protect," and that is industry standard. You are on your own if assaulted--or worse--on Disney property. The Disney Company doesn't make a lot of noise about it, but read all the disclaimers.
Besides, is it really WDW's fault when you get attacked by another Disney guest? Okay, there's the fact that WDW policy disarms you--remember, no tear gas (pepper spray), no TASER, not even a Swiss Army Knife!
It's complicated. It's political. And most people will have gripes (legitimate and otherwise) about WDW weapons policies. The WDW "gun free zone" policy was crafted by Disney lawyers to protect corporation wealth. Obviously there are exceptions for politically powerful rich people. I'm not one of those exceptions and you probably aren't, either. Live with it, people.
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