Guns at Miller Park

[rickh150]

Out of curiosity, I decided to ask a security worker at the Miller Park metal detector a question while waiting in line to enter on Monday night. The question was, "Approximately how many guns do you guys find in bags that people try to sneak into games?"

 

My dad and I went back and forth on this question, not really sure if the number would be high or low. With conceal and carry laws in the state, you never know how many people legally have guns usually on them and would want to find ways to get a gun in their posesession at a large sporting event for safety precautions. After asking this worker (probably late 30's male), we debated the accuracy of his estimates, especially on our ride home.

 

What would you guess? I'll post this security worker's response/estimate later this weekend.

 

Also, if we could get a few more people going to today's game to ask a similar question to security staff, that would help get at the truth of this question a bit more.

[homer]

Please do not post your personal feelings on gun use or ownership. Stick to the question rickh150 asked. Thanks.

[KeithStone53151]

I feel like the answer has to be something like 1-2 guns per month max. I would say zero, but I get the impression from your question it's more than zero. I will say an old guy from a group of friends I was going with accidentally tried to enter a game with a pocket knife in his pocket. I first off think that is super rare, and also that a person is going to be far more aware of a concealed carry gun than a pocket knife.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I would guess they have a training-provided canned answer for this question. It's a good question though and one I've wondered myself really often. I would guess that a good number of people always carry and then forget they have it on them when they go through security. I've done it with my phone and keys and to some people their guns are a similar item that goes everywhere they do. If it's always in your purse it'd be pretty easy to forget. I've gone though a couple times with my Swiss army knife and just blanked that I had it on me. To people unfamiliar with guns it sounds absurd, but if you're more immersed with the culture it seems like it'd be easy to have happen.

 

Pinning down a number is really hard. I'm just gonna guess it happens 20 or so times on a sellout and probably all 20 are people who forgot they had it on them.

 

I really have no clue. I'd have guessed similar to Keith but the fact he had an answer for you makes me think it's more. Then again, his answer may just be a canned thing from training.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Also remember that a good number of people have been drinking and have the thing strapped to their waist and may just forget after 6 Miller Lites.

[topper09er]

Well Eric Thames brings 2 every day

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Well Eric Thames brings 2 every day

 

Lock thread, it's over. Well done.

[nate82]

I feel like the answer has to be something like 1-2 guns per month max. I would say zero, but I get the impression from your question it's more than zero. I will say an old guy from a group of friends I was going with accidentally tried to enter a game with a pocket knife in his pocket. I first off think that is super rare, and also that a person is going to be far more aware of a concealed carry gun than a pocket knife.

 

No, people are creatures of habits. If you are always carrying something no matter if it is a gun, knife, mace, or anything else you are likely to forget you have it. A lot of times when I am carrying I forget I have mine on me.

 

Unless you are always showing your gun off you shouldn't even know it is there.

[KeithStone53151]

I feel like the answer has to be something like 1-2 guns per month max. I would say zero, but I get the impression from your question it's more than zero. I will say an old guy from a group of friends I was going with accidentally tried to enter a game with a pocket knife in his pocket. I first off think that is super rare, and also that a person is going to be far more aware of a concealed carry gun than a pocket knife.

 

No, people are creatures of habits. If you are always carrying something no matter if it is a gun, knife, mace, or anything else you are likely to forget you have it. A lot of times when I am carrying I forget I have mine on me.

 

Unless you are always showing your gun off you shouldn't even know it is there.

 

I would hope this is not the case. There are too many places that you aren't allowed to concealed carry. I also want to say you aren't allowed to drink a bunch and carry, but I'm not overly aware of the rules. Maybe I'm wrong, but I would like to think people carrying are very aware they have a deadly weapon on them when carrying...and therefore very few if any people would accidentally try to bring a weapon in to miller park.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

You're giving the human race way too much credit. Most people doing anything remotely dangerous take the necessary precautions but there are 7 billion of us on the planet and if a small percentage don't it's still a lot of people. How many people leave Miller Park every night above .08? The car is deadly at that point as well. You're not allowed to carry lots of places but do you think everybody follows that sign at the grocery store, the bank, a high school football game, etc. Some people's logic is basically going to be what good is it if I always take it off my person?

 

I'm not taking any stance here, but these factors + alcohol + people's general forgetfulness makes me think 1-2x per month is way low considering it's possible to have a month where half a million people come through the gates.

[MrTPlush]

I bet the number was pretty fiction in nature to make it seem like they are doing some valiant job protecting us. Now I am not saying they do or don't...just the fact usually people asking such a question likely think the entire process is a big waste of time. So naturally you want to make it sound good to them.

 

This thread is definitely not going to go in a good direction though. haha

[homer]

You're giving the human race way too much credit. Most people doing anything remotely dangerous take the necessary precautions but there are 7 billion of us on the planet and if a small percentage don't it's still a lot of people. How many people leave Miller Park every night above .08? The car is deadly at that point as well. You're not allowed to carry lots of places but do you think everybody follows that sign at the grocery store, the bank, a high school football game, etc. Some people's logic is basically going to be what good is it if I always take it off my person?

 

I'm not taking any stance here, but these factors + alcohol + people's general forgetfulness makes me think 1-2x per month is way low considering it's possible to have a month where half a million people come through the gates.

 

True, but most, if not all, stadiums and sporting events have a no-weapon policy. And I would bet that most people going to Brewer games have been to other sporting events or at least other Brewer games. If you forget once you probably won't forget again.

[homer]

 

This thread is definitely not going to go in a good direction though. haha

 

 

My fingers are crossed

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I'm pretty glad they do it even if the all-time count is 0.

[KeithStone53151]

Could be way low, we'll see what this security guy and the others say. Maybe I'm too hopeful/positive this time around. You definitely make good points.

[KeithStone53151]

True, but most, if not all, stadiums and sporting events have a no-weapon policy. And I would bet that most people going to Brewer games have been to other sporting events or at least other Brewer games. If you forget once you probably won't forget again.

 

I thought that too. Walking 10 minutes each way to and from general parking because you forgot your concealed carry probably only happens once.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I went through once with a pocket knife. I ended up hiding it somewhere outside, picked up after the game. Did it again, but remembered half way there and went back to car. It's attached to my key ring so it's easy if I'm not paying attention. I imagine there are people whose guns are basically appendages.

[MadScientist]

I wouldn't be surprised if it were 1-2 per game. Not so much sneaking one in, just forgetting about it. So ~100-150 per season.

[homer]

Numbers for Minnesota's new football stadium:

 

In the nine times the Vikings played at home, security netted a total of 43 knives. No guns were stopped at the stadium’s gates, but guards confiscated 20 of what are classified as “other weapons.”

 

A stadium spokesperson would only say that could mean mace or any other banned item that could be used to harm others.

 

But it seems fans attending events outside of football have had the hardest time following the rules. In the six big events the stadium hosted in 2016 — like concerts and soccer — security seized 52 knives and 74 other weapons at the gate.

 

They also stopped four guns from getting inside, which were later checked at the stadium’s gun locker.

 

All told, about 200 weapons were caught at the gates from August to January in 2016.

[MrTPlush]

From my experiences at games most people realize their pocket knife when they get in line and then realize it. Possibly due to seeing the signs by the door. Then they either have to go back to their car or...and I quote...are told to throw it in the trash. Those are the options.

 

Never seen someone realize they have their conceal carry on them though. I would question any surprisingly high number simply because getting to the point you are at the metal detector before realizing it is super unlikely to me. Usually dawns on people before then.

 

Also mace is probably the most popular confiscation. Those little key chain maces are not allowed. Which sorry, seems a bit ridiculous to take that.

[sveumrules]

Thought this was for sure going to be about the machine gun cops that have been posted up around MP the last couple two tree years.

 

First time I saw one of them I almost jumped out of my shorts & even now that I know they're there it's still kind of startles me whenever I see one.

[homer]

the last couple two tree years.

 

 

I hope this was on purpose

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I've seen too many people being escorted out of MP with open cuts around their eyes to think those people should be allowed to carry mace inside. One drunken idiot sprays that and it gets in some 4-year-old's face, that is already too much liability for the Brewers. The policy of taking everything away is their only option. The presence of the metal detectors takes away any gray area as if there were potential litigation the Brewers would be all but forced to acknowledge they knew said item was allowed in or didn't catch it. Both are very bad.

[turnbow59]

I went to the game on Monday night and my belt buckle set the metal detector off. Ive been wearing the same belt for the past 7-8 years and this is the first time thats happened. Its just your ordinary little buckle too, not one of those big ones some people wear. So I found that odd.

 

As for guns, I would go with one a series. Roughly 25 for the season but thats a complete guess.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Not quite related but airport security really aggravates me and I travel quite a bit. The rules are not consistent anywhere. Take your shoes off here, but not here, I'm gonna scold you for leaving your wallet in your pocket even though the last city said don't take it out. Stroller has to come through the machine, next city, stroller comes through this special booth. Bin for your luggage but only in this city, nowhere else.