Bag Check! Ive had enough of it.

[1stvisit0909]

Absolutely, I was on the other side of the fence - UK - so my eyes were opened when I came here. It is a regional thing also .... I live in the South

Guns are not required to be licensed unless its a new purchase from a dealer. So family guns, are not...we have two registered firearms, but a whole passel of them that aren't. Here, you can have them on your own property, and that includes vehicles without a carry permit. I can't recall a time when there was not at least one loaded firearm in my house...I grew up on a farm, daddy kept a loaded shotgun by the back door for coyotes. Kids are taught firearm safety and how to shoot early. It's just part of life. I know MANY people with concealed carry permits, though I'm not one. Being in the south, I'm sure you see plenty of firearms, and you always will! The responsible owners and permitted carries are not the ones that concern me though.

 

[1stvisit0909]

I've even had them check my Vera Bradley ID case, which was on a lanyard around my neck. Only things in it were a little bit of cash, my kttw, and Chapstick. I thought it was odd, but not bothered by it.

Hmm. I am taking a lanyard pouch, will I have to go thru bag check?

 

[stindall]

I feel as though this is a huge stereotype of Americans, especially from those in the UK. While a substantial number of Americans are licensed to own hand guns, it's doubtful that most of them carry them around. Certainly not in their day to day lives.

There are, unfortunately, a number of Americans owning unlicensed guns, and odds are many do carry them around.

Regardless of what country one might find themselves in, there are always areas best avoided. I've found myself unknowingly wandering into to areas in Canada and the UK where there were probably weapons of some sort in every other pocket.

Do some homework, use your best instincts, error a bit on the side of caution, and there's little chance of any trouble.

To be fair, I'm sure most Americans stereotype most people in the United Kingdom...but no, pp, not all of us have guns or even desire to have a gun.

 

[WedgieSock]

Guns are not required to be licensed unless its a new purchase from a dealer. So family guns, are not...we have two registered firearms, but a whole passel of them that aren't. Here, you can have them on your own property, and that includes vehicles without a carry permit. I can't recall a time when there was not at least one loaded firearm in my house...I grew up on a farm, daddy kept a loaded shotgun by the back door for coyotes. Kids are taught firearm safety and how to shoot early. It's just part of life. I know MANY people with concealed carry permits, though I'm not one. Being in the south, I'm sure you see plenty of firearms, and you always will! The responsible owners and permitted carries are not the ones that concern me though.

Totally agree with that! I wondered why people needed guns but then I found out about coyotes and such, and the hunting culture ... in England we have to worry about hedgehogs

 

[WedgieSock]

To be fair, I'm sure most Americans stereotype most people in the United Kingdom...but no, pp, not all of us have guns or even desire to have a gun.

Yes they do. People tease me about tea ... can't stand the stuff, and think we are all prim & proper ... far from it, I find Americans more 'proper' than us

 

[stindall]

Yes they do. People tease me about tea ... can't stand the stuff, and think we are all prim & proper ... far from it, I find Americans more 'proper' than us

As an Anglophile I know all about your troubles my friend.

 

[larryz]

Not trying to start anything here either but if a person is gonna bring a concealled weapon in the park they will be able to do it because they dont do pat-downs or have metal detectors. I know Disney's policy says no weapons but its not a "law per-say" that I know of. If the person has a CCW permit and does carry in the park I think the most Disney would do is kick them out on a permanent basis.

Just FYI -- in Ohio, a properly phrased and posted "No Concealed Weapons" sign has the force of law. Not sure about Florida...

But WDW DID fire an employee who tested their prohibition of weapons on property.

 

[larryz]

Sorry if this is a silly question but it seems like a great deal of Americans carry guns around- well what for?

I know maybe self defense but is it that dangerous that people feel the need to carry them round? I would feel really uneasy if I knew there were lots of people around me with functioning guns.

Far fewer people carry than popular belief would lead you to expect. In the US, in most states, carrying a concealed weapon requires a state permit. Most of those states allow private property owners to ban the carry of concealed weapons on their premises if they so desire (plus there are statutory no-carry areas as well, like schools or open liquor sale bars). WDW bans weapons.

FWIW, they also discourage line jumping and people lying about their 4 yr olds being 2...

 

[WedgieSock]

Far fewer people carry than popular belief would lead you to expect. In the US, in most states, carrying a concealed weapon requires a state permit. Most of those states allow private property owners to ban the carry of concealed weapons on their premises if they so desire (plus there are statutory no-carry areas as well, like schools or open liquor sale bars). WDW bans weapons.

FWIW, they also discourage line jumping and people lying about their 4 yr olds being 2...

Thats very true, but to us Brits, a handful is a huge number so its about perception - to you, not that many, but to us we're amazed there is such a thing as being allowed to carry one. When I left the UK in 2003 not even all our police were armed.

 

[dawnball]

Sorry if this is a silly question but it seems like a great deal of Americans carry guns around- well what for?

Because concealed carry (and guns in homes) reduces crime and overall reduces violent deaths. I don't carry a gun, but it's because I live in a county where a concealed carry permit is effectively impossible to get. Otherwise, there's enough good statistical evidence that it's effective that I'd go through the process.

In general though, even in "shall issue" states - where you can get a concealed carry permit for any reason (if you aren't disqualified and are properly educated), only a few percent of people carry guns. Fewer of them carry everywhere they're allowed to.

 

[markay714]

I purposely don't CHOOSE to take a bag for that very reason. I don't like being subjected to it nor waiting for it. I've adjusted my Disney life accordingly.

 

[maxiesmom]

I purposely don't CHOOSE to take a bag for that very reason. I don't like being subjected to it nor waiting for it. I've adjusted my Disney life accordingly.

I wish I could adjust accordingly. But with my allergies/asthma, there are a few things I must have with me. And I'd rather have my inhalers, keleenex, and meds in a small bag then jammed into my pockets. I think that is uncomfortable!

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

Sorry if this is a silly question but it seems like a great deal of Americans carry guns around- well what for?

I know maybe self defense but is it that dangerous that people feel the need to carry them round? I would feel really uneasy if I knew there were lots of people around me with functioning guns.

In England we have to have a license to own a gun and people do not carry them around. Sorry if I sound silly but I was just wondering

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Well, we have to be ready in case your King or Queen decides to come back and try to take us over again...We're pretty confident that won't happen with Queen Elizabeth II, but let's just say that we're not particularly comfortable with the pending reign of the future King Charles!

Seriously, as others have said not everybody carries a gun here, although more do than one might expect. It's a big part of some people's culture and is something uniquely American. Because of how the Bill of Rights was worded back at the beginning (I, for one, doubt the current state of affairs is what our Founding Fathers were intending), the right to bear arms has been ingrained in our laws since the beginning. I, for one, have never fired a gun, much less owned one, and in my circle of friends guns are not common, but there are many people for whom guns are collectibles and hobbies, no differently than cooking or gardening might be for me.

Regarding bag checks, I agree that they serve a critical purpose and don't object to them. We, too, play the game of trying to pick out the undercover security and while it's generally fairly easy at the main gate, it's a lot more difficult inside the parks, but we do see them frequently. They are always watching to keep us safe, and considering the value of WDW as a "statement target" that makes me feel very good.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Last week walking up to MK I saw one of the security people in plainclothes resting against the railing outside of the bag check. I noticed him 1.) because he was wearing a Panthers sweater and cap and it was hot outside but 2.) the dude looked exactly like Samuel L. Jackson. It was then I noticed the earpiece in his ear. We walked past and I said to my wife "that plainclothes security officer looks like Samuel L. Jackson" and so naturally she looked back at him. Well, going up to bag check the security guard took my son's diaper bag apart. He had me empty every single content from the bag and had me open a tupperware container of watermelon to see what was inside, unscrewed the lid of his sippy cup, peel the top piece of bread off my son's peanutbutter sandwich (!) and even looked inside the plastic bags we had for dirty diapers (luckily empty of dirty diapers at the time). The entire process took about eight minutes. It was incredibly thorough.

So, if you see Samuel L. Jackson hanging out in front of the parks one day, look the other way.

I hope you tossed the sandwich after he touched it (even if he was wearing gloves)

 

[Talking Hands]

I really had a good laugh on this. My tubes of coins are always what stops my bag at xray at the airport. When I see the agent turn their head at an angle and look at my bag's picture I always ask, "The penny rolls or the pin lanyard?". Sometimes you can almost see the "light" come on as they understand what they are looking at. LOL

Going on a Disney Cruise, my husband put my bag through the machine and the security guards got upset at what they saw. Thought he had 2 guns in the bag. Nope, 2 folding canes, that I use when not using my wheelchair.

 

[waynesgirl]

Sorry if this is a silly question but it seems like a great deal of Americans carry guns around- well what for?

I know maybe self defense but is it that dangerous that people feel the need to carry them round? I would feel really uneasy if I knew there were lots of people around me with functioning guns.

In England we have to have a license to own a gun and people do not carry them around. Sorry if I sound silly but I was just wondering

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Seems like you selected a hot topic. I, too, am a gun owner and permitted as well. I choose to carry for personal safety, especially when I am alone or with my children. I would never go to a theme park with it but any place that doesn't have security, it goes. But, I know when and where to use it.