Grandmother arrested for carrying a gun and knife at Disney now out of jail

[crazy4wdw]

Grandmother arrested for carrying a gun and knife at Disney now out of jail

Walter Pacheco and Etan Horowitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
7:15 AM EST, December 10, 2007

A 63-year old Pennsylvania grandmother is out of jail this morning after deputies arrested her Sunday for trying to enter Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom with a loaded handgun, knife and scissors.

Orange County Jail records show that Mary Ann Richardson, of Nickelson, PA, posted a $2,000 bail early this morning after deputies charged her with carrying a concealed weapon inside the theme park with her grandchildren.

Theme parks across Central Florida have taken strict, zero-tolerance security measures since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. "[Sunday's] arrest clearly demonstrates that the security measures are up and running and that they work," Orange County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Corporal Susan Soto wrote in an agency press release.

Richardson told investigators that she traveled with the silver Beretta .32-caliber semiautomatic handgun and had forgotten she was carrying it. The gun was loaded with seven live rounds in the magazine, but the chamber was empty.

Deputies said they also found a pair of scissors and a locked-blade knife in the woman's purse.

 

[DancingBear]

Wow, I guess Nicholson, PA (Mapquest doesn't pull up any "Nickelson" PA) must be a tough place.

 

[Another Voice]

Maybe all she was doing was planning to visit Downtown Disney later that evening.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Maybe all she was doing was planning to visit Downtown Disney later that evening.

Nice!

 

[G8RFAN]

She deserves to be arrested. Concealed carry without a Concealed Carry Weapons License (CCWL) is illegal in FL as it is also in PA. CCWL holders in PA can enjoy full reciprocity in FL as do FL CCWL holders in PA. Ignorance is not an excuse. BTW, I have brought child safe scissors into WDW theme parks as part of DS's activity pack (paper, markers, tape, scissors) and never a single word or comment. Grandma must have had some wicked scissors....

 

[mitros]

Watch out for grandmas at MK..........

 

[cmash95]

they must have driven down because she would never have gotten the gun on a plane. I know that things can get tough for older people but a loaded gun in a purse without a permit... not a good idea. as was said before if you have a permit to carry from any state, Fl honors the permit. nice to see the bag checks work.

 

[DeadHead]

I'm sorry I just don't believe that she "forgot" that she had a loaded weapon and knife in her purse. That's a crock! She probably didn't know about the security at Disney now. She should be ashamed of herself. Nice example for the grandkids.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Kudos to Disney Security for finding the items.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Lilolvr]

Well done WDW Security team!

 

[KYMickey]

This is a wonderful example of how good Disney Security is! Obviously a grandmother would not draw a large amount of suspicion yet even when that person was not suspicious the security check found unauthorized items. I'm sure if someone looks or acts suspicious their bags are checked even closer. This incident actually makes me feel safer when visiting Disney.

 

[frayedend]

This is a wonderful example of how good Disney Security is! Obviously a grandmother would not draw a large amount of suspicion yet even when that person was not suspicious the security check found unauthorized items. I'm sure if someone looks or acts suspicious their bags are checked even closer. This incident actually makes me feel safer when visiting Disney.

I won't start a gun debate as is in another part of the forum. But if someone wants to bring a gun or any other banned item into Disney, they simply need to put it on themselves instead of in their purse. Let's face it, Disney got lucky finding this. I've had bags searched fairly well and other times where they just looked inside quickly and that was it. But they never searched anything but the bags. No bag, you walk right on in.

 

[mitros]

I won't start a gun debate as is in another part of the forum. But if someone wants to bring a gun or any other banned item into Disney, they simply need to put it on themselves instead of in their purse. Let's face it, Disney got lucky finding this. I've had bags searched fairly well and other times where they just looked inside quickly and that was it. But they never searched anything but the bags. No bag, you walk right on in.

Good point.......

 

[huey578]

She is one stupid and careless lady. She's lucky none of her grand kids have gotten hold of her purse and her forgotten pistol, knife and dynamite.

 

[manning]

Hmm sounds like a retired swat person.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I won't start a gun debate as is in another part of the forum. But if someone wants to bring a gun or any other banned item into Disney, they simply need to put it on themselves instead of in their purse. Let's face it, Disney got lucky finding this. I've had bags searched fairly well and other times where they just looked inside quickly and that was it. But they never searched anything but the bags. No bag, you walk right on in.

I was at the parks last week after this incident and let me tell you, they stepped up the way they checked bags. It was interesting because they even made me open my zipper wallet and checked that. Some people were getting annoyed with how security was checking things, but I'd rather be safe than sorry!

 

[boomhauer]

Maybe all she was doing was planning to visit Downtown Disney later that evening.

 

[sbell111]

She is one stupid and careless lady. She's lucky none of her grand kids have gotten hold of her purse and her forgotten pistol, knife and dynamite.

I assume that your post was completely in jest.

As you likely noticed in the news story, the gun was carried safely. Personally, I would never carry a weapon without a round in the chamber, but she did.

If she didn't have a carry permit, she'll get into some trouble. Other than that, I think that people need to let this issue go.

 

[micki7337]

My family and I were at WDW when this all happened. We heard more of this on the news that night than any where else. and we were in the park that day they really played it down like they should.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I always thought it ridiculous as the security at the airports were randomly "searching" 80+ year old women.
Maybe more to that than I first thought??