Gun rights advocates aim to take firearms into zoos

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Newsweek

June 27, 2017
Harriet Sinclair
Posted with permission from Newsweek


Gun rights advocates are demanding people be allowed to carry firearms into public zoos nationwide.

Their calls for packing pistols while viewing caged animals setback on Friday, however, when a judge in St Louis ruled in favor of retaining a ban on firearms at the St. Louis Zoo.

"The zoo has shown that the safety, patronage and image of the zoo will be compromised if visitors are permitted to carry firearms or other weapons on zoo property, which would significantly harm the level of visitorship, as well as the mission, the public image and autonomy of the zoo as an institution," Judge Joan Moriarty wrote in her ruling, which was seen by the Associated Press on Monday.

Judge Moriarty’s ruling, in which she found the zoo gun ban was not unconstitutional, upholds a temporary ban that came into force in June 2015, after Ohio gun rights activist Jeffry Smith said he was planning go into the zoo with a group of armed people in order to challenge the zoo’s gun ban.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/gun-rights-advocates-aim-to-take-firearms-into-zoos/

---

[Initech]

1. And they say we're the violent ones. Right.

[Matthew28]

2. These people are like the taliban

Everything is about God, guns and death to them. They're cancer on our society.

[RKP5637]

28. They are, they are cut from the same piece of cloth, just a different country! n/t

[CurtEastPoint]

3. I'm sorry but that last one is not entirely on this planet. Look at that face. Jesus Christ.

[Metro135]

10. The intelligence just radiates doesn't it?

And is a stomach that looks as if you've swallowed a beach ball a requirement of all men who join this august society?

[Aristus]

16. Maybe they wouldn't feel the need for all that bang-bang if they just pumped some

iron once in a while.

[Dave Starsky]

47. I laughed out loud when I saw that.

This is why you don't bury people in the Pet Sematary.

[MountCleaners]

4. I'm surprised they want to go to the zoo

Most animals have better bullshit detectors than people.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

5. Pathetic little angry inchers

[Initech]

13. If I walk into a place and I see people holding giant shotguns...

I'm immediately turning around and walking out. And I will not hesitate to let the owners know.

[dhill926]

23. yep....

[RKP5637]

29. Same here! In fact, looking at that deranged bunch, even without guns, I would

likely walk out.

[billh58]

6. Responsible gun owners

being responsible for making themselves look like the imbeciles they are. Ted Nugent must be so proud of these armed and dangerous "patriots."

[SethH]

7. if animals know we are armed

they are far less likely to break out of their cages and eat us.

[GoneOffShore]

8. Time to point and laugh at these guys.

The only amendment they are worried about is the 2nd.

[yallerdawg]

9. And only the back end of the amendment.

They skip the first half explaining who should be armed and why!

But it is a lot of words if you read them all.

[groundloop]

12. I suppose anymore a 'well regulated militia' is anyone with an NRA card

Those pathetic people just can't get past the need to show off their artificial penises in public.

[Thomas Hurt]

11. You never know when you will have to take care of charging peafowl....

they let those things run loose in some of the zoos, don't you know....

[haele]

14. Why would they want to carry a loaded firearm in a Zoo?

Are they preparing themselves for terrorists or PETA will rampage through the facility with AK-47's, shooting wildly at visitors?
Do they want to wander around evangelizing zoo patrons on how great it is to feel like you're able to instantly protect yourself and the public along with the 2nd Amendment against anything?

Or do they just want to walk around scaring "Liberals" and other wimpy anti-gunners - like the grandfather bringing his grandkids out for a safe and fun trip to the zoo to see the animals - and maybe occasionally "scope out" a likely lion or elephant from safety and pretend they're big game hunters?

I'm not seeing a concealed carry situation (or even a discrete open carry) where there may be a case that someone is actually concerned about protecting himself, I'm seeing people who are walking around with an obvious intent to intimidate the public and pretend it's an effort to "normalize" their fantasies of walking around playing cowboy. They said it themselves - they're not going to the zoo to appreciate the animals, or animal conservation. It's about a "no gun" policy at a zoo where there's a large number of animals that are also prize trophy animals to many "gun enthusiasts".

Frankly, these guys should have better things to do than make the zoo employees and parents with kids nervous about why they're at a zoo with long rifles.

Haele

[montana_hazeleyes]

15. What is wrong with these clowns?!?

I wouldn't want to be anywhere near them.

They better not let Rumps boys in zoo with guns!

[FiveGoodMen]

17. What the bloody, motherfucking hell?!

EOM

[sandensea]

18. Talk about the zoo coming to the zoo.

These what animals would refer to as "animals" - in the worst sense of the word.

[riversedge]

19. Just a bunch of little men carrying their p... around. tah tah.

[Coventina]

20. How long before: IT'S COMING RIGHT FOR US!!!!

[smirkymonkey]

42. LOL!

Funny, but you know something? It's probably not too far from the truth. I can actually see that happening. Sick mofos!

[jpak]

21. How "Family Friendly" of them

Lead Balloon

yup

[chowder66]

22. Next it will be guns for prisoners. nt

[Sunlei]

24. Guns out of the home, people should be required to carry very good insurance on each gun to cover

ANY accidents or loss of the gun to thieves. Shouldn't be allowed to leave a gun unattended in a car either without extra car insurance.

[dhill926]

25. methinks these fine gentlemen lack a little self awareness....

I'm with the woman in the second photo who appears to be laughing at them. Of course I reckon that could get you shot...

[democratisphere]

26. Jeff Smith looks like an insane serial killer.

Disgusting piece of sh't.

[NeoConsSuck]

27. If they're allowed in with guns...

Guaranteed, within one week, one of these imbeciles would feel threatened by one of the larger zoo animals, and shoot the animal dead.

[blueinredohio]

30. Why in hell would you need to take a gun to the zoo?

[rockfordfile]

31. Because they're idiots.

[Initech]

39. Why in hell do you need to take giant guns anywhere?

Bill Maher had a good New Rule a while back: "You're not gun owners, you're ammosexuals. And in case you deny that you have an intimate relationship with your gun, consider this: you're taking it out to dinner."

[Cosmocat]

45. Because this country is THAT fucking stupid at this point

nm

[rockfordfile]

32. Those people look like morons in those pics

[lunasun]

40. Probably because they are

[Paladin]

48. They ALL look like morons, in ALL the pictures. (nt)

[Hoyt]

33. Bet my rear every damn one of them is an ignorant white wing racist.

[lunasun]

41. It's St Louis so you are most likely correct and imagine what could happen with the armed there

and black youth visiting a zoo.
Can't even be safe walking around a zoo?

[Laffy Kat]

34. Trophy hunting.

[pansypoo53219]

35. do these BABIES need a blankie too?

[McCamy Taylor]

36. The only reason for this is they want to shoot an animal

It is so much cheaper to bag a tiger in a zoo than to go on a safari. Zoos should require rifle packing patrons to post a million dollar bond or whatever it would cost to replace their most expensive animal in case a gun "accidentally goes off." Suddenly no one would want to go hunting in a zoo.

[Flaleftist]

37. You'd think they were being asked to leave their dicks in their car.

Hmmmm

[smirkymonkey]

43. You're on to something!

[Red Mountain]

38. They can already carry there....

just not legally. If they're that damn scared to go to the zoo without a gun no doubt they do.

These are zealots, people. No reasoning with them.

[smirkymonkey]

44. Look at them. Just look at them.

That's all I have to say.

[Vinca]

46. Why do I think that tall guy is wearing a pink lace thong??

[RobinA]

49. I'm A 5'7" Female

and I'm not as scared of the world as these burly men appear to be. Hell, I'm a social worker whose job it used to be to tramp through crack houses making sure the kids were in no immediate danger. Unarmed. These guys need a rifle AND a side arm to go to the zoo? Truly sad. And, well...kinda laughable, too.

[logosoco]

50. I am 52 years old and have been a frequent visitor to the St. Louis Zoo

my entire life. I have taken my kids and now my grandkids there many, many times. There is no need for anyone to have a firearm at this zoo. If these folks are so afraid, they should just stay home. And they need to realize that any entity is allowed to ban firearms from the premises. If they can't deal with that fact, they can avoid going there.

[Shell_Seas]

51. They've been pushing this issue in Texas well over a year.

And they won. The Houston zoo had to take down its "no guns allowed" sign. State law allows them to open carry in public parks.