KSL.com reporting metal detectors at Jazz Game are a great addition.
The people at Larry H. Miller Entertainment Group who run the arena that houses the Utah Jazz and other sporting and concert events have decided to make everyone pass through a metal detector.
To review, if a government building in Utah requires you to disarm, they must provide a locker for your sidearm. For a privately owned business or residence, there is no storage requirement. In Utah, you can carry your sidearm into businesses or residences unless you are asked to leave (to refuse would be trespassing.)
So what they are doing is you voluntarily submit to metal detection. If you don’t, they ask you to leave. If they find you legally carrying a gun, you are asked to leave. Fair enough. I don’t have to buy Jazz tickets. If I really want to see maybe the most eloquent speakers of our time throw a ball through a hoop while sporting the awesomest tattoos on the planet, then I can take the risk that nothing will happen to me or my family between leaving the car, arriving at the game, watching the game, and then finally entering the car. (Actually, that does sound more risky than average since EnergySolutions Arena is in the city.)
I’m wondering what they think this will accomplish. Have there been specific threats to athletes, musicians, monster truck drivers, motorcyclists, staff, or patrons at the arena? If so, there were airport metal detectors before 9-11, so why not have the citizen sheep dog on hand? If not, then why inconvenience everyone? My air travel is less than it used to be because I don’t want to be hassled. I just don’t take the trip, or I’ll pick a closer/longer vacation so I can take the minivan. Seriously. So now I won’t see a sporting event. If I do, it will be on t.v. in my house….while wearing my gun, thankyouverymuch.