Posted on 02/18/2011 7:55:37 AM PST by jaydubya2
The bill would allow people to carry a gun almost anywhere in Indiana. That means licensed gun owners would be able to bring their firearms into libraries, parks, and sports arenas, including Lucas Oil Stadium.
Indianapolis
Colts owner Jim Irsay held a news conference Thursday to voice his opposition to Senate Bill 292.
The bill would allow people to carry a gun almost anywhere in Indiana. That means licensed gun owners would be able to bring their firearms into libraries, parks, and sports arenas, including Lucas Oil Stadium.
"It's not taking an issue of bearing firearms or anything. It's about, just at the event, families knowing that people aren't carrying weapons into the game," Irsay said.
Irsay said he believes the team would be unable to prevent guns from coming into Lucas Oil Stadium because the bill trumps any local gun ordinances like the one enforced by the Capitol Improvement Board at Lucas Oil Stadium.
"There is an absolute prohibition against the CIB enforcing our very reasonable and legitimate concerns about people bringing firearms into the stadium," Colts Attorney Dan Emerson said.
“I know folks are trying to put more into this than what it is.”
Senator Jim Tomes sponsored the bill. He said it takes a burden off of gun owners by eliminating city ordinances that complicate the current state law. He said he does not believe it would impact the Colts or their fans because of the private agreement each ticketholder makes with the team.
“If they don't want you bringing alcohol in or firearms in or they want you there with a shirt on that's their rule and if you accept that ticket, you've accepted their terms,” he said.
"The practical problem is we don't enforce that. We rely on the CIB and their hired security people," Emerson said.
Team Lawyer Dan Emerson said he believes the current version of the law would mean those security people wouldn't be able to do their job, and he doesn't believe any event is exempt, even the Super Bowl.
"Not the way I read that bill. The Super Bowl is not expressly carved out of that bill. There is an absolute restriction on the CIB," Emerson said.
Despite the concern, the Colts said they believe lawmakers will at least tweak the bill in order to keep guns out of any future games.
"I think reasonable people will understand what our concerns are and where the feelings of the families and everyone else is," Irsay said.
I may need it to defend myself from helmet flinging players like Brandon Jacobs.
Indiana has better not make the widdle “Colts” mad or they will find a Moving Van Company and slime outta town in the middle of the night like the coward-suck-a$$es that they are.
I know all the thugs that enter the stadium are most certainly going to obey gun laws./sarc
The laws are only followed by the law abiding, Irsay, you dopey lib.
Screw the NFL I hope there is no games next year
Indianapolis already got their super bowl champions. I say let some other city take the goats and wait 30 more years.
Why can’t the fans carry guns to the games? The thugs on the field are all armed where ever they go. Bars, whorehouses, drug deals, clubs, ect.
Irsay might want to consider eliminating the ‘shotgun’ formation from the Colts’ playbook. You know, to be sensitive to the problems of gun violence.
My question is, have the Colts or the stadium taken any public money? If so, they have made themselves a public institution and IMHO, have abandoned their rights to fully assert control over the property or its usage.
“Indiana has better not make the widdle “Colts” mad or they will find a Moving Van Company and slime outta town in the middle of the night like the coward-suck-a$$es that they are.”
then the taxpayers would lose the privilege of supporting these bloodsuckers.
Someone should remind Mr Irsay, that, even with the past success of the Colts in recent years, Indiana is still a Basketball state.
Indiana U may be down, but Butler was in the natl Championship game last year.
“Hoosiers” was not about football, Mr Irsay. Do not go against your fans 2d Amendment rights while your team is on the down slide
I agree with this viewpoint and have done so repeatedly.
Prepare to take incoming fire!
My question is, have the Colts or the stadium taken any public money? If so, they have made themselves a public institution and IMHO, have abandoned their rights to fully assert control over the property or its usage.
There are only 2 NFL stadiums not publicly owned: Miami’s Sun Life Stadium, and, (no kidding folks) FedEx Field...home of the Washington Redskins (in suburban Maryland)
All the others are either fully owned by a government, or, mostly owned by the government. This includes Lucas Oil Field, where the Indy Colts play
Thus, Irsay may not have a lot of say whether weapons could be brought in or not, since the stadium is mostly taxpayer owned
Well said.
There seems to be a dispute as to whether the law would affect the Colts.
I am 100% for gun rights, but I am also 100% for private property rights. A private property owner (or leassee) should be allowed to permit or prohibit weapons on their property at their pleasure.
I also believe the combination of beer, crazed sports fans and guns is something that a property owner would probably be wise to avoid.
The bottom line is, the state should not prohibit a property owner from allowing guns on his property, nor should it compel the property owner to allow them. Let the private property owners, guided by their own consciences, beliefs, common sense and, of course, the market, make that call.
The last name of this guy and his father are curse words in Baltimore to this day. What a low class thing they did to Baltimore. I still remember the pictures of the moving vans in the snow that early morning taking the legacy of the Baltimore Colts out of town.
I was not even a a Colts fan, but I thought the way it was done was disgusting and underhanded.
In that case, I would have no problem with the stadium owners having a policy of, "no weapons allowed." Similarly, I would be perfectly comfortable with them setting a policy of, "No person admitted without firearm." It's their property.
All the other stadiums that are taxpayer subsidized can go to hell. They have allowed themselves to become public institutions, and should humbly and quietly lower their heads and submit to their taxpayer bosses while repeating, "...the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
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