Wayne -
For most of us, we still need to continue to look at our current legal situation - municipal, county, state, and federal. The recent SCOTUS decision was looking primarily at what restrictions can be put into place in order to prevent the individual carry of a firearm. Specifically, this affects lawful carry of a firearm in New York State. I would expect future challenges in other states. Until there are changes in the law regarding your jurisdiction, continue operations as if nothing has changed.
The following is not a one-size-fits-all solution but I would recommend actions to take:
- Determine how your organization fits within the local jurisdiction - are you 501(c)3? Government? For-Profit? Each has varying rights/responsibilities.
- Ensure your signage is correct and up-to-date - "This is City/County/State/Federal/Private Property - for a complete list of applicable laws/rules call...(with QR Code to online). I know - I hate signs also.
- Establish common sense procedures to follow if someone is on your property with a firearm (in accordance with local laws and your own organizational policies/rules)
- Train staff appropriately - what actions to take, who to report to, who engages the individual
- Maintain good relations with your local police agency. Do they know you and your site/facility? You do not want to be strangers when you need them.
One unfortunate thing which may happen at individual sites/museums/public spaces is a "Constitutional Carry Audit" or "Open Carry Audit". This is an exercise performed by (typically) individuals who are in public, lawfully carrying firearms in the open. They will often do this with a Go-Pro or some other camera setup to record this "audit" of the local jurisdiction. Their hope is to encounter local law enforcement to gauge a response, educate them in the law (as they understand it, and maybe get YouTube famous. They do not often understand that although you appear to be a "public space," you have rights and responsibilities as a property owner.
Good Luck!
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David Kennedy
Curator of Collections and Exhibits
US Marshals Museum
Fort Smith, AR
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-24-2022 11:28 AM
From: Wayne LaBar
Subject: Firearms and the Supreme Court Ruling
Greetings
So I am curious if AAM has anyone or a group looking into the ramifications of the latest Supreme Court ruling and how public spaces will be defined and museums relative to the right to bear arms in public. Now I believe that private institutions can have polices prohibiting firearms so this may allow museums to do so I also wondering if that hold for government museums. Just to point out that parks are a place where prohibitions have already been ruled as nonapplicable. This may make some museums' immediate grounds problematic. I think it might be good to get a group together. Thoughts?
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Wayne LaBar
Executive Director
Cape Fear Museum of History and Science
Wilmington NC
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