Christmas? Hell, that’s nuthin’. You can forget Easter, Independence Day, Yom Kippur and Thanksgiving, too. In St. Louis, the one high holiday that trumps them all is Opening Day, which is today. The city’s a sea of red, with plenty of thinly-veiled, lamely transparent excuses for playing hooky proffered all across Cardinal Nation this afternoon as fans figure ways to skate out of work and catch the birds versus hated Cincinnati. If you’re lucky enough to have tickets, though, St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson has some advice for you . . .
“You can’t take your gun into the ballpark, even if you have a concealed carry permit you can’t take your gun into the ballpark. Don’t even bring your gun down and leave it locked in your car.”
Huh? We get that, like all MLB stadia, Busch is a gun-free zone. Ostensibly. But what’s that car thing?
“Unfortunately, there is a portion of the segment of the population that looks for people who leave their concealed carry in the car and then, in the second or third inning when people are enjoying the game, they go and break the window in the car and perhaps steal the gun.”
Isn’t that what car safes are for? And, you know, cops? But there’s good news. No one really has to worry about crime in or around the ballpark. Just ask the chief.
“Unless you’re engaged in a lifestyle that’s going to put you at risk, you’re not going to be the victim of violent crime going to a baseball game. You don’t need to bring your conceal and carry, you don’t need to bring your guns.”
Really? We know you’re relatively new to the job, chief. Maybe you haven’t had time to get the lay of the land yet. Until then, though, we think we’re going with a better-safe-than-sorry approach if it’s OK with you. Or even if it’s not. Go Cards!