Open Carry "Scare"? - Utah Park in Aurora

[Brian]

Was hanging out with the wife and kids letting them chase pokemon and play on the jungle gyms today at Utah Park, which is near Peoria and Jewell. Plenty of families with a ton of young kids, and several hundred millennial-to-middle-aged Pokemon hunters (holy cow there are a lot of them). People were extremely friendly, as has been the case with most of the people we've run into when they're chasing Pokemon. Around 5pm, I notice people starting to move fast, and a mom comes frantically running up to me and several others asking if I have kids and telling me to get them out of here. "Some weird guy with a gun stuck in the back of his pants, I've already called the cops." I asked for more details, but that was all I got before she took off.

Man that place cleared out fast. Within about 2 minutes, almost every single kid was gone, probably at least a hundred people easily, if not more - many were running or walking fast for the parking lot or elsewhere.

I never saw him, so I'm not sure if what the real story was. Heard from several others than he looked "odd", was there alone, and had a "black pistol" stuck very visible in the back of his pants, open carrying. No clue if any of that is true or not.

There's a school across the street - and a good portion, if not all, of the park will be well within the no-carry zone. Even if it turned out he was fully legal, I still struggle with this one, for several reasons.

[SideShow Bob]

There's a school across the street - and a good portion, if not all, of the park will be well within the no-carry zone. Even if it turned out he was fully legal, I still struggle with this one, for several reasons.

Unless the City of Aurora has the park posted against open an or concealed carry, the school plays no part. Carry is prohibited on the " Real Property and improvements of the property of schools."

Otherwise hundreds of people, including myself, would be in violation several times daily on our daily commute by merely driving on the streets in front of schools.

[cstone]

Sounds like a great way to get the park all for your own family's private use.Anything in the news about "odd" male committing criminal acts in the vicinity today? I haven't seen anything but I admit I haven't looked very hard either.

[Brian]

LOL, that lady was freaked out. I admit she scared me more running at me frantically asking "Do you have kids here???" than the thought of some guy with a gun.

Curious about the laws too... my understanding is different than what Bob mentioned. I thought CO had an exemption (for at least permit holders??) if you're in your car, but on foot, you're limited to the 1,000 foot "Gun Free School Zone" boundary that's defined in the federal law...? But I admit one of my biggest frustrations is trying to understand all that mess. When my wife asked me if the guy would be legally carrying or not, I didn't know what to tell her.

[Irving]

The law is like Bob said. I used to live in an apartment, and a year or two after we moved in, they built a school across the street. I would have been illegal just living there.

[PugnacAutMortem]

I was at Utah yesterday and noticed the signs specifically say no weapons. Either way though, is that even technically open carrying?

[cstone]

Here is an thread derailing question; Which would be more concerning, an odd man walking around the park with a handgun tucked in his waistband but not in his hands OR an odd man with a steak knife in his hand walking around the park?

What makes the man appear to be odd? What else is going on around the "odd" man?

To the OP, how long did you remain in the park after the panic stricken woman warned you? Obviously, with your family present the prudent move would be to gain some distance and avoid any known or potential danger. I am not attempting to second guess your choice. You were there and I was not.

[SideShow Bob]

I was at Utah yesterday and noticed the signs specifically say no weapons. Either way though, is that even technically open carrying?

If I recall correctly, "If any part of a firearm (handgun) is hidden, it is considered concealed." But then, this would make a OWB holstered handgun concealed...... Which I find this to contradicting in description......

[Brian]

Here is an thread derailing question; Which would be more concerning, an odd man walking around the park with a handgun tucked in his waistband but not in his hands OR an odd man with a steak knife in his hand walking around the park?

What makes the man appear to be odd? What else is going on around the "odd" man?

To the OP, how long did you remain in the park after the panic stricken woman warned you? Obviously, with your family present the prudent move would be to gain some distance and avoid any known or potential danger. I am not attempting to second guess your choice. You were there and I was not.

Yep, right or wrong, we left immediately, going the opposite direction, putting a building in between us and where the guy was rumored to be. Regardless of whatever feelings I have on the legalities, I'm not willing to put my wife and kids at risk, imaginary or not. My biggest concern on the way out was I couldn't locate this "odd" man or tell which direction he was moving. My wife was clearly very worried, but kept her head on her shoulders, and it was a good teaching moment for the kids too.

[MrPrena]

My kid has a monthly pass for Utah park indoor swimming pool this month. Grandma (my mom) walks Utah park every morning for exercise.
Overland High School. Last time I've been in the OHS was early 90s for summer session. Fairly safe place.