The only thing that bothers me is the idea of carrying, somehow losing my gun (hasn't ever happened, but anything is possible) , and some random kid finding it. THAT WOULD SUCK. You just have to be 100x more aware of your firearm than you already are with that many kids around. I will tell you now, that at the Zoo, and at the Children's Museum, I really did not see/feel any threat, and since it cost money to go in there, unless it is a terrorist or the damn robutt aliens, the riff raff typically stays the hell out.
just remember keep it covered and be sure your not presenting any signs that you are, ie touching your hip every 5 minutes to the watchful eye they will know something is up
Didn't they open some kind of school at the Childrens Museum?
It's not necessarily carrying in the Zoo and the Museum that are the concerns. It's walking in the parking lots, or leaving your pistol in the car to get stolen. I know three different people who have been jumped in supposedly-safe parking lots in the last two years. I've been approached in parking lots twice recently, although both times were by panhandlers and not muggers. ...
... My favorite response: "No, it's my colostomy bag and I don't appreciate you pointing it out in front of everyone, you insensitive clod!"
Remember this too: if a school has the facilities, and is a school function, you will be in deep dish pizza if a soccer mom sees it on accident.
That's said, concealed means concealed.
Didn't they open some kind of school at the Childrens Museum?
Personally, I do not subscribe (wholly) to the above.
Just because a school group shows up doesn't mean the entire place suddenly becomes a no-carry zone. HOWEVER, if a whole gaggle of schools come together and rent out the entire venue, to the exclusion of all others, then I would agree it being a no-carry zone.
Greenwood Park Mall doesn't suddenly become a no-carry zone (according to the law) just because the Greenwood High School choir goes to sing some Christmas songs...
There IS a preschool of sorts now operating at the Children's Museum. However, I do not believe that it meets the Indiana Code for being an actual bona-fide "preschool."
It is also not billed as being a "day care", even though it's operation/function is more akin to that of a day care.
I would strongly urge you to seek out the Children's Museum's preschools information yourself.
IC 35-41-1-24.7
"School property" defined
Sec. 24.7. "School property" means the following:
(1) A building or other structure owned or rented by:
(A) a school corporation;
(B) an entity that is required to be licensed under IC 12-17.2 or IC 31-27;
(C) a private school that is not supported and maintained by funds realized from the imposition of a tax on property, income, or sales; or
(D) a federal, state, local, or nonprofit program or service operated to serve, assist, or otherwise benefit children who are at least three (3) years of age and not yet enrolled in kindergarten, including the following:
(i) A Head Start program under 42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.
(ii) A special education preschool program.
(iii) A developmental child care program for preschool children.
(2) The grounds adjacent to and owned or rented in common with a building or other structure described in subdivision (1).
As added by P.L.296-1987, SEC.4. Amended by P.L.34-1991, SEC.27; P.L.9-1991, SEC.95; P.L.2-1992, SEC.880; P.L.81-1992, SEC.38; P.L.1-1993, SEC.240; P.L.160-1994, SEC.1; P.L.1-2005, SEC.227; P.L.145-2006, SEC.370.
Also, how do you accidentally lose your gun? For me, it would be like accidentally losing my arm.
If the pre-school is a LICENSED pre-school with the State of Indiana then the museum becomes a school. So the question is does anyone one know if the pre-school is LICENSED by the state?
This brings up another topic: Carry at colleges and universities. Most ban carry, but all they could do is ask you to leave. However, lots of larger colleges and universities have on-site daycare facilities. IUPUI's center is licensed, and they also offer Kindergarten classes:
Center for Young Children : Finance and Administration : IUPUI
Center for Young Children : Finance and Administration : IUPUI
On edit, the definition of school property is "A building or other structure owned or rented..." and "The grounds adjacent to and owned or rented in common with a building or other structure described in subdivision (1)." Something to definitely take note of with these private daycare centers that end up offering licensed Kindergarten classes.
Last fall I got robbed in the parking lot across the street from the Children's Museum.
I would not carry at the Children's Museum now they have the so-called "pre-school". I think any attempt to say it isn't a real pre-school would be futile given the fact your average person would freak out knowing that people carry guns around children (THINK OF THE CHILDREN!). I always carried there until they opened the pre-school.
As for those implying you are safe at the Children's Museum... the 30th and Illinois area has a LOT OF VIOLENT CRIME! In fact, I think when I was looking at the stats a while back 30th and MLK (just a couple blocks away) was the 2nd worst IMPD area (or whatever they call them).
As for the school function thing... someone already mentioned there was no solid answer. However I don't believe the courts would rule that an area becomes a school just because a school bus pulls up. I believe the intent of the law would prevail. The intent was to prevent people from carrying while ATTENDING a school function... not to turn some random guy eating at McDonalds into a felon just because a school group shows up. Now if you went to McDonalds to meet up with your kids field trip, then I believe the courts would rule against you. Of course this is just MHO.