Trip to ohio

[32_d3gr33s]

Just got my cpl yesterday, and i plan on taking a trip to ohio.  I'm going to cedar point, and staying in one of their hotels.  I obviously wont be carrying into the park, but what about the hotel?  What would you do with your gun while at the park.  Ive only stayed at a hotel once in my life, so im not sure if their is somewhere to keep it, or if its even allowed in there.  Otherwise, i would have to keep it locked in my motorcycle, which isnt something that I really want to do.  any advise?

[FASBOLD]

You can buy a small locking case that is about the size of a book for $30-40. You can put your gun in that and put it in the hotel safe until you got back to the hotel.

I know that some amusement parks have lockers just inside the ticket area. If you had it locked up in such a case, you could put it in one of those lockers. 

Of course, check out the laws for Ohio at http://www.handgunlaw.us/ first.

I bought one to put in my checked luggage for a flight. They can also be fastened to your car, like in the trunk, etc. for a more secure way to keep your gun.

I got mine at Gander Mountain. I'm drawing a blank at the moment what the brand is.

Of course, they have bigger and stronger cases that are water resistant to three feet for a few minutes, but those are about $100 and up, and are much thicker, about 3 times thicker, than the cases I am talking about.

[gryphon]

I travel a lot for work and so stay in hotels for weeks at a time.  Many hotels have room safes.  You can use those, but make sure you check for a common backup combination like 1-2-3-4-5-6 or 0-0-0-0-0-0.  If those work, what you set won't be the only way to get in.  If they don't, that doesn't mean a backup combination doesn't exist, it just means the hotel changed it like they were supposed to.  The maid won't know what that new code is.

But truthfully the option I use if I don't have it (or them) with me is to just throw them in the nightstand and put a Do Not Disturb sign on the door.  If I want my room to be serviced I will lock them up, carry them, or put them in my vehicle.

[LD]

Check with the hotel before you go, most of the ones I have stayed in in OH do not allow guns.
A sign posted on the door or counter in OH carries the weight of law. It's NOT just a trespassing ticket there.
Other then that, most hotels will keep a package in their safe for you for a day if you ask them to. No need to tell them what is in the locked case you give them.

[32_d3gr33s]

 Thanks for the replies!  I have a nice little lockable gun case that will be coming with. I definitely will be checking if they allow guns at the hotel. Thanks again for the input

[hevymetal]

While visiting the amusement park at cedar point.

You can keep the firearm in the trunk of your car locked in a case, hoping someone doesn't steal it while your in the park or...

The amusement park at Cedar Point allows checking of firearms. I was there this weekend with the family and checked my Sig. HOWEVER they redesigned the entrance gates this year and the security house to the left of the entrance is now INSIDE the park. Before you used to be able to enter security on the outside of the gates. Now you have to enter the park through the main gate and proceed immediately to security.

The park police chief is very amicable and professional. I made him aware of the defect in design of the entrance and he agreed but said it's impossible to change at the moment but maybe in the future it could be addressed. He is pro gun and pro carry and has no problems with law abiding citizens checking their firearms while enjoying a day at the park with their family.

You will get a claim ticket, your firearm will be secured in the department safe. Then you present the ticket at the end of the day, your firearm is returned and you are escorted to the gate.

They do this as a courtesy, not as a requirement, so be sure to thank them

[TheQ]

While visiting the amusement park at cedar point.

You can keep the firearm in the trunk of your car locked in a case, hoping someone doesn't steal it while your in the park or...

The amusement park at Cedar Point allows checking of firearms. I was there this weekend with the family and checked my Sig. HOWEVER they redesigned the entrance gates this year and the security house to the left of the entrance is now INSIDE the park. Before you used to be able to enter security on the outside of the gates. Now you have to enter the park through the main gate and proceed immediately to security.

The park police chief is very amicable and professional. I made him aware of the defect in design of the entrance and he agreed but said it's impossible to change at the moment but maybe in the future it could be addressed. He is pro gun and pro carry and has no problems with law abiding citizens checking their firearms while enjoying a day at the park with their family.

You will get a claim ticket, your firearm will be secured in the department safe. Then you present the ticket at the end of the day, your firearm is returned and you are escorted to the gate.

They do this as a courtesy, not as a requirement, so be sure to thank them

Are amusement parks PFZs in Ohio?

[Ezerharden]

Are amusement parks PFZs in Ohio?

As I understand the law in Ohio, they are not PFZ's in and of themselves, but most are posted "No Guns" and as such carry the force of law in Ohio.

[gryphon]

If the signs meet the Ohio ordinance for such (placement, size), they carry the force of law.  Not so in Michigan.

And as I've said numerous times, I have never seen a no-firearms sign on a door of a hotel.  I've stayed in hotels in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Washington, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Maine (might have missed a few) as well as Michigan.

I travel extensively every year both on vacation and for work.

[hevymetal]

Are amusement parks PFZs in Ohio?

To carry around the park and on the rides YES. Infact a few years back a federal agent didn't check his gun and lost it on a coaster, which caused quite the problem.

The police chief is aware that the gate setup as it is this year makes it impossible to check your gun without entering the park. I have checked my firearms there for the last several years while vacationing with the family and it has never been an issue. If you go directly to security (to the left of the gate) after entering the gate you shouldn't have a problem. Ask for an escort directly to security if it makes you feel better. When you get to security tell them you need to check your firearm rather then leaving it in your trunk and hoping it isn't stolen while your in the park.. The officers I spoke with all agreed it was a better idea to check it in and secure it.

You will be escorted by an officer through the park to the police station located in the center of the park. If you get there BEFORE the park opens you will probably get a ride in the squad car down the park midway.