Flashlights Prohibited?

[redsfairlane]

I had a small camera held by security at a concert once, there were lots of flashes going off during the show, and at the end of it, mine appeared to be the only one waiting to be picked up at the desk.

Another event a few years ago, would allow drinks and snacks, but only in plastic, no glass, fair enough.

Now, banning lights in caves,,come on!

 

[asdalton]

I know firsthand that they don't allow flashlights inside of the Kartchner Caverns in AZ (guided tour only)! I'm sure there's a very good reason why, but it drives me crazy not being able to look in places that they didn't already have illuminated (which was a good bit of the cave). It's been a while since I've been in other guided cave tours but I'm guessing others probably have the same rules.

I've been on a few cave tours (including Mammoth Cave in Kentucky) and I've never heard of such a rule.

 

[RGB_LED]

Good grief, I hope this isn't true. I have gone to various venues such as ACC / Roger's Centre / BMO Field in Toronto with my NiteCore EX10 / D10 on a holster, SS C3 in pocket, even a SF 6P / CL1H in my courier bag and I've never had an issues. I think it depends on the size and type of light ie. anything with crenalated bezel may look like a weapon and a cause for concern. Also, I find that when I carry my courier bag, they tend to do the once-over more often but they have yet to confiscate or ban my lights.

If anything, the number of camera flashes that go off during the game would seem to me to be more distracting but, I suppose they try to err on side of caution... I guess if you have a big light, they may wonder why you would need that. So, I would probably just as well leave any HID or 6D maglites at home...

Seriously, if they ever banned me from carrying a NC EX10 or such, at an indoor event / game, then that would be as ridiculous as banning nail clippers on an airplane. :thumbsdow

 

[Jedi Knife]

It certainly is ridiculous, and could prevent critical assistance in emergencies. The worst thing is that they put a blanket ban on all flashlights, not just ones of a particular size, design, etc. I don't like carrying a nice light on the pretense that it should be OK with the rules.

 

[gsegelk]

Yeah, I was surprised also about the restriction on lights in the Kartchner Caverns in AZ. In the case of the tour in this particular cavern system, it went like this: 1. They led us into a completely dark cavern (the path was dimly lit) and we all lined up along a rail. 2. They started talking about a formation and briefly turned on only the lights that illuminated it and then turned the lights off to talk about another formation. 3. Step #2 was repeated for each formation. 4. We left that cavern (with the lights completely off) and moved through a tunnel/cave to another cavern.

About halfway through we were on the way to another cavern and I turned on my Nitecore EX10 for about 2 secs to catch one more glimpse of a formation. Man the tour guides got !! I felt like a kid who had just got caught stealing candy from a store :whoopin:!!

After typing all this, I finally remember why they got so upset about it and it wasn't due to lighting the cave. It is one of the few 'living' caves in the world and they are EXTREMELY particular in preserving the cave (of course). B/c of this, they go to all extremes to make sure it stays this way, including going through a series of airtight chambers in order to enter (to minimize changing the humidity levels) and going through a mist system to minimize any lent staying behind in the cave. They also made it clear that we should not have anything that could potentially be left in the cave (gum, paper, etc). So their disdain for flashlights is that they could potentially be dropped in one of the caverns. Now that I remember the reason I'm embarrassed to say that I was 'that guy'. I did make sure I had the lanyard firmly around my wrist but that by no means justifies it:tsk:

Anyway, just wanted to follow up on this. Here's a link to the state park web page saying what is and isn't allowed: link

 

[Search]

When you walk into a court you get searched. Why would you care with the cops in there.

In a sporting even.. Just put your EDC in your pocket. They aren't going to know.

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

Now I can just imagine some of us writing down this excuse for not being able to do jury duty: I cannot perform the civil service of jury duty as I suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder and therefore cannot travel anywhere I am banned from carrying a flashlight on me at all times.

 

[65535]

I can remember a few cases where flashlights were used to dsitract professional athletes. It's to big a risk to take you can't tell who's a normal person and who likes ruining things.

 

[ackbar]

I remember last year when I went to the Wax Museum in Vegas, I was on point leading a few people through the haunted section. It was dark and the logical path lead to a dead end. If memory serves, the entrance to the next section were blocked off with a curtain or something. I turned on my LF5XT on low to get my bearing and got yelled at by one of the actors.

I swear, I was inches away from pounding his head in.

Lets just say this his boss got an ear full.

 

[KiwiMark]

Now I can just imagine some of us writing down this excuse for not being able to do jury duty: I cannot perform the civil service of jury duty as I suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder and therefore cannot travel anywhere I am banned from carrying a flashlight on me at all times.

I am sure that many here would be able to get a letter from a psychiatrist to back up their claim.

 

[Daekar]

Have you guys noticed the insidious part about this? We're being told we can't have something just in case we might do something they don't like. It's not that, if you shine the light in someone's eyes to make them screw up you're escorted out or your light taken, but you're just plain ol' not allowed to have it. Same thing with guns and knives... we're not allowed auto-opening, select-fire, full-auto, or firearms with both a stock and a barrel shorter than 16" because we might do something bad. We don't even get a chance to do something bad, our rights are abridged before we even commit a crime! Does it remind anybody else of Minority Report?

The sad thing is we're so used to being told we can have things for our own good it doesn't even occur to us that we're being punished for something we haven't done...

I understand that the owners of private property have the right to determine what may come onto their premises and that right should be respected, but I agree that I don't find it worth spending $$$ to give up my rights... especially when those are usually exactly the places I would want a flashlight and my concealed-carry pistols.

 

[stefanj]

FWIW Lights are banned from caves because of the potential to disturb the wildlife (main bats and blind insects). The cave tours run a very fine line between allowing us to see the sites and protecting the delicate balance of the cave system. As for banning lights from large public gatherings- well kinda stupid- especially considering the panic that insues when a power failure occurs (it happened locally durning a football game this autumn)

 

[GregWormald]

The reality of 'living' caves and light:
A living cave is one where the stalactites and stalagmites are still growing as the water percolates downwards. Exposure to light causes the growth of lichen, etc. in the water and can kill the cave.
Lots of 'dead' caves were alive before they realised this.
Greg

 

[276]

Does that go for colored leds too, like red,blue, green ?

 

[copperfox]

Have you guys noticed the insidious part about this? We're being told we can't have something just in case we might do something they don't like. It's not that, if you shine the light in someone's eyes to make them screw up you're escorted out or your light taken, but you're just plain ol' not allowed to have it. Same thing with guns and knives... we're not allowed auto-opening, select-fire, full-auto, or firearms with both a stock and a barrel shorter than 16" because we might do something bad. We don't even get a chance to do something bad, our rights are abridged before we even commit a crime! Does it remind anybody else of Minority Report?

The sad thing is we're so used to being told we can have things for our own good it doesn't even occur to us that we're being punished for something we haven't done...

I understand that the owners of private property have the right to determine what may come onto their premises and that right should be respected, but I agree that I don't find it worth spending $$$ to give up my rights... especially when those are usually exactly the places I would want a flashlight and my concealed-carry pistols.

You said it!! I agree 100%

 

[RyanA]

What I find odd is that most sporting events are very well lit. I can't imagine any light portable enough to bring to a game that would make a noticeable difference in the lighting, It might be distracting at the best, but in the sort of sense that someone looking at the point of light might be curious to know where it's coming from, not really in any sort of dazling or blinding sense. A lazer could be a problem, but unless someone brought a maxabeam to a game:shrug: But I suppose if they have a ban on flash photography they could get away with this. However, I think this is the sort of over protection that ventures into the realm of irresponsibility.

 

[Liquidspaceman]

I don't know the reasons for the ban on flashlights, but did you ever consider that they may ban them from major events for the potential that flashlights can house hidden weapons?

I mean it's very easy to convert any flashlight into a single or double shot gun. So before everyone "jumps the gun" on why they are banned, maybe you should consider that maybe it's for the safety from things like this happening?

And yes, I realize there are cellphones that can be disguised as guns as well and some events ban these as well. I think in this day and age, I could see a lot of "potential hidden weapons" being banned. If it's just to be jerks, then I could see getting upset. But if it's to prevent hidden weapons from being snuck in, then I don't see a problem with banning them from sporting events, colliseums, etc.

Just my opinion.

 

[cbxer55]

So far, the only place I have gone that had a problem with my flashlights, was the Oklahoma County Sheriffs Building. I had gone there to pick up my Concealed Weapon License. I left my knife and Leatherman in the car, but kept my two Surefires on me. They took them from me, but gave them back as I was leaving.
Other than that, i avoid any place where there might be a problem with weapons, since I usually carry two guns, two knives two lights, and a Leatherman every day. If they have a problem with me and my rights, I will take my business elsewhere.
Sports? I cannot stand sports. I'd rather watch paint dry!

 

[Jedi Knife]

So far, the only place I have gone that had a problem with my flashlights, was the Oklahoma County Sheriffs Building. I had gone there to pick up my Concealed Weapon License. I left my knife and Leatherman in the car, but kept my two Surefires on me. They took them from me, but gave them back as I was leaving.
Other than that, i avoid any place where there might be a problem with weapons, since I usually carry two guns, two knives two lights, and a Leatherman every day. If they have a problem with me and my rights, I will take my business elsewhere.
Sports? I cannot stand sports. I'd rather watch paint dry!

I agree with you on most sports, but the thing about this is that it sets a precedent- blanket bans on harmless (and potentially life saving) objects, and encourages this practice in other venues.

 

[b1029384756]

Well, I'm new here and am looking to have a 12D Maglite made, so this thread is definitely relevant to my interests.

https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/221328
I posted a story in the above thread about what happened to me, getting arrested and charged for possession of a tire pressure tool, and agreed not to post anymore on politics so as not to derail the thread, but since this seems to be an entire thread dedicated to it, I assume that it's okay in this thread.

I agree 100% with it being a problem that we assume bad intent these days and ban having something on the premise that it might make the person capable of committing a crime. It's also much easier to get around having to prove intent to commit a crime, by making it in itself a crime to have the appearance of having such intent.

On the other hand, I can understand why people would assume bad intent at a stadium, as the closest NFL stadium to me features a courtroom on premises to handle criminal behavior during the game and it's usually pretty busy.

The problem is that even though it's also not right to tell a private company what they can and can't allow, if they choose to ban flashlights, cell phones, or anything else, people just end up getting used to the idea and don't even think that at one time it wasn't considered normal not to be able to have anything, which allows more and more places to adopt the same requirements, or to further expand restrictions. Halloween used to be fun for kids even sometimes adults to wear costumes but now most local businesses do not allow anyone to cover their face, so if you want to stop at a 7-Eleven, forget it, and in some places it's even illegal to wear masks on Halloween. No one really questions it since it does seem to serve a protective purpose, and it's just accepted as the standard now.