Tosta Dojen
Regular Member
At the end of May, I had an encounter with the staff of Festival in the Park. This Monday, I spoke to the Roanoke City Council about it. A video recording (RealPlayer format) of the meeting is available in the City Council's archives, with my address beginning at 2:17:44. You can also read my prepared remarks:
Mr. Mayor, Honorable City Council Members:
I want to tell you about my experience at Festival in the Park, operated by EventZone in Elmwood Park over Memorial Day weekend.
On Sunday, May 29th, I took my wife and daughters to the festival. For my protection and my family's protection, I was carrying an openly-displayed handgun, properly secured in its holster. Shortly after I arrived, I was confronted by Mr. Travis Sorrells, the President of Festival in the Park, who told me that it was against the festival rules for me to have my pistol there. When I protested that I was in a public park, Mr. Sorrells claimed that EventZone had rented the park, as well as the surrounding sidewalks and adjoining street. He also claimed that the festival was an entirely private affair that had nothing to do with the City of Roanoke.
It turns out that these claims are untrue. I requested copies of the City's records pertaining to the festival, and there is nothing in anything I received that reflects a rental of the streets or sidewalks. Furthermore, I found that EventZone executed a contract with the City and was paid $148,932 to operate this festival and other festivals throughout the year. If EventZone is obligated to run the festival pursuant to a six-figure contract with the City, I don't see how Mr. Sorrells can claim that the City has nothing to do with it.
However, I didn't know about any of this on the 29th of May, so I had no reason to doubt Mr. Sorrell's claim of authority to set rules for the park. I had reviewed the Festival's web page, www.roanokefestival.org, which lists very few rules. It did not and still does not say anything about firearms. Nevertheless, in light of Mr. Sorrells apparent authority, I returned to my vehicle, stored my pistol, put my jacket back on, and rejoined my family.
I was subsequently accosted by EventZone's security agents, who started to make wild accusations against me. One man, who did not give his name, accused me of breaking laws that prohibit the possession of firearms within a thousand feet of a courthouse or public library. Another man, Mr. Jeff Taylor, would later accuse me of breaking a law that proscribes possession within a thousand feet of the Social Security building. There's a fundamental problem with their accusations: the laws they cite do not actually exist.
When I told them as much, the man whose name I didn't get began to demand that I submit to a search to prove that I had complied with their earlier request, telling me that he'd call the police and have them perform the search if I didn't do so voluntarily. I have very little tolerance for people who try to enforce nonexistent laws, and even less for those who try to bully me into giving up my personal liberty. I refused.
The police were called, and I was handcuffed and thoroughly searched in front of my wife and daughters. Sergeant John Stephens determined that I had not committed any crime, and told me that because this was the City's festival, I could not be prevented from openly carrying my handgun. That came as a great surprise, given Mr. Sorrell's earlier claims.
There are several things wrong here. First, by prohibiting the possession of firearms at its festivals through the actions of its agent, EventZone, the City is illegally regulating firearms in violation of Virginia Code §15.2-915. I demand that the City immediately rescind its unlawful regulation, and direct its agents to do the same.
Second, EventZone is claiming that a festival funded by public money, held on public property, and open to the public, is a private event. They are reaping the benefits of taxpayer funding, and then using their authority to deny access to members of the public who have done nothing wrong – even on sidewalks that they haven't rented. They need to be reminded that the City belongs to the people, and not to EventZone.
Third, EventZone's security is incompetent. Agents who make up their own laws have no business in the security field. Mr. Taylor in particular ought to know better, given that he is apparently an NRA instructor who is paid to teach firearms law. I intend to follow up with DCJS, and so I want to be given the names of the security agents involved and that of their agency. Although the contract with EventZone requires them to file a written security plan that includes this information, it appears that they failed to do so – when I specifically requested a copy of that document, the City was unable to provide it. As a result, I have no idea whether these agents are even licensed to provide private security, or whether they were doing so illegally.
Finally, the City needs to reconsider its relationship with EventZone. Mr. Sorrells claims that the City had nothing to do with Festival in the Park. If I were a member of this council, I would be moving to make that a reality by terminating the City's contract with EventZone and cutting off their funding. I trust that you will take appropriate action.
Thank you for your time.
Mr. Mayor, Honorable City Council Members:
I want to tell you about my experience at Festival in the Park, operated by EventZone in Elmwood Park over Memorial Day weekend.
On Sunday, May 29th, I took my wife and daughters to the festival. For my protection and my family's protection, I was carrying an openly-displayed handgun, properly secured in its holster. Shortly after I arrived, I was confronted by Mr. Travis Sorrells, the President of Festival in the Park, who told me that it was against the festival rules for me to have my pistol there. When I protested that I was in a public park, Mr. Sorrells claimed that EventZone had rented the park, as well as the surrounding sidewalks and adjoining street. He also claimed that the festival was an entirely private affair that had nothing to do with the City of Roanoke.
It turns out that these claims are untrue. I requested copies of the City's records pertaining to the festival, and there is nothing in anything I received that reflects a rental of the streets or sidewalks. Furthermore, I found that EventZone executed a contract with the City and was paid $148,932 to operate this festival and other festivals throughout the year. If EventZone is obligated to run the festival pursuant to a six-figure contract with the City, I don't see how Mr. Sorrells can claim that the City has nothing to do with it.
However, I didn't know about any of this on the 29th of May, so I had no reason to doubt Mr. Sorrell's claim of authority to set rules for the park. I had reviewed the Festival's web page, www.roanokefestival.org, which lists very few rules. It did not and still does not say anything about firearms. Nevertheless, in light of Mr. Sorrells apparent authority, I returned to my vehicle, stored my pistol, put my jacket back on, and rejoined my family.
I was subsequently accosted by EventZone's security agents, who started to make wild accusations against me. One man, who did not give his name, accused me of breaking laws that prohibit the possession of firearms within a thousand feet of a courthouse or public library. Another man, Mr. Jeff Taylor, would later accuse me of breaking a law that proscribes possession within a thousand feet of the Social Security building. There's a fundamental problem with their accusations: the laws they cite do not actually exist.
When I told them as much, the man whose name I didn't get began to demand that I submit to a search to prove that I had complied with their earlier request, telling me that he'd call the police and have them perform the search if I didn't do so voluntarily. I have very little tolerance for people who try to enforce nonexistent laws, and even less for those who try to bully me into giving up my personal liberty. I refused.
The police were called, and I was handcuffed and thoroughly searched in front of my wife and daughters. Sergeant John Stephens determined that I had not committed any crime, and told me that because this was the City's festival, I could not be prevented from openly carrying my handgun. That came as a great surprise, given Mr. Sorrell's earlier claims.
There are several things wrong here. First, by prohibiting the possession of firearms at its festivals through the actions of its agent, EventZone, the City is illegally regulating firearms in violation of Virginia Code §15.2-915. I demand that the City immediately rescind its unlawful regulation, and direct its agents to do the same.
Second, EventZone is claiming that a festival funded by public money, held on public property, and open to the public, is a private event. They are reaping the benefits of taxpayer funding, and then using their authority to deny access to members of the public who have done nothing wrong – even on sidewalks that they haven't rented. They need to be reminded that the City belongs to the people, and not to EventZone.
Third, EventZone's security is incompetent. Agents who make up their own laws have no business in the security field. Mr. Taylor in particular ought to know better, given that he is apparently an NRA instructor who is paid to teach firearms law. I intend to follow up with DCJS, and so I want to be given the names of the security agents involved and that of their agency. Although the contract with EventZone requires them to file a written security plan that includes this information, it appears that they failed to do so – when I specifically requested a copy of that document, the City was unable to provide it. As a result, I have no idea whether these agents are even licensed to provide private security, or whether they were doing so illegally.
Finally, the City needs to reconsider its relationship with EventZone. Mr. Sorrells claims that the City had nothing to do with Festival in the Park. If I were a member of this council, I would be moving to make that a reality by terminating the City's contract with EventZone and cutting off their funding. I trust that you will take appropriate action.
Thank you for your time.