The Meeting Professional

attendee with a gun could cause tremendous harm to others—certainly more than someone with a knife or no weapon at all.

There is not always a “one size ;its all” response to bringing guns to events. Some groups may generally permit ;irearms as a matter of policy. But if their event will include a controversial celebrity or a political ;igure in attendance, they may have to rethink their approach.

The 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland is a good example. Ohio law allows ;irearms to be brought into the convention venue, and the Republican Party supports gun rights. On the other hand, with Donald Trump and political leaders in attendance, there was a need for special security measures to ensure safety. Convention leaders and government of;icials decided to allow ;irearms outside the venue, but to prohibit them inside the arena. This compromise helped ensure a safe experience for all.

For planners and meeting hosts, some
pre-event thought and proper planning
can create an event at which all attendees
can be comfortable. This is true even in
“pro-carry” states. Permissive gun legisla-
tion may create some challenges for those
seeking to limit the presence of ;irearms,
• When serving alcoholic beverages at
an event, give particular consider-
ation to whether a meeting other-
wise permitting ;irearms should ban
weapons at that particular function.
Guns and drinking have been a con-
cern even for states enacting broad
pro-gun laws. The heightened risk of
impaired judgment resulting in
violence when alcohol is involved
greatly increases the threat of poten-
tial liability for the meeting sponsor,
the venue and the person carrying a
weapon.

• Check with your insurance carrier about the impact on your rates should you allow ;irearms, as well as your overall ability to purchase adequate coverage. Rates may be higher if ;irearms are allowed, due to the increased risk of injury. This is particularly true for events in bars and functions where alcoholic beverages will be available. As the risk of impaired judgment increases, so do insurance costs.

• Laws outside of the U.S. are usually far more restrictive on carrying ;irearms. When planning an international meeting consider whether local laws allow individuals to own and keep ;irearms at all, and if so whether they can bring guns to public gatherings. Also, there are often restrictions on transporting weapons across borders. It usually makes sense to urge attendees to leave their ;irearms at home. ■

but it is certainly still possible to conduct meetings much the same as before recent pro-gun laws were enacted.

Different laws in every state make it impossible to create hard and fast rules to apply to every meeting across the U.S. But here are some things to consider when planning a meeting or event in any location.

• Review the state’s laws on carrying weapons with counsel: This is good advice even if you don’t believe that attendees are allowed to carry guns in the jurisdiction where the meeting will be held, or if you wish to permit guns and are meeting in a pro-gun state. There may be limits on your ability to endorse or prohibit ;irearms, and you need to be aware of any conditions.

• Understand that meeting sponsors wishing to ban ;irearms from their meetings may still be able to do so, even in states that have enacted pro-gun legislation. Particularly if the meeting location is a privately owned hotel or conference facility, an event sponsor may have the right to keep guns out, and even deny entrance to attendees refusing to comply.

• Create a written policy on ;irearms for your organization, and then enforce it. A clear policy statement publicized to your meeting attendees in advance with registration materials will prevent confusion about what is and isn’t permitted. This policy should also be posted at the meeting venue. If ;irearms will be prohibited, this should be made clear to attendees in advance.