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I specifically used the word "firearms" because "weapons" can cover
many things, especially in a makerspace.<br>
<br>
Many businesses/organizations have signs at their entrance stating
that "guns" (or occasionally "weapons") are not allowed. Some
businesses/organizations do this because they feel it will protect
themselves, or their customers, etc. and I was wondering how this
sort of thing affected hacker/makerspaces, which are unique, and
might even contain all the tools needed to manufacture firearms or
other weapons quite easily.<br>
<br>
<br>
Pete<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 1/14/13 2:33 PM, Nathaniel Bezanson
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote cite="mid:1358195618683368500@telcodata.us" type="cite">
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<div>tl;dr version: To my knowledge, we've had three
weapons-related incidents, but only one was actually a gun in
the legal sense. Each got the individual a stern talking-to, but
that's mostly been it. We have no policy prohibiting any sort of
weapon, because if you hold it right, every single thing in the
space is one.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The first incident was the repeated discharge of a Gauss gun
without adequate regard for safety. In addition to the private
discussion, there was a general reminder to all members, that
the old rule "know your target AND what is beyond it" applies
here too, and please make sure everyone in the space has plenty
of notice, opportunity to take shelter, and opportunity to
object, before any testing of energy weapons. The individual is
no longer a member, because of a safety-related but not
weapon-related incident some time later. (Our only ban!)</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The second was the rupture of a poorly-constructed PVC
pressure vessel (an oxymoron already), which was on its way to
being a t-shirt cannon. The individual behind it was asked to
get second-opinions on his "engineering" before assembling
anything else containing substantial potential energy. (In
retrospect, it's sort of surprising that none of his previous
robots managed to fail spectacularly, but you can't really ban
springs. Or giant rubber bands. Or giant clumps of small rubber
bands. Or torsion bars. Or...) </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The third involved a member with a permit to legally carry a
concealed firearm. He failed to lock it up before consuming
alcohol, which is against the law. After consulting with
numerous other members who carry concealed and follow the law
when they do so, the individual was pulled aside for a private
conversation, and the availability of lockers was reiterated. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Safety-wise, the table-saw has hurt more people than every
other dangerous thing in the space, ever, combined. And we're
not banning saws, because they're useful!</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>-Nate-</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
Pete Prodoehl wrote:<br>
<blockquote style="margin-left: 8px; padding-left: 8px;
border-left: 1px solid lightgrey"> Here's a quick question for
US-based hacker/makerspaces...<br>
<br>
Do you have a firearms ban at your space, and if so, what are
some of <br>
the reasons behind the decision?<br>
<br>
thanks!<br>
<br>
<br>
Pete<br>
<br>
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