Indians For Guns

A situation occured on last Saturday night (18/09/10), where some of my friends and family went to watch the 10:45pm show of "Resident Evil-Afterlife". As usual, the mall that the multiplex is located in, has a private security service with metal detectors and all, they frisk everyone, and check hand bags etc.

Now most of the malls and movie theatres, multiplexes etc maintain a register (called a "Weapon Register"), of all armed entrants meaning Police, VIPs, Licensees etc (basically anyone who is legally armed). Any armed person will enter their name,license number/police ID number, date, time of entry/exit etc. I have been told that this was on recommendation of the local Police. I entered my details in the Mall Weapon Register without incident.

Now, the Inox theatres inside the mall have their own private security people, with again, additional metal detectors, and frisking and Weapon Register. This was not my first visit and infact the older register has several entries that I had made on previous occasions. When I told them that I wanted to enter my details as usual, the Asst.Manager Security & Admin., told me that the rules had been made stricter, and that they were not allowing arms licensees(even with tickets )and even Police Officers inside the auditorium.

So I set about trying to find out what was going on, and asked him if there was a GO(Government Order) to that effect, he said "yes" and took me inside and showed me a new Weapon Register, where on the first page was pasted a printout of Standard Operating Procedure(SOP), when I read through it, it had basically exempted all VVIPs, including PM,President,CMs VVIPs and Police Officers but not arms licensees. In addition it said all weapons including knives were prohibited. This was not a GO, when questioned, he said the GO was in Mumbai and that the corporate HQ had told them to follow this procedure.

I felt that he was bullsh!4ing me, so I asked him why maintain a register when, it was prohibited for everyone and asked where the old register was, and why he had allowed a Sikh gentleman on the very same day along with his Kirpan.There was no answer. I told him that he was discriminating against me,even after clearly identifying myself and showing him the license and that it was illegal for him to do so. He did not answer my questions and did not show me the old register. I also asked him was there any thing in my dress or face that caused him to discriminate, and because I was politely talking to him. Again no answer.

While I am aware that these are private premises, and they reserve the right of admission, my understanding is that no business/club /association open to public has the right to formulate an operating procedure, in violation of the laws of the land.

I had a a gut feeling an overzealous security head put up this new SOP (probably without even approval from Corprate HQ) because the Operations Manager would neither contact a higher official nor give us the numbers to speak to the GM and explain the situation(I know it was late in the night ). After telling him repeatedly that we wanted to speak to the GM he went out of the room and came back, when we asked him what happened he was very vague and said "try to understand Sir"," we are lower level employees Sir" etc. I asked what they would do if I had said "do what you want and went inside", to which he said "what can we do sir" .

I have to be clear that all through the interaction (from about 10.35pm to about 01.15am ) we were very polite, did not use any strong language nor try to intimidate them nor use any force. By this time the movie was almost over and my wife, sis-in-law and cousin came down to see the "tamasha" . I asked for a statement in writing that I was not being allowed in according to SOP of the company which they did not want to give. I asked for a copy of the SOP and the already entered names in the register,which they did not give so, after taking a picture of the these "details" on a camera phone, and the Operations Manager's & Asst.Manager Security & Admin. we left with an assurance that they would definitely take this to the notice of the management.

I called the Operations Manager this morning and he said the GM's relative had passed away, and he had gone out of town, but that they were in the process of getting a confirmation from upper management and the Police and he said he would get back to me. I thanked him and that was that.
Feel free to comment,
Regards,
Anand

You have taken the best possible steps in given situation. When you talk with management, you can try explaining that firearm license has been issued as per law for self defense which is a fundamental right(legally means license has been issued for enforcement of law as per sections 96 to 106 IPC if need arises). Though it is a privately owned place but it is open for public use. How can they disarm a legally armed person for enforcement of applicable law(at the most they can note down particulars of person, arms license etc.)

You have every right to carry your weapon, provided you show your license. The man in question has condracticted himself many times over and doesn't seem to know his regulations. Send the security company and Inox legal notice and see what what happens.

You have acted very maturely under the circumstances. Never get into a situation where you have to defend a licence cancellation bid based on false charges. Carrying of licence arms is still frowned upon in most parts of India and the percentage of Arms licence holders is quite small as compared to the population. You could have contacted the local Police Station so that the officer on duty could enlighten the Duty Manager.Whatever the case in future "Keeping ones cool" is of utmost importance and you have demonstrated it in abundance.Goodluck with your quest.

Good that you kept your cool and stuck to facts.

regards

OUP

Hello Anand,
Its determined yet polite people like yourself who truly are our Brand Ambassadors (NAGRI)

Regards

Hello Anand,
I had an experience with the Inox guys, but not soo serious. I had my pistol with me that time, I kept it in my wife's hand bag due to some reasons, which I know I shouldn't have and went inside. I was frisked and sent inside. Just when my wife was frisked i realised and went near her. Just as I thought about it, they stopped her. I was not much worried since i had a photo copy of my license, but it was my wife who was having the gun. Hundred thoughts went on my mind from questioning me why I gave the gun to somebody else to spoiling my evening. The hand bag had two compartments, the security lady and her superior opened one side and took out a 500 ml water bottle and a half opened biscuit. They had a serious face and said eatables were not permitted inside. Just when my wife started to say they were for the kids , I asked her to forget it and went inside. After going in , I reminded her about the gun and we had a good laugh. My question here is, does a metal detector detect biscuits and pet bottles ? . How are we supposed to feel safe with such intelligent securities ? . If I was a terrorist, then I would have had a field of a day

Anand - Send a well drafted show cause notice to both the security company as well as Inox.


Dr. Jones - good luck favours the brave

hi guys,
Being a mall 'n' Multiplex developer & owner, I can only say, no one is allowed entry with anykind of firearm, even shop owners / tanents....If some one has to come on regular basis, he/she has to take local police permission in writting....
More over in Gurgaon, police authorities are doing secret drills, and if any mall is found with fire arms / explosive entring mall, the mall owner can face strict action ...like panelty / cancellation of commercial license...etc
these are the new instruction's issues in delhi/haryana/punjab...(dont know abt other places...as not dealing there...)

no one is allowed entry with anykind of firearm

Orders are given under which law/s & its section/s?

the mall owner can face strict action ...like panelty / cancellation of commercial license...etc

Penalty under which law/s & its section/s?

Just curious, does this no one include VIPs, netas and their bodyguards?

This is circumvention ... in direct contradiction to the constitution.
They're playing with the law in the name of the law.
Scratch below the surface and they're naked as frauds

All are right, but this is also true, they are doing it, and we as developer & owners are facing....BTW (here comes the corruption)
virender u right, all top brats r excluded....they can enter anywhere and every where....(again, this is also not a law, but its true...)

I do agree they are doing it, but the order/s & penalty/s are been given under which law/s & its section/s?

Usual discrimination. Not necessarily against firearm owners, but one of the MANY features we take for granted in India.Liberties and rights -so called 'enshrined' in the constitution are regularly infarcted for the pleasure/ignorance of 1 retard.lighters, water bottles, biscuits -Can the 3000 buck a month security guard who puts the mirror under your car in any mall, 5 star or public place, recognise anything unusual in 4-5 seconds that the mirror is there?in the light of a 2cell, toy box eveready? He wouldnt recognise an IED if it humped up and hit him between the legs
hilarious...

i always remember the old Indian security saying "Sor, we have fool proof sceruity" they are right in that, it only fools the fool, and no one else.