May 29, 2001

10:30 AM

Guns in fanny packs.A guy is encouraging gun owners to bring their weapons to Taste of Chicago, carried in one of fashion's greatest mistakes. How will cops be able to tell who is carrying a gun and who just has no fashion sense?
posted by keli (8 comments total)

Here's the Web site for the demonstration. How will people be able to tell if someone else is happy to see them?
posted by rcade at 10:37 AM on May 29, 2001

Good thing there aren't ever any crowds or children at the Taste! Otherwise we'd have a mess on our hands.
posted by hijinx at 10:53 AM on May 29, 2001

The great clash of fashion and concealed weapons. Of course, I would prefer that anyone following fashion guidlines uses the weapons on themselves. Our fashion police are packing.
posted by john at 11:56 AM on May 29, 2001

So, what you are saying is that someone who wore a fanny pack may be shot accidentally.

The downside is what exactly?
posted by fullerine at 1:11 PM on May 29, 2001

Shoot 'em all, and let Mr. Blackwell sort them out.
posted by mathowie at 1:20 PM on May 29, 2001

As if I really needed another reason to avoid the Taste of Chicago... Boy, this is just what that high quality event needed. Now, not only are the gang members who throng the event carrying weapons, the drunken yahoos from the sout' side suburbs are carrying weapons. Hey, kids, let's all just sit back and watch the fun! Five dollar draft beer, anybody?!
posted by m.polo at 1:20 PM on May 29, 2001

There are fanny packs made specifically for carrying concealed handguns. These, like the Phon-E-Pack mentioned on the web site rcade pointed to, are really easy to tell apart from "regular" fanny packs with a bit of experience (they tend to be thicker than regular fanny packs, to have a zipper at the very back, and to have tassles hanging out of the zipper to facilitate fast opening). Cops have no trouble recognizing this sort of pack, and while it is legal to carry that way (IF it is legal to carry concealed at all, that is) and most people won't know you're armed, the police will -- and will treat you accordingly.

Anyone who carries a concealed handgun loose in a regular fanny pack, rattling around with their keys and change, is an idiot. For that matter, anyone who decides to prove a point by deliberately carrying an unloaded handgun "concealed" to an event where the police say that is illegal is an idiot. And the quotes are around "concealed" because these idiots are the sort who will flash their weapons thinking it makes them look cool or tough. It will serve them right to be arrested. Or shot.
posted by ffmike at 1:30 PM on May 29, 2001

I agree with m.polo, that the taste is too hot, too expensive, and frankly too full of idiot tourists from Indiana and the suburbs (take your pick). I will admit that it is fun, and a great way sample some great food, albeit at steep prices. Back on point, without getting into an arguments over the merits of gun control, I think that if you want to prove that carrying concealed weapons is safe and a nonviolent affair the last thing to do is piss off a bunch of Chicago Cops and create a potentially volatile or even violent situation during an event such as The Taste, which is already a security and safety nightmare. I've only gone to The Taste once, but I was planning on giving it another chance this year. However right now, I'm thinking twice about it. Mayor Daley and members of the Illinois legislature if you Blog (I'm sure you don't) take note and do something to stop these fools!
posted by Bag Man at 11:57 PM on June 1, 2001