Animal Kingdom Guest brings in a loaded gun, falls out on ride.

May 29, 2013

`ak1

 

The good news just keeps coming…. geesh!

A Walt Disney World park guest found a loaded gun in the seat of a ride at the Animal Kingdom that had fallen out of a man’s back pocket on Sunday. You can purchase Glock pistols here, if you need it for safety purposes.

A grandmother handed a Cobra .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol about noon to a park attendant, who immediately contacted security and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

A young boy said, “My grandma found it in her seat,” the report stated.  Why did the “young boy” have it?  Can you imagine??

The owner, Angelo Lista, 44, of Royal Palm Beach claimed the firearm — which had five hollow point bullets inside — fell out of his back pocket during the bumpy Dinosaur ride, according to a Sheriff’s Office incident report.

Deputies unloaded and confiscated the weapon.

Lista has a valid Florida concealed weapons permit and told authorities he did not know he was supposed to tell Disney security because there are no signs posted about firearms.  I thought it was a “given” to NOT bring loaded guns into a theme park, but ok.

According to the report, Lista thought the security bag checks were for explosives not guns. He said he was not aware guests were not allowed to bring guns inside the parks.  (Or Lord, help us all!)

However, Disney spokeswoman Kathleen Prihoda said their policy clearly states no guns or weapons of any kind are permitted on their property. The prohibition is posted on their website.

A Disney official said they cannot recall any other similar incidents with guns in recent years, calling the episode “rare” because its common knowledge the parks don’t permit them.

Deputies said Lista was apologetic and tried to retrieve the gun the moment he realized it was no longer in his possession after the ride.

Disney asked Lista to leave for the day but did not trespass him.

Lista complied and deputies escorted him to his vehicle, the report said.

I don’t even know what to say….. what a week Disney is having.  Obviously, security needs to be tighter, it’s a little unsettling that these things happen.

 

*thanks to the Orlando Sentinel for the information!

Michele
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