Should Your Bed and Breakfast Have a Firearm Policy?
Should Your Bed and Breakfast Have a Firearm Policy?
By Nathan Gawlik Nathan Gawlik's experience includes being a General Manager of a Hampton Inn and other front line roles such as a Banquet Captain, Front Desk Agent, Housekeeper, Catering Event Manager, and Director of Sales.
The Las Vegas shooter allegedly owned 47 guns that he brought into his hotel room over his 6 day stay at Mandalay Bay. While police found over a thousand gun shell casings, the shooter still had over 5 thousand rounds of live ammunition. The 2017 massacre is now the deadliest mass shooting in US history, claiming the lives of 58 victims and leaving more than 850 injured.
This article doesn't stem from being anti-gun but rather anti-lawsuit. Many people don't know that the Mandalay Bay actually sued many of the victims in an effort to "short-circuit the cases and shield itself from liability." The property was facing hundreds of potential lawsuits from victims and bystanders. Therefore, the lawyers representing the hotel attempted to persuade individuals from taking action against them.
It's important that you develop a policy on firearms for your property to limit your liability. Be sure this policy doesn't contradict local or federal regulations. This article will provide you example firearm policies. It is your responsibility to check with local and federal regulations, as laws may have changed.
While having a policy alone isn't going to stop a guest from bringing in a firearm, it helps protect the property from liability and serves as a small deterrent with an effort to keep hotel staff and their guests safe. After all, MGM Mandalay Bay, the hotel where gunfire rang out from the 32nd floor, paid over 800 million dollars to the victims of the massacre.
To help in this effort, I've come across several examples from different hotel websites.
The AC Hotel Grand Rapids Downtown prohibits persons from carrying or otherwise possessing a firearm on hotel property, including carrying firearms in an open or concealed manner. This policy applies to all firearms, regardless of whether the firearm is a handgun or a long-barreled gun. The AC Hotel Grand Rapids Downtown reserves the right to request guests and visitors who fail to abide by this policy to leave the hotel premises. Failure to leave at the request of the Hotel may result in the Grand Rapids Police Department being contacted and may subject you to further legal action for failure to abide by this policy, including trespassing. This policy does not apply to law enforcement officers
The safety and security of our guests and associates is of utmost importance to Hyatt. This policy is designed for the protection of our guests and associates, and pertains to the presence of firearms on hotel premises.
Hyatt recognizes that guests or visitors may legally possess firearms for a variety of legitimate purposes. This policy is intended to create a safe environment for all guests and visitors by providing appropriate guidance over the custody of firearms on our premises.
Hotel premises are private property. Guests or visitors of a Hyatt hotel who lawfully are permitted to possess a firearm, may bring such firearm onto hotel premises for storage purposes only. Any guest or visitor who is in possession of a firearm on hotel premises is personally responsible for abiding by all applicable federal, state and local laws with respect to firearms, in the jurisdiction where the hotel is located and ensuring that the firearm is:
unloaded;
secured in a locked, hard-sided firearm container provided by the guest; and
securely safeguarded at all times in a guest room (or personal vehicle), except when transporting the firearm into or out of the hotel.
Guests who fail to abide by this policy may be asked to leave the hotel premises. A blanket exception to the restrictions described in this policy statement applies only to law enforcement officers and designated military personnel, who are on-duty and required to carry firearms in the performance of their duties. No exemption to this policy is allowed for private persons, even those licensed and permitted to carry a firearm, and/or where applicable, to conceal-carry a firearm.
Additionally, the hotel prohibits guests or visitors from openly carrying weapons on the hotel premises.
PURSUANT TO SECTION 30.07, PENAL CODE (TRESPASS BY LICENSE HOLDER WITH AN OPENLY CARRIED HANDGUN), A PERSON LICENSED UNDER SUBCHAPTER H, CHAPTER 411, GOVERNMENT CODE (HANDGUN LICENSING LAW), MAY NOT ENTER THIS PROPERTY WITH A HANDGUN THAT IS CARRIED OPENLY.
The safety and security of our guests and associates is of the utmost importance. Any guest or visitor who is in possession of a firearm on hotel premises is personally responsible for abiding by all applicable federal, state and local laws with respect to firearms, in the jurisdiction where the hotel is located and ensuring that the firearm is:
unloaded;
secured in a locked, hard-sided firearm container provided by the guest; and
securely safeguarded at all times in a guest room (or personal vehicle), except when transporting the firearm into or out of the hotel.
A guest who fails to abide by this policy may be asked to leave the premises.
Exempted from this policy are law enforcement officers and designated military personnel who are on duty and required to carry firearms in the performance of their duties. Civilians, even those who are licensed and permitted to carry a firearm openly or concealed under local, state, or federal law, are not exempt.
Summary
Allstays.com, provides a detailed list of gun laws in their travel guide broken down by state, although it is unknown how often this page is updated.
It is important to limit your liability and clearly state your stance on firearms at your property. Some guests may feel uncomfortable in a smaller setting having guests open carrying firearms. This could be as simple as asking guests to keep them stored in their vehicles. We all know many people travel to hunt. While a simple policy will in no way prevent all firearms from entering your guest rooms, it makes your policy clear in case of an accident or the unthinkable.
