'They had no qualms violating my rights': OH mom says gun militia demanded $10 to walk through mall

[haele]

86. Most events that are "private" in public spaces are required to have clear demarkations of the site.

I'm not surprised, however, that in a red state the "event organizers" didn't think that since this was a mall - a common public area where there were still be some open shops, and where some people go to "exercise" that the event shouldn't somehow have barriers and ensure adequate public access easements so that people who aren't interested in their event can still get around and go about their business without impacting the event. From experience, I know that "Mall Jogging" and daily Mall walks are popular - especially amongst the mobility challenged and elderly - because of the climate control, clean and level walking area, and especially the easy access to seats, water, restrooms and a food court or vending machines if a person gets tired or needs a body function break.

Heck, even Santa puts a barrier around for crowd and access control at malls. At "Block parties" and Street fairs, markets - anywhere where there is an entrance fee or requirement to check attendees (i.e., age limits), there's got to be a barrier - even if it's just a bunch of cones and "caution" tape on sticks - placed around the entire event so there's no question at all as to where the event is and the limits of public access.

That event was poorly planned. Malls typically have event layout requirements for access to stores, facilities, and for transit and security requirements. Because most malls are concerned about getting feet into stores and facilities on a daily basis instead of the occasional one-time event rental money.

And it should have been obvious to anyone in the mall management that Oaf Keepers are going to Oaf. They should have just shut down everything for the day - including the Theater and Food Court - if there was the expectation that the entire mall floor area was going to belong to the event. No matter what, if anything at the venue - i.e., the Mall, the Park, the Street and it's shops - is going to be at all open to the public you can't block off the venue security and sanitary facilities, and you can't block off access to anything that will be open to the public.

Haele