Why Live Concerts, Festivals & Guns Don’t Mix

It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last time. Over the past decade, quite a few live events have been canceled because of gun laws changing in various states.

Take the news from 2022, when Atlanta’s Midtown Music Festival was canceled. To a lot of people, it felt like the coronavirus was coming back and brought back memories about the lockdown. But it had nothing to do with it. This time, it was about guns.

Georgia changed some of its gun laws, meaning the regulation was a bit gray. On one side, gun owners were encouraged to bring weapons. But on the other hand, prohibiting guns would also break the law, giving organizers a massive headache.

Gun control is clearly a hot topic in the USA. Sure, you can use the Gunsnprices portal to compare guns and ammo prices and find some collectibles or even modern guns, but it’s imperative to consider the laws prior to carrying them.

A mix of guns and music festivals

Guns and music festivals clearly don’t match. It’s not all about festivals, but also about other types of gatherings. By 2022, there had been over 500 mass shootings in the USA alone.

In terms of music festivals, there are numerous incidents, such as the man arrested with two pistols outside the Bass Canyon, one of the biggest bass gatherings in the country.

Such events don’t occur only in the USA but across the world, too. The most recent event took place in Israel when hundreds of festival goers were massacred in a terrorist attack at the Nova music festival.

The gray area in the USA

Gun laws keep changing on a regular basis, and until everything is properly documented and analyzed, there will always be some gray areas.

In the above mentioned Georgia case, the law claimed that people with long leases on state land can carry guns. Those with short leases couldn’t.

Now, many music festivals are based on short leases. It wouldn’t have been a problem in the first place. In fact, many performers refuse to go to festivals where guns are allowed.

Most festivals employ heavy security for such reasons. Bags are searched and even metal detectors are used, not to mention dogs. Most security personnel won’t let guns go through, even if you carry them in a legal manner.

A festival can, therefore, ban guns. But if carry is allowed in the respective state, gun owners can easily sue organizers if they’re not allowed to bring their guns.

The problem isn’t necessarily in the actual law, which has good intent. Instead, it’s seen as a problem with firearm manufacturers. Many guns today can be easily used for mass destruction, rather than personal defense. That’s when problems arise.

Public safety considerations

Most of these gun regulations are all about people’s safety. In general, bringing a gun to a music festival is considered a bad idea. There are big crowds, small conflicts may arise, there’s alcohol, and some can even bring in illegal drugs.

Music festivals bring in emotions, so accidents can occur out of nowhere. From some points of view, carrying a gun at a music concert is like driving under the influence. You’re under the influence and can make bad decisions.

Guns can accidentally go off, too. It can happen anytime, anywhere. Moreover, when people are under the influence, they can experience psychosis and may even hurt themselves.

Guns could also cause distraction. The weapon focus phenomenon affects a lot of people. Basically, when someone sees a gun, their attention could go solely on that firearm, meaning they’re likely to ignore every other detail around themselves.

Concerts and festivals are meant to be about fun and relaxation. You escape from reality. Shootings can occur anytime, and since they affect public areas, festivals and concerts should be used to have fun and feel free.

Wrapping up…

Guns and concerts don’t mix too much. Sure, it’s one thing for security to carry in case any unexpected situations arise, but other than that, there are no reasons to feel the urge for personal protection at such an event.

Having guns there doesn’t fit well with the relaxed vibe these events aim for. Even though security is there to handle emergencies, bringing personal guns can ruin the joyful and communal atmosphere that makes these gatherings special.

To keep everyone safe and ensure a good time for all, it’s clear that guns and music events should stay apart.