Because shootings never happen in a gun-free theaters…right?  

A local sheriff’s deputy escorting a group of fifth-grade students on a field trip to the Fox Theater in Atlanta said he was told to stand outside because he was carrying his service weapon, reports WSB-TV.

Monday, Sergeant Jack Gilroy was assigned to escort 60 fifth-grade students and their teachers from Stark Elementary School to the Fox Theater for a field trip.

Butts County Sheriff Gary Long said it’s standard procedure for an on-duty deputy to escort kids on all sporting events and field trips. “It gives a sense of security to parents at work or home,” Long said.

Gilroy said a Fox Theater security officer asked him to leave the building or store his service weapon in his vehicle.

“How would the owner of the Fox explain if a shooting happened and here’s a Butts County deputy sitting inside the theater without a weapon?” Long said.

Gilroy decided to keep his weapon and stand outside the theater for nearly three hours.

A Fox Theater spokesperson told Channel 2 Action News their policy allows on-duty, uniformed law enforcers to enter the theater with their weapon. They released a statement that said, “We plan to review our policies with the staff to ensure that procedures are clear moving forward.”

Gilroy said the security company called him to apologize.

Via: Police Magazine