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US: Cleveland bans lasers from area around convention; guns are allowed

Lasers, light bulbs, tennis balls, hammocks and toy guns are among 72 items the public is banned from possessing in a 3.3 square mile “event zone” surrounding the site of the July 18-21 2016 Republican National Convention. However, the public is permitted to openly carry real guns in the area.

The prohibition lasts from July 18 through July 22. The list of items was first published by the city of Cleveland as part of regulations issued May 25 2016.

In the list, some items have specific descriptions, such as a restriction on “Lumber larger than 2” in width and 1⁄4” thick, including supports for signs” or “Umbrellas with metal tips.” For lasers, the list simply bans “Lasers;” there is no additional description such as allowing lasers under a certain size or power output.

The general public can possess a banned item if it is used in a workplace or at a home within the restricted zone, and if the item is used within the business or home.

The public is allowed to have guns in the event zone due to an Ohio state law allowing open carry by licensed gun owners. The event zone covers most of downtown Cleveland.

A much smaller security zone inside the convention arena, under the jurisdiction of the Secret Service, has banned guns.

From Wired and Q13 Fox. The city of Cleveland regulations are here. Click the “Read More…” link for a map of the event zone and the complete list of 72 banned items.

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The Cleveland event zone, where lasers and 71 other items are banned during the 2016 Republican National Convention. Map from the city of Cleveland, via Wired.


According to CNN, here is the list of 72 items banned by the city of Cleveland in the event zone:

  1. Lumber larger than 2 inches in width and 1/4 of an inch thick, including supports for signs
  2. Metal, plastic, or other hard material larger than 3/4 quarters thick and 1/8 of an inch in wall thickness including pipe and tubing
  3. Air rifles
  4. Air pistols
  5. Paintball guns
  6. Blasting caps
  7. Switchblade knives
  8. Automatic knives
  9. Knives having a blade 2.5 inches in length or longer
  10. Cestuses
  11. Billy clubs
  12. Blackjacks
  13. Swords
  14. Sabers
  15. Hatchets
  16. Axes
  17. Slingshots
  18. BB guns
  19. Pellet guns
  20. Wrist shots
  21. Metal knuckles
  22. Nun chucks
  23. Mace
  24. Iron buckles
  25. Axe handles
  26. Shovels
  27. Fireworks
  28. Rockets
  29. Sound amplification equipment
  30. Drones and other unmanned aircraft systems
  31. Containers of bodily fluids
  32. Aerosol cans
  33. Pepper Spray and other chemical irritants
  34. Umbrellas with metal tips
  35. Water guns
  36. Water cannons
  37. Ropes in lengths greater than 6 feet
  38. Chains in lengths greater than 6 feet
  39. Cables in lengths greater than 6 feet
  40. Strappings in lengths greater than 6 feet
  41. Wires in lengths greater than 6 feet
  42. Strings in lengths greater than 6 feet
  43. Lines in lengths greater than 6 feet
  44. Tapes in lengths greater than 6 feet
  45. Glass bottles
  46. Ornaments
  47. Light bulbs
  48. Ceramic vessels
  49. Padlocks
  50. Bicycle locking devices
  51. Chain locks
  52. Gas masks
  53. Tents
  54. Sleeping bags
  55. Sleeping pads
  56. Mattresses
  57. Cots
  58. Hammocks
  59. Bivy sacks
  60. Stoves
  61. Coolers
  62. Ice chests
  63. Backpacks and bags exceeding the size of 18″ x 13″ x 7″
  64. Lasers
  65. Non-plastic containers, bottles, cans, or thermoses
  66. Ladders
  67. Grappling hooks
  68. Sledgehammers
  69. Hammers
  70. Crowbars
  71. Canned goods
  72. Tennis balls