Guns at Club Aura

[Jay]

I walked by Club Aura over the weekend and saw the bouncers outside wearing GUNS! WTF is going on in that place that they need GUNS?

[ArcticSplash]

Club Aura is under a court order to provide inside and outside security. They can choose to hire an armed AlliedBarton security guard if they wish. I'm wondering going from practically no security to maximum security has had any change in the behavior of their customers... i.e. the particular behaviors which have caused Aura to get in so much trouble in the first place, like the cray-cray drama outside the front door, customers who can't seem to use the facilities before they leave the club and then squat in front of neighbors' houses, etc.

One thing the security is supposed to be doing under court order is keeping people from congregating on the Fairmount Ave pavement. Any line to get inside has to be along Front Street and no deeper than 25 people waiting to get in.

I wouldn't get too worried about the bouncers being armed. The PPD will know who they are if they are openly-carrying while standing outside, and most likely they got their LTCF from the Spring Garden PPD office, plus at any time the PPD can request their LTCF to make sure it's valid.

Carrying in Philadelphia (openly or concealed) without a valid license is an automatic PUFA charge from the District Attorney's office.

[Jay]

@arcticsplash What you say sounds accurate. But it doesn't answer the question as to WHY Aura needs armed guards. Is there any other bar or restaurant or club in the neighborhood that needs bouncers with guns?

[ArcticSplash]

I agree with you--bouncers with guns at clubs just doesn't seem like a delectable cocktail. Especially since we're talking about situations with crowds, alcohol and no daylight. If there was this going on the block where my house is, it certainly would pique my interest and I would be wondering whether or not the open-carry is helping matters any [i.e., scaring off otherwise troublesome customers or leads to less misbehavior].

[Chris]

the question as to WHY Aura needs armed guards.

the answer is their clientele, some of whom may be armed and/or leave a gun in the car, in case they get disrespected and need to settle some business.

[mythaeus]

The presence of armed guards can be effective deterrent, especially to those hot-headed thugs that carry firearms illegally. If anything, it actually makes more sense than seeing armed PPD inside the Apple or Urban Outfitter stores in CC.

...
I wouldn't get too worried about the bouncers being armed. The PPD will know who they are if they are openly-carrying while standing outside, and most likely they got their LTCF from the Spring Garden PPD office, plus at any time the PPD can request their LTCF to make sure it's valid.

Carrying in Philadelphia (openly or concealed) without a valid license is an automatic PUFA charge from the District Attorney's office.

A couple minor technicalities. LTCF is issued and is valid statewide so you will likely have a lot that are issued in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and other counties, not just at the Philly Gun Permit Unit on Spring Garden. Regardless, what really matters is that the armed security guards have to be PA 235 certified. Having a LTCF does not allow you to work as an armed security guard and being PA 235 certified does not allow for you to carry outside of work (see http://www.pafoa.org/law/carrying-firearms/act-235). I don't know the percentage, but I'd venture to guess a large number of them having both.

Also, It's VUFA, violation of UFA (PUFA). The police cannot automatically demand to see your LTCF without RAS (reasonable articulable suspicion) just like they can't demand to see your driver's license just because they see you sitting in your car unless they can reasonably articulate that they suspecting you of violating the law. Technicality aside, PPD will demand at will without RAS if they see/know that you carry and most licensee will comply.

Al

[David]

@Jay, I never saw armed security at Metro or 2nd Street Annies, which were both in the space Aura now occupies. If they think they need guns, it's because of the situation they themselves created by opening this unlicensed dance club and nuisance bar on the corner of Front and Fairmount. Aura's management and landlord have shown nothing but contempt for the police, the neighborhood and the neighbors, and I can only hope their bad behavior gets them padlocked before somebody gets shot.

[TheSomers]

From Day 1, it has been a debacle over there. What the heck was the owner thinking to get Club Aura as a tenant ? Not a very smart business decision.

[bernie]

wow...the clientele is that shitty that they need armed bouncers?

maybe the owners should realize this and just close the club down on their own?

[DUNsho]

Royal Bank of America on 4th has an armed guard.

[bernie]

Royal Bank of America on 4th has an armed guard.

yeah..its a bank

people often try to rob them

[DUNsho]

i don't have stats to back this up, but i bet small businesses gets robbed more often then banks.