A man tried to carry a gun and 48 rounds of ammunition into part of Walt Disney World - and slammed the rules as "stupid" when he was arrested.
Aaron Lopez, of Palm Beach, Florida, was caught as he attempted to enter Disney Springs, a sprawling entertainment complex "featuring an eclectic mix of unique boutiques, one-of-a-kind eateries and jaw-dropping entertainment".
The 35-year-old set off an alarm when he walked through security sensors and at first only claimed to have a flick knife before telling security he was also carrying a Glock pistol.
He also had the ammunition and two magazines and despite claiming he had a valid licence was charged with carrying a concealed firearm.
Disney bans weapons at all its theme parks and properties but Lopez said it was his right to have the weapon and the park's rules are "stupid".
The security guard who caught Lopez said: “I told him I was going to search his bag and he told me he had a folding knife in his bag. I told him to show me the knife then I said I would have to search his bag. He still hasn’t put it on the table at this point.
"Then he proceeds to say, ‘Oh there’s something else in here besides a knife that I wanna put back in my car.’ He then promptly turned around and walked away.”
Another cast member stopped Lopez and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office was called.
Lopez was escorted from the Orlando park and arrested on May 27.
The arrest report reads: “We checked the firearm for a serial number. None could be located. We were told by Lopez that the firearm is a Glock clone and he has to submit paperwork to the state to have a serial number assigned.
"Aaron told me that he had a valid carry conceal firearm license but none could be located through any law enforcement database.”
Similar incidents happen regularly at the resort and two weeks before Lopez's arrest convicted felon Quincy Campbell, 33, of North Carolina, was detained after security found a gun in a bag hanging around his neck.
He said it was his sister's and got in a fight with police.
In the final few weeks of 2021 five people were arrested for carrying a range of handguns into the resort, claiming they had forgotten they were in their bags.
After his arrest Lopez said he had never been in trouble with the law before, has a good job and carries the gun for protection.
He added: “It doesn’t matter where I am. I carry a gun with me at all times. I can be at a restaurant, I can be at Disney. I don’t care. I carry a gun at all times. Period. I don’t trust law enforcement… I don’t trust anybody.
"At the end of the day, it’s the second amendment. I’m allowed to bring it. The fact that Disney is a private place, and they don’t allow it, I think it’s kind of stupid.”
