When planning for attendee safety at conferences, there’s a lot to consider, from health emergencies to severe weather to cyber security to physical violence. But it’s the last one that may be most on the minds of meeting professionals this week, after the Supreme Court ruled a New York law that heavily restricts the ability to carry a concealed handgun in public is unconstitutional. The decision is expected to lead to challenges to gun-safety laws around the country.
With about 30 percent of Americans owning guns and gun sales rising, planners need to anticipate that some attendees will consider bringing firearms when they travel to a conference. Couple that with the reality of mass shootings in the U.S.—this year there have been 246 mass shootings through June 5—as well as the likelihood of more relaxed gun laws, and risk management around guns becomes increasingly urgent.
Alan Kleinfeld, a meeting professional and on-site crisis management expert, suggests a number of things meeting planners can do to mitigate the risk of guns at an event.
• First, do some research to learn the gun laws in the host destination and the…
