RNC bans water guns, but real guns are still allowed

Attendees at this year's Republican National Convention may be carrying concealed guns — but not super soakers. 

The RNC has already banned a list of weapons, including lumber, hatchets, gas masks, chains, and water guns, the Associated Press reported. However, both Tampa, Florida and and Charlotte, North Carolina — the host cities of the Republican and Democratic conventions, respectively — have laws which make it illegal to ban concealed guns, the Daily Beast reported. 

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Tampa's City Council has been working to lift the ban for the upcoming RNC, which is taking place August 27 through 30, The Ledger reported. The council voted Thursday to ask Florida's Governor Rick Scott to help them ban concealed weapons outside the Convention, according to the Ledger. 

“We believe it is necessary and prudent to take this reasonable step to prevent a potential tragedy,” council member Lisa Montelione said in the draft letter to Gov. Scott, the Ledger reported. 

Charlotte set up a new city ordinance in January for "extraordinary event zones," or specific areas where people are prohibited from carrying backpacks and other items, according to the AP. Though the city wanted to ban guns in those zones, state law allows people to carry concealed weapons unless they're at a parade or protest, making banning guns at the DNC tricky, the AP reported. 

The Secret Service has banned civilians from carrying guns inside both of the arenas where the conventions are taking place, the AP reported. 

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Tampa's Mayor Bob Buckhorn said the state law, which makes it easier for officials to ban water guns than real weapons, has made the city "look silly," Businessweek reported. 

"We're kind of constrained by the state law," said Mayor Buckhorn. 

Thousands of delegates, journalists and politicians will attend the multi-day conventions in Tampa and Charlotte. Though both cities have hosted major events before, including four Super Bowls in Tampa and the National Rifle Association convention in Charlotte, neither has handled such high-profile political events, according to the Associated Press.

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