U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- Back on October 1st, 2017 Stephen Paddock shot and killed 59 concertgoers attending a country music festival in Las Vegas from an elevated position at The Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. In response to this shooting, one hotel is now using a discrete radar system to detect guest that might be carrying guns without the consent or knowledge of being scanned by their guest.
In the city that is home to SHOT Show, more and more hotels are going to be installing a weapon detecting device called the Patscan Cognitive Microwave Radar made by the Canadian security firm PatriotOne Technologies.
This Patscan CMR Microwave Scanning tool scans hotel guest without their knowledge at the time of check-in or anywhere in the hotels using radar in the form microwaves.
The first hotel that is going to be using this technology is The Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino. The Westgate opted for this technology because they can scan their customers discreetly without their knowledge. This evasive secret scan isn’t an accident, or an overlooked sign in the hotel. According to the Westgate, they want to be able to scan their customers their customers without their consent.
WestGate bans all guns from its resorts with a few exceptions:
“Weapons Policy: Resort premises are private property. The safety and security of our guests, visitors, vendors, and associates is of utmost importance to Westgate Resorts. This policy is designed for the protection of our guests, visitors, vendors, and associates, and pertains to the presence of weapons on premises owned and/or operated by Westgate Resorts. Any and all weapons, including but not limited to, firearms, knives, and/or explosives, concealed or not concealed, with or without a concealed weapon(s) permit, are not permitted by any person and/or for any reason except as expressly detailed here on any and all premises owned and/or operated by Westgate Resorts. What constitutes a weapon will be determined by Westgate Resorts in its sole and absolute discretion. Sworn, on-duty State and Federal law enforcement officers whose agency has jurisdiction at the applicable premises, and military personnel, may carry any weapon. Resort Associates may carry a weapon with express written permission or as part of their assigned duties. Shotguns are permitted at Westgate River Ranch Resort for the sole and express use at the Trap & Skeet Range. Any and all persons who possess a weapon on premises either as permitted or in violation of this Policy must follow all applicable Federal, State, and local laws with respect to that weapon. Persons found to be in violation of this Policy may be subject to applicable Trespass laws. This policy applies to any and all on Westgate Resorts’ owned and operated properties. The company expects that these individuals will comply with all provisions of this policy. Where Federal and/or State law or rules differ, the company will abide by the applicable standard.”
The scanning devices are so small that they can be installed at the front check-in desk, in elevators, in walls, or even the doors to the guest rooms. The Patscan CMR devices use the same technology that cars use for parking assistance, but in this case, it is used to violate the privacy of the hotel customers.
One of the selling points that PatriotOne touts is that hotels do not have to ask for consent or even let the hotel guest know that they are being scanned for firearms avoiding issues with a guest who does not want their luggage or person to be examined by the hotel. PatriotOne claims that no ones rights are being violated.
Not only can the Parscan CMR device be used to scan for firearms. It can also detect knives and other weapons. In fact, it can almost be used to identify anything that a guest might have as long as the hotel uploads the signatures into the database that powers the Parscan CMR.
I reached out to PatriotOne Technologies and was told that they only keep on file weapon signatures.
When I ask PatriotOne Technologies about the possibility of a third party signature file being used, they were unconcerned about that chance because they hold a patent on the signature files. When I asked about the patent being violated by unscrupulous parties, they seemed indifferent about that possibility because of the limited use of the information.
PatriotOne Technologies touts the fact that they believe privacy is not an issue since the device will only alert on a possible match. According to PatriotOne Technologies own data, there is a 6.2% false positive rate. This rate might not seem like a lot, but it does lead to privacy concerns for the guest that is taken into custody at gunpoint for a false positive.
According to Mark Waltrip, who is the Chief Operating Officer of Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino, the hotel will have a 100% scan rate for all guest at the Westgate. Waltrip states that guest knowing the hotel scans them will take away from the fun of Las Vegas so they will conceal the devices.
Waltrip, who is a concealed weapons holder, claims he supports the second amendment, but at the same time, he told Wired magazine, “I have a concealed carry permit myself. But, you know, on our properties, we want to maintain a safe environment, and we don’t need guests bringing weapons on site. We really don’t want that kind of surprise.”
Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino is the first hotel in Las Vegas to get the Parscan CMR, but according to PatriotOne the device be deployed by other major hotels in the second half of 2018
- PatriotOne Technologies can be found at www.patriot1tech.com.
- The Westgate can be found online at www.westgateresorts.com
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. He is the former CEO of Veritas Firearms, LLC and is the co-host of The Patriot News Podcast which can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/patriotnews. John has written extensively on the patriot movement including 3%’ers, Oath Keepers, and Militias. In addition to the Patriot movement, John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and is currently working on a book on the history of the patriot movement and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss or at www.crumpy.com.