Having spent 35 years in law enforcement, I’d like to offer a practical perspective on this topic.

First, I absolutely agree that the security of the dealers, members, and attendees is important. There are certainly valuable items on the show floor and everyone wants the event to remain safe and enjoyable.

At the same time, we should be careful not to create procedures that make entry to what is ultimately a public hobby show unnecessarily difficult or intimidating for attendees.

In the five years I have attended and volunteered at the show, I have not seen any serious security incidents. South Point security does an excellent job maintaining order on the casino property and in the convention areas, and their presence alone serves as a strong deterrent to bad behavior.

It is also worth noting that dealers, as at any collectibles show, remain responsible for protecting their own inventory and maintaining awareness of their tables and merchandise.

Regarding the idea of law enforcement verifying photo IDs, in my experience that would not be a service police agencies would typically provide for a private event. Asking officers to verify identification for entry would raise practical and constitutional questions, including potential Fourth Amendment concerns, and it is unlikely an agency would agree to perform that function.

Another practical question relates to Saturday, which is traditionally open to the public. If the goal is to attract collectors and newcomers to the hobby, we should be mindful that overly strict entry procedures could create an unnecessary barrier for people who may simply be curious about the show.

Most collectibles shows operate successfully with a simple registration and badge process combined with venue security and dealer vigilance. That approach tends to balance safety with accessibility for attendees.

The CCA show has always been a welcoming event for collectors and guests, and maintaining that welcoming atmosphere is important as we continue to grow the hobby.

Just my perspective based on years of attending the show and a long career in law enforcement.

Dan Madrigrano
Focused on the future