TexasCHLforum.com

Digest here.

Wow, this is harder than I thought. I've got the final report started and have made quite a bit of progress, but it'll be another day or so. Sorry.

Lonest4r wrote: It should have a giant flashing sign with "got guns?" In huge 7 in tall lettering. Then they should have a chl camera man who pans the crowd waiting for people to broadcast to a giant bigscreen tv in the center of the fair. Lastly, they should give out large pins that say "I'm armed" to anyone who uses the entrance, just in case it wasn't clear by that point.

Reminds me of the "Show Us Your Guns" skit on SNL years ago.

The Annoyed Man wrote: [just kidding]
Maybe next year, they'll have a CHL entrance like at the Capitol.
[/just kidding]

I would LOVE to see that line.

I will be going through the posts and votes and try to make some sense of the data and see if we can get something to hang our collective hats on. Unless there is something I don't know, you can still vote, barring that just post your experience. It'll be a couple of days before I crunch it up.

drjoker wrote:Lots of CHL'ers today at the fair. I think it's become the new "Wally Walk". ...

Did you vote already? If so I'll figure this one in as a "escorted to dpd" when I compile everything.

Lonest4r wrote:I went to the fair today. It was about 6:30 pm and I approached the security person wanding the other guests. The lady had one big "diamond" stud in her ear and seemed a little abbrasive. I was already expecting trouble by her posture and body language. When I asked to see her supervisor she questioned why and I then asked to be escorted to DPD to handle it. She still seemed clueless and asked if I had a weapon. I told her that I had a permit and that DPD would be able to verify everything. She then proceeds to turn around to her supervisor and yells to him "ive got a weapon here." He comes over and walks me over to the gate area where I wait only about a minute for the DPD officer. The officer takes my DL and CHL and compares them for 30 seconds then hands them back to me and says thank you. I then turned back around to exchange my Dr. Pepper can for a $3 ticket voucher and walk with my fiance in to the fair.
Overall it was fun, I was carrying a Firestar M40 in a Galco IWB and a Taurus TCP in a homemade kydex front pocket holster. Beside the fact that I was outed by the security lady, the supervisor and DPD officer were very courteous. The DPD officer even seemed pretty friendly.

Which gate? I think I'm seeing a trend here.

FWIW, I went into the Old Mill this time after walking around the whole building, no 30.06 or even an "Unlicensed possession of..." sign. I went in on the pretext of talking to the manager about a gluten free menu, no 51% sign either.

We have entered through gate 6 (by the science place). This Tuesday, there was only one security person, she was being pretty thorough. I approached her and asked if she was the supervisor, she affirmed and I was released on my "own recognizance" to check in with PD. The LEO and I laughed about it and I went on my way. Interestingly, she quit going through my girls' bags and cooler immediately upon my interaction.

BTW, can all those that responded post which gate and time of day they had their encounters? Editing old posts is fine, i intend to pull all of it after the fair and crunch it into some sort of digest.

The Annoyed Man wrote:BTW, I voted in the poll from my cellphone while at the fair. I had intended to vote for "Escorted to DPD at gate to verify CHL and allowed in," but somehow that got tallied as "Had to wait for security supervisor, showed ID and no info collected." I guess I accidentally checked the wrong selection with my big fat finger.

I'll fix it when I compound everything.

My wife just went to the fair. She purchased her ticket and asked to see the gate supervisor. She came right over and asked her how she was doing. She then asked if she had her ticket and said to follow her in. She was walked over to the DPD officer who was very pleasant, he looked at the id's and said, "Okay." That was it, no "...you can't go to (insert location)," no questions about what she was carrying, just a smile and, "Have fun."

Too bad I can't vote twice, that's three for escorted to DPD and allowed in.

BTW, She beat the girls and grand kids in

As I suspected, I believe those that are asked what they are carrying is just "professional" curiosity; not anything germane to the process. My wife is going with my daughters and grand kids, she is required to carry and she has a P3AT. She asked me what to say if the cop asks her and I said, "A little one?" She truly wanted to know what she was carrying, I told her, "Just say Keltec .380" she is hard pressed to recall things like model numbers.

BrettW wrote: My wander was fairly clueless, so he shouted over at another wander "hey, have a concealed gun over here!" (nice). <SNIP> No info was collected, LEO was very professional and friendly, and this took only about 60 seconds of my time. So I have no complaints.

Other than being outed you mean

Sheesh.

BrianSW99 wrote:I have no knowledge of the Old Mill, except that it's not listed on the texas3006 site. It's possible they're 30.06 posted, or maybe they're 51% though I always thought they were mostly a restaurant. However, the Cotton Bowl would not be off limits as long as it's not during the Texas/OU game. It's owned by the City and the prohibition is against carrying to a collegiate or professional sporting event, not the stadium in which those games are played. Is the Cotton Bowl even open outside of the Texas/OU game day?

Cotton Bowl is generally buttoned up during the fair with the exception of the Texas/OU and Grambling/Prairie View games. So again, non-issue for me as I avoid weekends in general and game days like the plague.

Good idea on the options because I need to use a new one. We went tonight for the girls to see Brook White (Season 7 American Idol, Folk Singer and sweet girl). Technically my experience was an "other". I had my CHL out and the wander asked what it was and I told her and she says oh, you need to tell the supervisor and sent me over to a table along the side of the gate where next to where they collect the Dr. Pepper cans. The supervisor was very polite and asked me if "I was a concealed holder." I said yes and held out my ID and she waved it off. She asked me if I had my ticket already and I said yes, she said go on through and gave the wand person a nod, she met me on the other side, walked me over to the DPD at the gate, asked the officer to verify a CHL, he compared the DL and CHL and said okay. She then said enjoy the fair and left. The DPD said, "There are only two places you can't go. The Cotton Bowl and the Old Mill." I said, "Neither was on the agenda, I think we'll be okay." He said, "Cool, have fun." Both the wander and security supervisor acted as if they didn't even want to see the CHL and this routine seemed well rehearsed so I think we may find it consistent. An actual LEO was the only one to look at it.

Pertinent Data:
Arrival at gate 5, 5 P.M.
Got certificates from Dr Pepper cans and bought tickets.
Went to wander first and told to go over to supervisor, stationed at gate.
Told to go on in, met on other side and escorted (discreetly) to LEO who verified valid CHL.
With waiting in line excluded, the whole process was less than five minutes.
We were on our way by 5:10 P.M.

So I think the smoothest procedure is to buy your ticket, ask that the security supervisor be pointed out. Go to them first and discreetly mention you have a concealed license. If I am correct they will tell you to proceed through the gate and simply meet you on the other side and walk you over to the DPD officer stationed at the gate who will verify your CHL.

On a side note, I get the Cotton Bowl thing but is the Old Mill 51% or something? It has no practical importance because I never go there nor do I want to.

BTW the girls got to meet and talk with Brook White AND Jason Castro (another idol favorite). Front row at the concert too. Happy girls+happy wife = Happy Dad.

Just trying to get a pulse here. Vote based on your experience and elaborate as you see the need. I am interested not only in any change in policy but the consistency from gate to gate, time to time. Please vote "info collected" if it was attempted, even if refused or recanted upon encounter.