Comal County Fair and Rodeo Weapons Policy

[Tacomaman]

I’m going to the Comal County rodeo tonight.
There is no mention on the Comal County Fair website about a weapons policy.
Can someone who has been this year comment on this.
I called and was told no guns and/or knives.

[JustSomeOldGuy]

https://texas3006.com/view.php?id=16001

Was 06/07/51% until +-2021. Make sure you read all the 'Comments' thread on the above...

[Tacomaman]

Appreciate your response! I’ll lock my weapon in my vehicle.
How about knives??? I carry a folding knife with a blade shorter than 3”.

[ScottDLS]

Unless they have metal detectors, I would just carry concealed. 30.0x statutes don't apply to county property. And the entire Fair is not a 51% alcohol venue. If they want to exclude carry in violation of state law like the State Fair of Texas, they need to hire private security to check for 'weapons' and physically prevent your entry.


UPDATE: Since you said you were going to the rodeo, I would say you couldn't carry in the stadium where the rodeo was going on (I am assuming it is a professional sporting event). However, the rest of the Fair wouldn't be off limits in my opinion.

[The Annoyed Man]

Unless they have metal detectors, I would just carry concealed. 30.0x statutes don't apply to county property. And the entire Fair is not a 51% alcohol venue. If they want to exclude carry in violation of state law like the State Fair of Texas, they need to hire private security to check for 'weapons' and physically prevent your entry.

What if it’s a professional sporting event?

[ScottDLS]

Unless they have metal detectors, I would just carry concealed. 30.0x statutes don't apply to county property. And the entire Fair is not a 51% alcohol venue. If they want to exclude carry in violation of state law like the State Fair of Texas, they need to hire private security to check for 'weapons' and physically prevent your entry.

What if it’s a professional sporting event?

Aha, if the entire fairgrounds is used for the rodeo, then I guess it could be, but more likely it would be like if the State Fair of Texas had a professional football (not college) game in the Cotton Bowl. It wouldn't make the whole fairgrounds off limits any more that a professional sporting event would make the whole City of Dallas off limits. However, since I did see the OP asked about the rodeo specifically, I updated my post. Thanks TAM.

[Tacomaman]

I talked to couple of sheriff deputies once I got thru the gate at the rodeo arena. They said because there is an amusement park that would be considered off limits for concealed carry holders. Besides, there is a 51% sign per the officers.
No metal detectors. No reasons why one couldn't carry a pocket knife.

[ScottDLS]

I talked to couple of sheriff deputies once I got thru the gate at the rodeo arena. They said because there is an amusement park that would be considered off limits for concealed carry holders. Besides, there is a 51% sign per the officers.
No metal detectors. No reasons why one couldn't carry a pocket knife.

I can guarantee you that the Comal County Fairgrounds do not qualify as an Amusement Park as in the definition related to prohibiting carry. And also that the entire grounds, are NOT a 51% location. The part that would likely be off limits to carry would be the arena where the rodeo was taking place, since it is likely a professional sporting event.

(1) "Amusement park" means a permanent indoor or outdoor facility or
park where amusement rides are available for use by the public that is located in a
county with a population of more than one million, encompasses at least 75 acres in
surface area, is enclosed with access only through controlled entries, is open for
operation more than 120 days in each calendar year, and has security guards on the
premises at all times. The term does not include any public or private driveway, street,
sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area.

[srothstein]

And the entire Fair is not a 51% alcohol venue.

We have had this discussion before and it is possible the entire fair grounds are a 51% venue. The problem is that TABC will issue one license for the address and the entire address is covered by the license. If the contracted beer vendor, for example, gets a temporary license for the weekend, his license will cover the whole property UNLESS he deliberately marks off some of the property. This allows patrons to buy an alcoholic beverage and walk around the grounds drinking it. If the vendor is making 51% of his sales from the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption, then it is properly posted as 51% for the venue.

The questionable part of this posting is that the fairgrounds are mostly outdoors. The law (Penal Code 46.03(a)(7)) refers to entering the premises. PC 46.03(c)(4) says it is only the buildings and does not include any of the walkways. Is the beer tent or booth a building? What about some of the rides? Seems to me like the posting doesn't apply until you enter the building, so don't use the restroom while you are there (the permanent ones, not the port-a-potties).

[ScottDLS]

And the entire Fair is not a 51% alcohol venue.

We have had this discussion before and it is possible the entire fair grounds are a 51% venue. The problem is that TABC will issue one license for the address and the entire address is covered by the license. If the contracted beer vendor, for example, gets a temporary license for the weekend, his license will cover the whole property UNLESS he deliberately marks off some of the property. This allows patrons to buy an alcoholic beverage and walk around the grounds drinking it. If the vendor is making 51% of his sales from the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption, then it is properly posted as 51% for the venue.

The questionable part of this posting is that the fairgrounds are mostly outdoors. The law (Penal Code 46.03(a)(7)) refers to entering the premises. PC 46.03(c)(4) says it is only the buildings and does not include any of the walkways. Is the beer tent or booth a building? What about some of the rides? Seems to me like the posting doesn't apply until you enter the building, so don't use the restroom while you are there (the permanent ones, not the port-a-potties).

The definition of premises for 46.03 doesn’t cover outdoors. The license premises for the alcohol vendor can cover the whole property, but that is irrelevant to the weapons violation, where the definition says building or portion of a building and specifically excludes parking lots and walkways. And rides, even if in a “building” aren’t a building that is part of the 51% licensees premises unless they are selling beer on the ride. The State Fair tried this shortly after CHL, and it didn’t work even though half the vendors there are 51% and you can carry take your drink anywhere in the park.

[JustSomeOldGuy]

There is a metric ton manure-load of places that are displaying 51% signage that do not hold a 'Red' TABC permit. And the only way to know for sure is to do a lookup at TABC.texas.gov about three minutes before you enter the premises.

[Tacomaman]

There is a metric ton manure-load of places that are displaying 51% signage that do not hold a 'Red' TABC permit. And the only way to know for sure is to do a lookup at TABC.texas.gov about three minutes before you enter the premises.

How do you find that info on TABC.texas.gov?

[Vol Texan]

There is a metric ton manure-load of places that are displaying 51% signage that do not hold a 'Red' TABC permit. And the only way to know for sure is to do a lookup at TABC.texas.gov about three minutes before you enter the premises.

How do you find that info on TABC.texas.gov?

Go to the TABC public inquiry website:
https://apps.tabc.texas.gov/publicinqui ... ement.aspx