How was your fair experience?

[jimlongley]

My bride and I went on Sunday. Walked up to the wander, she got kind of antsy when I showed her my CHL and told her I was going to beep in several places (I was wearing a knee brace and had a video camera in my pocket) and waved me over to a supervisor.

Waited in line until the supervisor got to us, and she didn't look like she knew what to do. After dithering for a little while, she shut her line down, much to the dismay of the 15 or 20 people behind us, and told the person in the next line that we were going to the police.

Turned in our tickets and walked to the DPD stand where we waited for a couple of minutes, and then she asked to see my driver's license. I made a comment about wondering why she needed more than my CHL and she stated she just had to see if they match, and then she turned us loose, with a parting comment that started to be about the Cotton Bowl and The Old Mill. I interrupted her comment with "I know, I know, I can't go to the game, or eat in the restaurant" and she smiled and shrugged and went away. I pointed out to my bride that we had not gotten effective notice due to that, but we found all of the gates to the Cotton Bowl closed, and the restaurant was too crowded anyway.

Walked way too much for my knee and left in a lot of pain, but not until we went to see the USMC Drum and Bugle Corps, our yearly tradition.

We were talking with one of the (female) Marines after their performance and someone jostled me and my pocket gun clanked against the brace. Must have had to be standing just right because that was the first and only time all day, or anytime I have been wearing the brace, which is mostly all the time. The young Marine had a funny expression on her face until I said "knee brace" and pulled my little video camera out of the pocket on that side.

[jagged97]

went on 6 October, Gate 11, approximately 10:30.

CHL'er entered right before us (terrible concealment, super-tight shirt, could see it all, 1911 and extra mags), so had to wait for security supervisor. while waiting another CHL'er entered right behind us. the DPD office spent about 30 seconds looking at my DL and CHL, then said, "keep it concealed." uhm, yeah.

[mikeintexas]

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.

Wednesday, 09/29, approx. 12:30 p.m., Gate 11 near the Chevy display on the south side of the stadium.

We were at the Fair on Sunday, October 3 around noon. We came on the DART Train, which ever gate that is.

[flylow]

Went yesterday around 1:30, Oct. 7, through the gate near the Chevy Display and the giant stage. Went with my wife and two kids, age 6 and 1. I had my DL and CHL in my hand ready to go, but the nice lady with the wand at the gate just waved us on through without a second glance. There wasn't a line so wanding and a search through kids' bags wouldn't have slowed anyone down.

-flylow

[Sasnakra]

Visited the State Fair around 5:00PM yesterday afternoon - interesting. We parked on-site in an offical lot and walked up to the rear entrance. The security guard had my wife open her purse - quick glance (she wasn't carrying, but they didn't wand her). Before I could ask for a supervisor to show my CHL, the guard very briefly (as in a quick pass only my left side - only) wanded me and said 'Have a good time". He didn't identify my Taurus PT-709 pistol and Galco hoslter in my front right pants pocket.

This check point was not busy or the guards overloaded. At first I chuckled about the sloppy srceening - then begain thinking about how many illegal handguns are probably in the fair that passed right through the security gates (not counting any that 'Bangers' friends passed through or over the fence in remote areas). If the fair is going to screen for weapons and give the typical unarmed citizens a false sense of safety - then they should actually do it. I haven't heard of any incidents so far this year at the fair, but unless security improves it's only a matter of time.

This is just another example of why we carry - we must take more responsibilty for our our safety - rather than falsely believe that "someone" is out there watching over and ready to leap out to protect us from anything or anyone.
Be safe out there!

[Aggiedad]

My wife and I attended opening day via gate by the Midway (5?) and arrived around 10:30am. The security person asked to see my wife's purse and reached out to "wand" me but we discretely held up our CHL's instead. She stopped and said, "Please follow me" and led us to the closest police officer to have our CHLs looked at. While we were walking she said, "You BOTH have a CHL?" We said in unison, "Yes ma'am". The security lady then said, "Thanks for being protecting yourselves. We're all safer because you are here", and stuck out her hand to shake ours. DPD glanced at our CHLs and said, "Have fun".

Weird thing ... we then had to go back to the gate to show our tickets to the fair ...

[centexrandy]

Went to the Fair on Wednesday around 11am. Entered through gate 11 not a huge crowd. Family walked up to be wanded, I spotted a female security guard walking around. She had a wand and a clip board but was not at a specific station. I walked up to her, asked to see a Supervisor. She smiled and said she was a supervisor. I showed her my CHL she smiled and said "right this way sir!". Took me over to a ticket booth not being used and waved for DPD to come down. She thanked my for asking for a supervisor first, she stated it was easier for everyone that way. DPD Officer looked at my TxDL and my Tx CHL, handed them back to me and said to keep "it" concealed. He was very professional. The supervisor told me about the two places that I could not carry and told me to have a nice visit! Over all the experiance was really quick, professional and very discreet. Kuddos to the Fair Security and to DPD, Thank You!!
Randy

[ELB]

...He didn't identify my Taurus PT-709 pistol and Galco hoslter in my front right pants pocket.

...- then begain thinking about how many illegal handguns are probably in the fair that passed right through the security gates (not counting any that 'Bangers' friends passed through or over the fence in remote areas). If the fair is going to screen for weapons and give the typical unarmed citizens a false sense of safety - then they should actually do it. ...

Yup. Hence the term "Security Theatre." As in, it is really just a show for the rubes.

[budroux2w]

Just now got back from the fair. We went in at gate 9. Had DL and CHL in hand with DL on top. Walked up to the line and before I could ask for a supervisor she hit my left pocket...iPhone. Then motioned for me to empty and I showed her the license in my hand, she looked kind of nervous and asked if anyone was with me, I point to my wife and we both go through the turnstile and walked up to the DPD tower. He tool a look, told me where to not go and to have a nice day. Really nice about it and my wife didn't even get wanded, she liked that.

Come to think... That was my first LEO contact.

[Morgan]

My wander was quite discrete in their communications to get a DPD officer to come over and check my CHL. They couldn't get the DPD officer to get off her butt in the shade to come over, so after I waited and stood in a bunch of people's way (at the direction of the security crew) she asked me to walk over to the officer (and told me she'd watch to make sure I did it) and check in. The officer looked at my CHL and said, "Thanks" and went back to eating.

[Weg]

Went today, entered through main gate. Picked the line nearest the police stand to go through. Showed the guy my CHL, he yelled out " license check" and told me to go show the officer my license. I showed it to him, he said have a nice day at the fair and I walked back on in by the same guy without being wanded. Took about an extra 60 seconds.

[numist]

We approached Gate 1 on Friday morning (10/09/2010) around 10:30 am. The very thorough (and possibly new) security person was wanding a gentleman in front of us over and over.. having him remove his keys, phone, belt buckle, etc. Finally she approached me at which point I showed her my card. She loudly exclaimed "Concealed handgun! Do you have your concealed handgun on you right now?"
I asked her where her gate police officer was and she motioned toward the ticket booth. I walked up to the officer with my card and DL out where she could see them. As I got closer she barely glanced at the card then looked toward the DL saying, "I don't need to see that, they're both issued by the same place". She then told me that mine was the first and only CHL she had seen the whole fair.
I then proceeded to my favorite ride.. the food court. Overall a pleasant day at the fair with no problems.

[MSC182]

The Wife and I went to the Fair on saturday afternoon. I showed the "wander" my CHL and she had me go the the DPD officer at the podium. He looked at it and sent me on my way. Neither my wife nor I were ever wanded. It was a piece of cake!

[garcia946]

I went today entered at the stockyards right to opening. Had my CHL in my hand, lady goes to wand me starting with me left side cargo pockets in my shorts. Forgot my keys, moved to right side , right in .. less than 30 seconds , no biggie. She never wanded my waist , either side.
Me and the family had a really good time...

[westex1948]

Well I went to Fair Grounds Saturday, but since was there to see Tech vs Baylor Football in COTTON BOWL, I did leave it in gun safe in truck. Did want to see how people were being treated at ticket windows BUT as we approached were sent to special entry for "FOOTBALL TICKET HOLDERS"...There was only 2 young ladies trying to watch 4 steady streams of people. They just glanced to see if we had ticket. REALLY made me feel secure seeing how easy it would be to get a weapon inside the Fair Grounds..Anyway went to game and left as soon afterwards as could get to truck..( I did not need any fried "anything").....