TexasCHLforum.com

LSUTiger wrote: The attack on this gun show and others is not due to public safety, not due to broken laws or to bad business practices. It's all about feel-good politics.

Normally, I'd call this an opinionated editorial, but having been to the ROT rally and seen what goes on there, the gun show is a much safer venue...

apostate wrote:Thank you for the reminder to write Greg Abbott again, to follow up and inquire what action his office is taking against SAXET management and LEO co-conspirators who posted 30.06 signs on government property and threatened to falsely arrest Texas CHL.

Wait... I thought we supported SAXET?
If you're going to complain about those signs, better lump the Austin gun show in there too... And (as I understand it) most of the gun shows in Texas.
I agree that they shouldn't be posted on municipally owned buildings unless there is a legitimate exclusion. My main concern is LEO offices that would choose to enforce on them.

I actually appreciate that type of sign much more than 30.06 verbiage, when they're hiring off duty officers.

Technically,they didn't vote on extending the lease, which to me indicates that they are well aware of potential culpability here...

For those of us celebrating a prospective move of this gun show to Cedar Park:
1) Cedar Park already is hosting a competing gun show via another vendor. I dunno if they'll add another vendor for the same type of show.

2) I was at the Cedar Park Convention Center last night. It appears to now be posted 30.06 above the main entry doors. They simply took the signs from the prior Austin gun show and hung them up there. Again, likely prosecutable, but it's now posted for what looks like all events.

Cedar Park Dad wrote:On what basis could they sue? This is not an attack, this is a question on what grounds would be the suit.

If a government that owns a facility decides to invent arbitrary rules that aren't on the books as a precursor to a lease, that might be an issue for a vendor who makes income from leasing that facility.
If it was private property, I'd have no issue with arbitrary rules. However, this is a "public" facility...

I dunno how it will shake out. I just don't like it in combination with LEOs essentially bullying private property owners that were allowing these events. Note, I don't blame individual LEOs, they were enforcing policy of the department and the agenda of the city/county.

Scott Farkus wrote: I hope someone is preparing that lawsuit on behalf of Saxet, as it appear Abbott has suddenly gone silent on the issue. What a difference an election year makes, huh?

Abbott wasn't silent on the issue initially. He obviously thought that Travis county was looking for litigation.
Honestly, I'd consider Abbott going silent as a good indicator. The lawyers usually get quiet when litigation is pending or in process.

I agree with most of your analogies, other than comparing it to banning a gay pride parade, as that's a "protected class" thing.
They've obviously imposing rules that have no basis in law and trying to enforce them on community owned property. This, in combination with the fact that they've already smacked around private property owners that were willing to allow gun trade events makes it a constitutional issue in my mind. Yea, they're gonna waste my tax dollars.

Sounds to me like Travis county is risking more than $100k/show income by inviting a lawsuit.
Course, it depends on if other municipalities have been allowed to make up their own rules...

bbobb wrote:I see. So instead of going after the gangs and illegal immigrants, they are harassing law abiding citizens. It sounds like a game plane straight out of California.

They're going after gangs. There is a gang task force. You can't arrest people just on gang affiliation alone.

On illegal immigration, they're definitely not enforcing. On that, I believe that the root cause is because powerful industries need that work force and those forces feed politicians who make laws. IMHO, the biggest impact we could have on illegal immigration is by enforcing against those people that hire illegals... Which, face it, happens in plain view every day in every city in Texas. I also believe that if we could round them all up overnight, we might be surprised at the consequences in our daily lives...

Although I dont agree with it - they're trying to solve the problem of gun sales this close to the border. Austin does have a gang presence. With the fast and furious mess up, I'm sure there is political pressure there...

Apparently Travis county is trying to force Saxon to require background checks on all private party purchases that occur on the property. It sounds like Saxon won't be coming back.
Travis County is paid $100k per gun show for rental of that facility.

LSUTiger wrote: I think open carry of a pistol at a gun show is similiar to open carry at a gun range. You need to have it unconcealed to try to sell it or trade it or fit accessories properly. So Im sure some type of rules regarding private property, since the show is renting space, and giving permission to open carry?, come into effect. Additionally, how you could unload and load your loaded spare mags before entry and after exiting the show to remain armed (if legal to do so) and the pontential downsides to doing that is another subject.

Open carry of a handgun in public is generally illegal in Texas due to PC 46.02 and the exceptions are outlined in PC 46.15:

Section 46.02 does not apply to a person who:
is engaging in lawful hunting, fishing, or other sporting activity on the immediate premises where the activity is conducted, or is en route between the premises and the actor's residence, motor vehicle, or watercraft, if the weapon is a type commonly used in the activity;

That is, at least last year (I may not to be up to speed on recent changes) - if you bring your handgun to my rural property and display it walking from your car into my home, you're violating the law. Even if you have my permission. Now if I had a small range on the property and we were on our way to do that, then you're not in violation.

Wikipedia indicates there is an exclusion for gun shows also, but I don't see it in the PC (Penal Code). Maybe someone else can help with this and more recent changes to the law that might allow display on private property.

Superman wrote:I can understand why gun shows post 30.06 (not saying I like it though). If I own a candy store, I would probably have a policy in place that no outside candy is allowed in the store. The reason is because it would make it VERY difficult for me as the business owner to identify whether someone was stealing or not. How do I know you didn't just bring in that bag of skittles and not just take it off my shelf and open it up? It's not that I would be anti-candy, but I would have a much harder time running and protecting my business. Same reasoning for the 30.06 at gun shows. Business owners want help preventing theft. That's why no personal ammo is allowed inside as well.

The "owner" of the event is selling space. Where is the hardware risk? I don't think the vendors get asked if they want 30.06 or not... Knowing the cast of characters and their clients, I can't imagine that they would be for it. But maybe I'm wrong...

CPPD told me that they've had "incidents" before at gun shows where concealed carry was "allowed" - I assume that's just general mishandling. The show was crowded, so there are very limited places you can point any sort of weapon without "sweeping" someone.

Cedar Park Dad wrote: Again I am learning more-that there are already shows, and that they are posted.
I haven't been to one in years though. Too many crowds and too few deals for my personal taste.

Yea, it may be the new norm. CPPD knew that they "shouldn't" arrest for "violations" when I asked. I got the feeling that it was going to depend on the officer though.
I agree with you - I didn't see *any* deals. I had limited scope, but everything I saw there could be bought online for less, including FFL and shipping fees... But that was just based on sticker. Interesting place, gun shows..

Cedar Park Dad wrote:Have it in Cedar Park instead. We have something long extinct in Austin - conservatives.

Cedar Park gun shows get posted 30.06, at least recently... I find it highly annoying, especially since the local PD stands at the door to "enforce the rules".