TexasCHLforum.com

Dragonfighter wrote:

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.

Here's the skit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3Yctq95MYw

Yes, I voted. I entered through the MLK entrance across the street from Minyard's/Walgreens. I showed them my CHL and they walked me to the policewoman who verified my CHL before letting me in.

Anyways, I went to the fair again today and the blonde whom I showed my CHL to still searched me. I asked why she would search me if I have a CHL? She said because I might be hiding a knife! The nice black lady who was her coworker said, "Baby, let him in." The blonde replied, "But I have to..." "Let him in," her co-worker said. The blonde reluctantly let me in after she peeked in my bag. "Is it in your bag?" I ignored her and walked inside towards the police officer. The police officer smiled and waved me in. The blonde was obviously anti-gun, but her co-workers stepped in and set her straight.

I had a nice day at the fair and I saw two people wearing NRA gear (hat and T-shirt). I said, "Hi," to them and they greeted me back. One nice lady saw my NRA hat and said to me, "You're in the NRA. I am too. Here's 2 free tickets. Enjoy the fair." She was leaving the fair and had 2 leftover tickets. Cool.

Lots of CHL'ers today at the fair. I think it's become the new "Wally Walk". I saw a lady with a big square shaped fanny pack worn on the right hip that had a major 1911 print. It looked kinda like a Wilderness Tactical Safecarry Holster but it wasn't because hers was home-made of leather (good job! like the lone star concho!) instead of nylon. I also saw a mama with an oversized baby sling. The sling's tail end hid a 1911 that flashed when she turned around. She kinda reminded me of the youtube lady (maybe she IS the youtube lady): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJriDAhIIQs . The guy in front of me in line to get in had a huge fanny pack with a zipper that wound 270 degrees around the pack (non-gun packs have zippers that are straight and only extend across the pack, not wind around). He had his CHL plastic in his hand and was waiting for the wanders to find his piece, but they didn't so he walked right in. I was wearing a NRA members' baseball cap and the world's biggest Hawaii shirt so the wander couldn't miss me. I showed him my plastic and the wander discreetly guided me to the policewomen chattering behind the entrance gate. She took a peek and grunted, "O.K." "Have a nice day," I replied. These are just the obvious ones that I recognized. Concealed is concealed so I'm sure that most CHL'ers were not recognized. I think it is because of the stink we made with letters and phone calls last year that resulted in the improvement in this year's policy towards CHL'ers. Thanks, y'all, for being persistent. A steady pressure of stubborn persistence is what wins civil rights. We make a big stink so that future Americans could carry on....

P.S. If you haven't carried to the fair yet, do so tomorrow. That's the last day of the fair. Make it your "Wally Walk". It's a painless experience. They were discreet and the process took all of 10 seconds. The funny thing was, I went on the first day of the fair after retaining the services of an attorney and even wore an AV wire because I was expecting them to use the Gestapo tactics that they used last year (info gathering), but they did NOT do it this year, thankfully. C'mon y'all, let's do a "Fair Walk" tomorrow!

P.P.S. My wife commented, "hey, how come there's so many people with guns at the Fair? Why do you need one?" "They're carrying guns because they can't carry a cop," I replied (I read this snappy answer on the forum. Thanks, guys!). I could see the deep thought going through her mind afterward. When I told her about the mama with a baby flashing the 1911, she didn't believe me, so I pointed it out to her, she flashed again and my wife saw it, too. "Isn't it dangerous if you mix kids and guns?" she asked. "No, as long as you educate them and lock up your guns when adults aren't around. Notice how the gun is on the opposite side of her body from the baby, she had a holster with thumb-break, and her 1911 has a safety?" "Oh," she replied. Again, I could see her in deep thought. It was a great educational experience for my wife. Please continue to flash, print, and wear NRA baseball caps tomorrow. We're going again tomorrow and it really helps my wife to see normal people carrying guns with zero incident. I'll see y'all again tomorrow!

Hoi Polloi wrote:I think some letters are in order commending them for the changes.
-They are not having their security handle it, but are referring all CHLs to commissioned police officers.
-They are not placing any burdens on CHL holders other than showing their CHLs to a commissioned officer.
-They have clearly pushed discretion, courtesy, and promptness in their training.
-They are not trying to document anything about the CHL holders.

I'd say some huge accolades are in order for their progress!

This is progress that we CHL'ers have fought hard for by writing city council, calling the police, writing texas state legislators, etc. Make no mistake, your 2nd Amendment right is a CIVIL RIGHT that has to be fought for or we'll lose it. Just like Rosa Parks sat at the front of the bus to push civil rights, we must go to the fair to push civil rights. Your going to the fair is the equivalent of those black lunch counter diners in the 60's. Your right to defend yourself is a God-given HUMAN RIGHT.

Thanks to our semi-coordinated efforts, we've opened up the State Fair to CHL'ers. Another victory! Yay!

Let's keep up the good fight, guys! Thanks!