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Well, I'm not much for crowds myself, but my wife likes to participate in the umbrella parade with her friends. They went all out this year with a theme and costumes and were official entrants in the competition. I'm a serious amaeture photographer and love to tag along and photograph the festivities. But I'm not going to go into a crowd like that with $2.000.00 worth of camera equipment on my person unarmed.

My wife was a little irritated with me at first that I didn't simply go put my gun back in the car and join her. She didn't want me to ruin her fun. At the end of the evening after I had filled her in with the details of my ordeal, however, she was proud of me. She was proud of the fact that I stood up for my principles and beliefs. She was also happy I won the battle, and relieved that she didn't have to bail mo out of jail.

RHenriksen wrote:Jeff, did this happen this year, 2013, or during a previous year's event? In either case, thank you for sharing your experience

This happened last night, February 1, 2013.

Well, I was initially denied entry to Galveston Mardis Gras by a County Sherrif. I asked to speak with a supervisor and he also denied me entry. Although I remained calm and respectful, I got the impression that they were very unhappy with me and I felt like I was on very thin ice. So I turned around and left. The reason they gave was that the event area was designated a bar and I couldn't have a gun in a bar. I looked around and did not see any 51% signs.

I then emailed someone to get some advice. After following his advice, making a few phone calls (one to the Galveston PD Chief's office), and a couple emails later I was told to try again. So I went back down to the island and went to a different gate. There was a DPS officer there and he gave me the same story and denied me access. I remained very respectful but he looked like he was about to cuff me. I explained to him that I had spoken to Galveston PD and they had assured me I could have entry. He pointed me in the direction of the command center and said he wasn't going to let me in.

So I went to the command center and at first they said I couldn't enter there. I explained that I had been turned away twice at two different entrances. One officer there echoed the same reason for denying entry, but another officer said, "That's bull. That won't hold up." He then made a radio call and then told everyone there that the supervisor said to let me in. I'm not going to give the supervisor's name he said he was talking to on the radio, but he was the same one who denied me at my first try.

I'll claim victory for CHL holders on this one. I was able to get in with my pistol and take some great photos of the umbrella parade. And in the end my wife was very happy not to have to bail me out of jail. She was also proud of me standing up for my rights.

Looks like Galveston is at it again. I was watching the news last night and they interviewed someone who said they will have check points with metal detectors, no guns, knives or weapons allowed. When I went last year there was a Galveston PD officer who was asking everyone to empty their pockets and open their bags, etc. When I got up to him and attempted to show him my CHL he very rudely said, "I don't need your ID. Just empty your pockets. Do you have any guns or knives on you?" So I politely raised my ID again. When he finally looked at it his attitude changed and he replied, "Come right in sir."

I'll be going to the Umbrella Parade tomorrow night to photograph my wife and her friends and I'll let y'all know how it goes.