Houston Livestock Show/Rodeo to Prohibit OC

[atx2a]

This just came across my news feed. None of the statements/stories I could find make mention of the fact that it is a professional sporting event, and therefore off limits anyway. Unless they are referring to the livestock part only, which no story seems to indicate that detail.

http://abc13.com/news/houston-livestock ... s/1202984/

[Jusme]

I don't live in the area so I don't know who owns the property for the Houston Stock Show and Rodeo. The arena where the rodeo is held would be a professional sporting arena already prohibited, but I know the Ft. Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, allowed OC and CC in all areas not prohibited such as the arena, and areas designated 51%. The land and Buildings are owned by the city of Ft. Worth.

[atx2a]

I don't live in the area so I don't know who owns the property for the Houston Stock Show and Rodeo. The arena where the rodeo is held would be a professional sporting arena already prohibited, but I know the Ft. Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, allowed OC and CC in all areas not prohibited such as the arena, and areas designated 51%. The land and Buildings are owned by the city of Ft. Worth.

Agreed. The headline, as per usual, is misleading.

[wcalvert]

Article says that they are preventing open carry and concealed carry.

Definitely agree that the rodeo/concert inside NRG stadium is a professional sporting event, but not sure how they feel they have a leg to stand on with the cookoff/animal displays in the arena/the fair. All are on county-owned land. Remember a separate ticket is required to enter NRG Stadium.

[Pariah3j]

Well the speed in which the AG's office seems to be processing the claims, the Houston Rodeo will be long gone before they around to it - and maybe that's what they are hoping for/counting on. Not sure if the new law would or should allow them to fine them(post event) for erroneously having the signs up and carry not being allowed.

[Vol Texan]

Well the speed in which the AG's office seems to be processing the claims, the Houston Rodeo will be long gone before they around to it - and maybe that's what they are hoping for/counting on. Not sure if the new law would or should allow them to fine them(post event) for erroneously having the signs up and carry not being allowed.

This is not a problem. The rodeo doesn't get fined - the municipality does. If the venue has 30.06 and/or 30.07 signs prohibiting legal carry in areas that are not otherwise prohibited (e.g. 51% and/or the professional sporting event arena), then I hope someone documents it and follows through the steps prescribed by Mr. Cotton.

[mr1337]

Well the speed in which the AG's office seems to be processing the claims, the Houston Rodeo will be long gone before they around to it - and maybe that's what they are hoping for/counting on. Not sure if the new law would or should allow them to fine them(post event) for erroneously having the signs up and carry not being allowed.

I think the best course of action would be to go through the red tape as soon as possible for the show (take pictures, giving notice to the organizers & county officials) and alert the AG on the 3rd day, documenting the signs every day thereafter. Then, doing the same thing next year if they still post.

But, I think the AG will let the county know that the grounds cannot be posted next time, and if they do, they get fined.

In the mean time, 30.06 and 30.07 don't apply on the grounds (outside of the professional sporting event), so carry on.

[lildave40]

I dont know where the ruling is. But is due to the amount of people that goes there. It has been in place for a few years now.

[wcalvert]

I dont know where the ruling is. But is due to the amount of people that goes there. It has been in place for a few years now.

"The amount of people that goes there" is not mentioned in any of the state statutes.

[txyaloo]

I've carried concealed at the rodeo cookoff for the last 6 years. It's never been an issue. The police officers at the metal detectors know what the law is. They've always taken a quick look at my CHL, then told the security guys to let me through after I beep while being wanded.

Sounds like someone needs to file a complaint with the county/AG now.

[TXBO]

The property is owned by Harris County. The actual rodeo should be off limits by statute to CC but the fairgrounds and livestock show should be prohibited from posting.

[TexasCajun]

A couple of clarifications. If you go to the rodeo/concert, that 1 ticket gets you into the rodeo, concert, livestock show, and midway. You can buy a non-rodeo/concert ticket that gets you into the livestock show & midway only.

All events are held on county property. But the rodeo is a pro sporting event. The rodeo & concert are held inside NRG stadium. The livestock show is held in NRG arena. The midway is held in the parking lot of the NRG complex.

A couple of years ago, they started wanding at the front gate and displayed 30.06 signs. But you still had to show your ticket at the stadium gate to get into the rodeo/concert.

There's been lots of discussion in years past about whether or not the school FFAs make the livestock show a "school sponsored event". IANAL but I believe that the "school sponsored event" verbiage was meant as a designation to be used when referring to school property or grounds. But others have argued that the designation is a floating boundary dependent on whether or not a school event happens to be taking place at the time. Looks like the HLSR is using a very liberal interpretation.

[TXBO]

Here is the article from the Chronicle.

http://www.chron.com/houston/article/Ho ... 834277.php

No open or concealed carry.

"Joel Cowley, president and chief executive officer of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, spoke to reporters on Tuesday afternoon about the private, non-profit entity’s decision.
“It’s our goal to promote a family-friendly atmosphere,” said Cowley. “We don’t think the private carry of handguns is conducive to that.”"

[TexasCajun]

From the linked chronicle article

So far no open carry advocates have come forward to complain, Cowley says, about the decision.

Of course nobody's come forward, they've only just made the announcement 30 minutes ago! By day's end, they'll probably have their fill.

[RossA]

Long ago the rodeo ceased to be a Texas event. It is now just a big business run by big businessmen. They tout how much money they give away in scholarships, but do they ever open their books so that you can see what percentage of their money goes to the stated purpose?