Metal detectors...what to do?

[springfieldATX]

2 days before I got my plastic in the mail last week I was at the IMAX theater in Austin. Naturally I was not carrying cause I didnt have the plastic yet. I didnt seem to notice any 30.06 signs posted anywhere. When I was about to walk into the actual theater, I noticed there was a metal detector right when you walk through the theaters door on the way to your seats.

Granted this IMAX is run by the Texas History Museum (Bob bullock) on MLK. I know I am not allowed to carry in federal buildings...but this is a state museum...is that off limits too?

J/W what your thoughts are on this.

Also, has anyone come across a metal detector while carrying lawfully in a building??? If so, what happened and how did you handle it???

[USA1]

just curious ...was there someone standing there to monitor the metal detector ?

[springfieldATX]

No, it was at 9pm. Their last showing...so maybe there is someone there during the day? Seems to me like a load of bull...cause lots of things will set off metal detectors...it was strange

[FlynJay]

Are you sure they are metal detectors? If they are not staffed then they are probably RF readers.

[USA1]

i always climb over or squeeze around the back just in case .

the folks at Walmart don't seem to have a sense of humor though

[dicion]

Metal detectors are Closed Archways, and they are always manned.

What you passed through are probably anti-theft devices of some kind, similar to these:



That is an anti-theft tower, not a metal detector :) They read the acousto-magnetic tags stuck on the inside of CD cases, and those tags on clothing, and beep loudly if you try to steal them.

THIS is a metal detector:

[mr.72]

OK, so maybe the OP didn't actually see a metal detector but I would still like to see some discussion of what to do when you are forced through a metal detector when there is no legal posting or other reason why you can't legally carry in some location.

I have seen metal detectors at places where there is no reason to not carry. Can't think of a specific one at this time but I did note it at the time.

[springfieldATX]

I have realized that I was mistaken...haha however I was still shocked to see an anti theft device in a move theater...anyway...

LETS TALK ABOUT WHAT TO DO IFFFFF you must walk through a metal detector.

I have been at some conventions where there are people of importance speaking and sometimes I have seen REAL metal detectors with security there. Now we should all be allowed to carry in this situation as long as there is no 30.06.

Im bored at work now...ill be thinking of a much better thread here soon...

[BrianSW99]

OK, so maybe the OP didn't actually see a metal detector but I would still like to see some discussion of what to do when you are forced through a metal detector when there is no legal posting or other reason why you can't legally carry in some location.

I think it that case, you really only have one option if you really want to attempt to carry into the place:

Go through the metal detector and explain you have a CHL when it goes off (or don't walk through and skip straight to telling them). In this case you will either a) be given verbal notice that you cannot carry there and will then be legally required to disarm (likely) or b) told to go on through because you have a valid CHL. (unlikely).

That said, I know that the Texas State Fair is one place where they will let you through the metal detectors if you have a CHL, but I would suspect in most cases, if they're going through the effort to have metal detectors, they're probably not going to want CHL's either.

[android]

OK, so maybe the OP didn't actually see a metal detector but I would still like to see some discussion of what to do when you are forced through a metal detector when there is no legal posting or other reason why you can't legally carry in some location.

I have seen metal detectors at places where there is no reason to not carry. Can't think of a specific one at this time but I did note it at the time.

Walk on through. If it goes beep, present your CHL and discreetly tell the guard or policeman you are legally armed. I would NOT display my gun. If they ask you to leave at that point, you have to or you are trespassing regardless of signs or lack of signs. If there are no signs, they have no legal justification to detain you in any way.

[BrianSW99]

I have been at some conventions where there are people of importance speaking and sometimes I have seen REAL metal detectors with security there. Now we should all be allowed to carry in this situation as long as there is no 30.06.

Remember though that they can still give you verbal notice when you go through the metal detector and that meets the legal notice requirement even if no 30.06 sign is posted.

[Purplehood]

I have been at some conventions where there are people of importance speaking and sometimes I have seen REAL metal detectors with security there. Now we should all be allowed to carry in this situation as long as there is no 30.06.

Remember though that they can still give you verbal notice when you go through the metal detector and that meets the legal notice requirement even if no 30.06 sign is posted.

Does that verbal notice override State Law allowing CHL entry into public buildings (with stated exceptions)?

[mr.72]

Does that verbal notice override State Law allowing CHL entry into public buildings (with stated exceptions)?

that would be property owned or leased by a "governmental entity"...

which seems like about the most likely of places to have metal detectors.

[Keith B]

Does that verbal notice override State Law allowing CHL entry into public buildings (with stated exceptions)?

that would be property owned or leased by a "governmental entity"...

which seems like about the most likely of places to have metal detectors.

In other words, no, they can't give verbal notice any more than they can post an enforceable 30.06.

[dicion]

Does that verbal notice override State Law allowing CHL entry into public buildings (with stated exceptions)?

that would be property owned or leased by a "governmental entity"...

which seems like about the most likely of places to have metal detectors.

In other words, no, they can't give verbal notice any more than they can post an enforceable 30.06.

Also.. don't forget. If you do go through the detector, and it beeps, if they ask you to uncover or take out your handgun, DO NOT DO IT.
You could be nabbed on Intentional Failure to Conceal.

Also, if you were to try this, i highly recommend you take a lawyer with you, and someone with a video camera :)