Procedure at the state capitol

[AR Traveler]

So the last time I was in the Capitol building in Austin was many years ago as a tourist. For work, I've got to go to a meeting there and was wondering if they have metal detectors or anything special I need to know or do as a CHL holder. THANKS!

[KFP]

When I was there last summer there were no metal detectors to go through. I've heard that they do, but it may just be when they're in session?

If you do have to go through the metal detectors, just pull out your CHL in advance, notify, and they'll be professional handling it.

[srothstein]

No detectors yet, but they are discussing it after the recent shooting. Perry has come out against making the Capitol look like the airport (his words), but there is a pretty close match up between Dems and Repubs in the Capitol and I don't know yet how it will go.

The good news is that I don't expect any legal status changes for government buildings to pass this session. The bad news is I expect them to try. Charles would probably be a better informed source on that than i am since these are just my personal observations. He gets to talk to the people who make a lot of these decisions.

[texas1234]

They dont have them yet and they did not have them last session either. It is also foolish and irresponsible in my opinion not to have them. I am there 10 times a year at a minimum and during session and it has always blown my mind, as a matter of fact the first thing anybody new I take there with me for a meeting that has never been always says. "You mean you can just walk right in"

[gemini]

They dont have them yet and they did not have them last session either. It is also foolish and irresponsible in my opinion not to have them. I am there 10 times a year at a minimum and during session and it has always blown my mind, as a matter of fact the first thing anybody new I take there with me for a meeting that has never been always says. "You mean you can just walk right in"

And my opinion is I think it is foolish to have them. The single incident earlier was a upset boyfriend of some capital worker.
Not a voter upset with a state legislator. On this I agree with Perry 100%.... we don't need the capital looking like an airport.
Your response to your pals that say "You mean you can just walk right in"; should be Heck Yea Buddy! And thank God we live in Texas!

[wgoforth]

They dont have them yet and they did not have them last session either. It is also foolish and irresponsible in my opinion not to have them. I am there 10 times a year at a minimum and during session and it has always blown my mind, as a matter of fact the first thing anybody new I take there with me for a meeting that has never been always says. "You mean you can just walk right in"

And my opinion is I think it is foolish to have them. The single incident earlier was a upset boyfriend of some capital worker.
Not a voter upset with a state legislator. On this I agree with Perry 100%.... we don't need the capital looking like an airport.
Your response to your pals that say "You mean you can just walk right in"; should be Heck Yea Buddy! And thank God we live in Texas!

Not to mention he shot outside. Metal detectors would have made no difference.

[texas1234]

He shot outside after he walked in past the 6 troopers in the foyer and all the way down the annex to the Senators office in which case he asked for the female staffer in her office that he was stalking (which was not her boyfriend) and when he was told she wasnt there we walked back outside freaked out and fired outside. Yes detectors would have mattered in this case. She is lucky she wasnt in her office.

[gemini]

He shot outside after he walked in past the 6 troopers in the foyer and all the way down the annex to the Senators office in which case he asked for the female staffer in her office that he was stalking (which was not her boyfriend) and when he was told she wasnt there we walked back outside freaked out and fired outside. Yes detectors would have mattered in this case. She is lucky she wasnt in her office.

Ok. So 1 incident, in which a stalker pops off a round outside; and the state capital should be locked down with metal detectors,
scanning wands, 2-4 DPS troopers at each entrance, trays provided for xray of personal items in pockets, shoes removed and xrayed, every visitor viewed as a BG until proven innocent, unarmed and submissive? No.
How about requiring all capital employees to have basic defense/firearm training and give them the option to be armed while on the capital grounds? Sounds like a plan.

[texas1234]

I respect yall's opinion and I understand your points and I agree with you on many levels,I really do, however, in the case of the State Capitol it doesnt make any sense to me, thats all, just one mans opinion, no more, no less.

[The Annoyed Man]

I respect yall's opinion and I understand your points and I agree with you on many levels,I really do, however, in the case of the State Capitol it doesnt make any sense to me, thats all, just one mans opinion, no more, no less.

That's the beauty of the Interwebs. We all get to have an opinion.

Another way of looking at it is: Perhaps the capital building is the LAST place where a legislator should feel safe from the voters. I'm certainly not advocating for doing physical harm to a politician, but neither do I want The People's House to become an ivory tower where The People's representatives get too comfortable with who they are and what they do with The People's affairs. They should always fear the consequences of their actions. That way, they will tread lightly on the shoulders of The People who send them there. If they do that, then they have nothing to fear.

[bdickens]

[texas1234]

Just for the record I am not so concerned for the politicians as I am for 100's of school kids that walk those halls everyday. The "people" are there a lot more than the politicians. The politicians should feel perfectly safe because they are rarely there.

[gemini]

Just for the record I am not so concerned for the politicians as I am for 100's of school kids that walk those halls everyday. The "people" are there a lot more than the politicians. The politicians should feel perfectly safe because they are rarely there.

I would agree that this is another reason to let teachers and CHL's carry in schools and at school functions.

[ErnieP]

The Capitol will soon become a "crime welcome" location with the adoption today of a new policy to quickly install metal detectors. Here is a link to the Austin-American Statesman article:

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/ ... kayed.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

While not stated, I strongly suspect there is no CHL exemption.....

Guess I will not be visiting Our Capitol again.....ugh........

[Keith B]

The Capitol will soon become a "crime welcome" location with the adoption today of a new policy to quickly install metal detectors. Here is a link to the Austin-American Statesman article:

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/ ... kayed.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

While not stated, I strongly suspect there is no CHL exemption.....

Guess I will not be visiting Our Capitol again.....ugh........

Per state law there cannot be a CHL exemption unless the legislature is in session and posted 30.06. So, they will have to provide a method for a CHL'er to carry past the metal detectors.