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I went to the downtown Bexar County Tax Office today to renew my auto registration, and as I was walking in did a quick scan for non-compliant 30.06 signs (since it is a govt. bldg, no courts) and was happily amazed to see none. But, inside the lobby is a metal detector and an armed security guard.

There was space to the right of the metal detector to enter the lines for auto registrations and property taxes, and so it looked to me like I could go straight to those lines. I thought perhaps you have to pass through the detector to go to the rest of the building, not the lobby area. But the guard stopped me and herded me through the line.

I was not (unfortunately) carrying at the time so I did not set off the metal detector. I thought about asking the guard what his procedure is for a CHL, but there were several people in line and I didn't feel like potentially causing a ruckus.

Anyway, San Antonio residents, be advised.

If it's not a premises that is statutorily off-limits (courthouse, etc.), they have to allow CHLs. The City of Houston was trying to keep them out of city facilities, and someone sued to get an injunction.

- Jim

Just to be clear, there weren't any signs saying "no guns." But there was a metal detector. So maybe I should pose an actual question:

Has anyone encountered a situation like this while carrying...trying to enter a building that is not posted off-limits, yet has a metal detector. What do you do?

Fish out your car keys, pocket change and your pistol and put them all in the little basket like it was the most normal thing in the world to do?

Should you put your CHL badge with your gun? Or maybe lay your CHL on top of the gun instead? Seriously, what do you think would happen if someone did just pull out the gun and put it in the little bucket?

What is the address of this office? Are there other Bexar county offices in the building? If so what are they? You said no courts, but maybe something else?

Blinking Dog wrote:Has anyone encountered a situation like this while carrying...trying to enter a building that is not posted off-limits, yet has a metal detector. What do you do?

I have never encountered the situation. What I would do is tell the person operating the metal detector that I had a handgun and a license, and ask them to use the hand scanner.

I would not unholster. If they wouldn't go along with me, I would leave and persue the matter with management by phone.

- Jim

Keith B wrote:What is the address of this office? Are there other Bexar county offices in the building? If so what are they? You said no courts, but maybe something else?

I found there are also some federal offices (Veterne's Affairs) in the building, so that may be an issue.

The branch Tax Office out on Bandera used to have a 30.06 sign. It may still have it, I haven't been out there in three years. And they also often had a guard. No metal detector. I always ignored the sign, said good morning to the guard, and did my business. Makes me wonder if the Federal offices really have anything to do with the guard/metal detector at the downtown office, or is (more likely I think) an initiative of the tax office (is it still Sylvia Romo?).

I live too far away not, but if you want to make this a project, stop by and ask the guard if he is working for the Feds or the state/county. If state/county, ask him how he handles CHLs (and if they are turned away, what authority). Then you can try out the Open Records Act approach discussed in other threads.

I can't speak for any other Bexar County tax offices, but if the other "branch" offices are like the one on Bandera (mentioned in ELB's post), it's in an almost-100% commercial strip mall with no other governmental offices in sight. I've only used that particular branch once (when we first moved here in 2006 to get our vehicle plates), and there was a guard but no metal detector. I didn't look for a 30.06 sign (having no idea at that point what one was, being a fresh-off-the-truck ex-Kalifornian), so there could have been one there, not sure. Nowadays, I check every place I walk into, looking for 30.06s - still haven't seen one, so I guess I'm going to the right places so far!

If I find myself in that area, I'll stop in to the office on Bandera and have a look around for a 30.06 and/or metal detector and/or guard to ask. Given a situation where CHL is allowed but there's a metal detector, I think Jim has the advice I would follow:

seamusTX wrote:What I would do is tell the person operating the metal detector that I had a handgun and a license, and ask them to use the hand scanner.

I would not unholster. If they wouldn't go along with me, I would leave and persue the matter with management by phone.

JT

seamusTX wrote:

Blinking Dog wrote:Has anyone encountered a situation like this while carrying...trying to enter a building that is not posted off-limits, yet has a metal detector. What do you do?

I have never encountered the situation. What I would do is tell the person operating the metal detector that I had a handgun and a license, and ask them to use the hand scanner.

I would not unholster. If they wouldn't go along with me, I would leave and persue the matter with management by phone.

- Jim

I agree with you. Definitely do not remove or even un-conceal the weapon. I would suggest that before you say I have a handgun, just say I have a license to carry a concealed handgun. Then go from there. Try to put the guard at ease.

As far as what he does after that, who knows. I would be willing to bet that he wouldn't let you in and it would turn into a big argument.

Blinking Dog wrote:Just to be clear, there weren't any signs saying "no guns." But there was a metal detector. So maybe I should pose an actual question:

Has anyone encountered a situation like this while carrying...trying to enter a building that is not posted off-limits, yet has a metal detector. What do you do?

I ran into this in a courthouse in RI once. I told the guy that I had a pistol permit and that I was carrying. He told me to show him my permit and gun. I complied, and gave him the (holstered) gun which he locked up in a set of lockers and gave me the key. When my business was done, I retrieved the gun and left.

I think in general, if I run into a metal detector I will either return to my truck and disarm or make a declaration to the person manning the checkpoint and ask them what is the proper thing to do.

I certainly wouldn't get into any kind of legal debate with them.

I complied, and gave him the (holstered) gun which he locked up in a set of lockers and gave me the key. When my business was done, I retrieved the gun and left.

It would be nice if more places that are off limits had lockers near the entrance. That would be a good idea at courthouses and such. Add that to my wish list! Glad that worked out for you, Frankie. At the ER I used to work at, there were lockers, but only for LEO's who were injured and had to take off their rig for X-rays or whatever to store their duty weapon in. I think they'd have had a heart attack if an every day pt asked to use one!

Tactical_Texan_CHL wrote:Should you put your CHL badge with your gun? Or maybe lay your CHL on top of the gun instead? Seriously, what do you think would happen if someone did just pull out the gun and put it in the little bucket?

Well, duh. I mean, the badge is like, metal and stuff, right?

Seriously, I had tongue firmly planted in cheek on that one. But wouldn't that be hillarious, though?