State Fair Report

[shooter1911]

Yesterday I took my wife and her sister to the fair because it was senior day (don't laugh, we got in free). I am always curious as to how the officials at the fair will react to my CHL. The young man with the wand in his hand asked the ladies if he could look in their purses, and I flashed my CHL. He asked me if I was carrying, and I said yes. He then asked me for some other ID like my DL. He quickly examend both, handed them back to me and said have a nice day.

I was very pleased to see how professionally this young man was trained to handle CHLs. I was also impressed with the cleanliness of the fair this year, and the staff seemed to be extremely courteous and well managed. Fletcher's still makes the best corn dogs in the world

[Mike from Texas]

Good to know seeing as the family & i will probably make the trip next weekend.

[barnez]

positive experience for me too. the guy asked for both my DL & CHL and to remove my sun glasses and let me through. my buddy had a pocket knife and had to walk back to his car a 1/4 mile away.

[HighVelocity]

positive experience for me too. the guy asked for both my DL & CHL and to remove my sun glasses and let me through. my buddy had a pocket knife and had to walk back to his car a 1/4 mile away.

Couldn't have just handed his knife to you instead?

[SlowDave]

It's a Concealed Handgun License (CHL), not a Concealed Weapon License. As far as I know, the CHL does not allow you to carry miscellaneous weapons into areas in which they are otherwise prohibited.

[HighVelocity]

Ok, let me put it another way... When showing your CHL, did the gate person ASK if you had a knife?

[Shadowboxer]

My GF and I went Friday with my parents that came in from Boston to go for the first time. We had a great day.

As I approached the entrance with my ccw in its IWB holster, I had my CHL license ready in my hand. The guy waved the wand over me and it beeped twice where I had the pistol on my hip. The guy put his hand on my cargo pocket of my shorts about 8 inches below where it beeped. He felt my wallet and waved me in.

My girlfriend looked at me and commented on how I got in WITH a gun (though legally) and the guy didn't catch it. Imagine who's going in illegally with a gun.

[jimlongley]

My bride and I went to the fair today.

As usual the person wielding the wand had no idea how to do it properly, when she wanded my wife, she got the wand close enough to my fanny pack to make it beep, and then she waved my wife through.

She then wanded me and did not get close enough to my fanny pack to beep on the gun, she got a feeble beep from my knife and keys, and waved me through while I displayed my CHL to her.

When she finally focused enough to realize what was in my hand, she just asked me to "show that to the officer" and just waved in the general direction of inside the fair.

The only officer I could find was on her cell phone and couldn't be bothered, so my honey and I spent a relaxed six plus hours wandering around enjoying ourselves.

And I don't feel one bit guilty.

I did note that the Texas Hall of State had a non-compliant sign posted, but I ignored it and went on in. Inside we perused the Texas history exhibit, which was very interesting, with the exception of the replica Spencer Repeater on display as if it was an original.

I also got a kick out of the Fried Grilled Cheese stand having a blue TABC sign.

[Shadowboxer]

We went into the African American Muesum for the Domino exhibit. They also had a non-compliant sign stating basically "even if you have a CHL it is illegal to carry in here".

[jimlongley]

How was the domino exhibit? I was trying to get wifey to go, but her feet were too tired at 6pm to make the extra 50 or so yards. We got as far as the Lottery thing and cycled $12 into over $50 while she sat and relaxed, blew it all and then headed for the car.

[soccerguy59]

My family and I went to the Fair on Friday, I approached the magic wand attendant, presented CHL and DL, she said have a great day, then came the stopdown. The attendant next to her said she needed to get a LEO to validate, then the two attendants began to have a procedure discussion, when did that change, etc. Now my family is waiting for me at the turnstiles, asking Dad what is going on. My Son comes over and says, did you bring your gun? Why? I tell him to be quiet and to go with everyone else, I will be right there. My attendant then got on her radio and asked how to proceed, she was instructed to let me in without any other inspection.

So it ended up ok, but not without being outed and causing a scen.

Once inside I did not look for any other signs, the family tried the fried grilled cheese but missed the sign that was mentioned earlier.

[dmac]

I went this weekend with a gun-friendly, but non-CHL, friend and our kids. As I approached security I had my wallet out ready to show my CHL and DL. The wand dude said that he'd have to call an officer and that it might take 3-4 minutes. He fondled my DL and CHL, clearly having no idea how to handle them and looking thouroughly confused the whole time. Finally the lady wander next to him came over and said loudly, :"oh...no... you're supposed to send them over to me." She checked my ID's then told me to go see the officer who by now had arrived at the gate. He also asked for my ID's, checked them for a minute, asked if I was carrying (as if I would go through this if I wasn't) then let me through. My buddy knew I was carrying, and was interested to see how the whole entry thing would happen, so the obviousness of the situation was no big deal, but the security/wand moorons completely ruin any chance I had at concealability to anyone paying even the slightest amount of attention.

stupid is as stupid does.....

[brianko]

Wow, I had just the opposite experience: I showed the guy my CHL, he glanced at it, smiled and handed it back, turned the wand sideways and went through the motions of making a sweep -- about a foot away -- and told me I was good to go.

[brianko]

It's a Concealed Handgun License (CHL), not a Concealed Weapon License. As far as I know, the CHL does not allow you to carry miscellaneous weapons into areas in which they are otherwise prohibited.

The fair ticket and website both state something to the effect of "no weapons (unless properly licensed)"...they already know you have a weapon when you show your CHL, so what sense would it make to pat you down for other weapons? Because that is what they'd have to do -- or else they'd have you disarm and sweep you again.

[Target1911]

Wow, I had just the opposite experience: I showed the guy my CHL, he glanced at it, smiled and handed it back, turned the wand sideways and went through the motions of making a sweep -- about a foot away -- and told me I was good to go.

That is the way it should be. I cant believe the management would allow the staff to ANNOUNCE to the public that you may have a gun on you. You would think that they would make a point to educate the staff on how they should properly handle a CHL.


side note......
Personally I am not to worried about who knows I carry but I do know many people are very sensitive about that information and that should be respected.

I havnt been to the State Fair since I was 13 (nearly 20yrs ago ) and remember the trash that walked the streets just outside the park. As funny as it may sound, Even at 13, I swore to myself I would never go back unarmed. Have they cleaned it up any? I was thinking about going this year.