Visiting Austin this Friday

[RHenriksen]

My wife & I are going to Austin for a weekend vacation, Friday-Sunday. We'll be staying near the capitol, and we're both looking forward to visiting the capitol & wandering about.

I know that I can carry w. my CHL (and bypass the metal detectors), but are the House & Senate galleries, and/or committee rooms, posted 30.06 or otherwise off limits these days?

Also, I've been calling & emailing the committee members on HB 750 & 681; anything useful I can do for the cause while I'm there? Not sure how realistic it is to go and corner each & every committee member (especially since my wife will probably get restless if I propose spending the whole day stalking the corridors), but am open to ideas.

[GeekwithaGun]

I beleive they are posted when in session, but not for tours. It's been since 2006 when I last toured the capitol so it might have changed since then.

[Kory Zipperer]

I go there frequently and to my knowledge you are permitted to carry just about everywhere in the Capital, even the viewing gallery.

[gigag04]

Be sure to grab dinner at the South Congress Cafe.

[OldCurlyWolf]

My wife & I are going to Austin for a weekend vacation, Friday-Sunday. We'll be staying near the capitol, and we're both looking forward to visiting the capitol & wandering about.

I know that I can carry w. my CHL (and bypass the metal detectors), but are the House & Senate galleries, and/or committee rooms, posted 30.06 or otherwise off limits these days?

Also, I've been calling & emailing the committee members on HB 750 & 681; anything useful I can do for the cause while I'm there? Not sure how realistic it is to go and corner each & every committee member (especially since my wife will probably get restless if I propose spending the whole day stalking the corridors), but am open to ideas.

Protect your wife, wallet and sanity. I suggest carrying a pair of earplugs to block out the liberal drivel and the politician's lies.

[RHenriksen]

Just called the Visitor's Center, who transferred me to the DPS office w/in the Capitol. The trooper who answered the phone told me that there are no off-limits areas w/in the capitol, no 30.06 signs, etc. Wow!

[RPB]

a pair of earplugs to block out ...

I think the electronic ear muffs filter out the garbage sounds right?

Just called the Visitor's Center, who transferred me to the DPS office w/in the Capitol. The trooper who answered the phone told me that there are no off-limits areas w/in the capitol, no 30.06 signs, etc. Wow!

I thought I had heard they were removing all those eye polluting signs

[jecsd1]

The ONLY placed you cannot go are the actual Senate and House floors, and only when they are in session and only if they're posted. I have carried into both chambers many times, right past DPS. Great experiences. Enjoy!

[RHenriksen]

Thanks, really looking forward to it.

[flintknapper]

My wife & I are going to Austin for a weekend vacation, Friday-Sunday. We'll be staying near the capitol, and we're both looking forward to visiting the capitol & wandering about.

I know that I can carry w. my CHL (and bypass the metal detectors), but are the House & Senate galleries, and/or committee rooms, posted 30.06 or otherwise off limits these days?

Also, I've been calling & emailing the committee members on HB 750 & 681; anything useful I can do for the cause while I'm there? Not sure how realistic it is to go and corner each & every committee member (especially since my wife will probably get restless if I propose spending the whole day stalking the corridors), but am open to ideas.

If you've not been to the capitol building before...by all means go. I'd suggest taking a cab (or walking if close enough) because parking can be difficult to find this time of year.

Spend some time downtown and go to a few of the good eating establishments.

Austin may be a liberal bastion...but it is still my favorite among the big cities. I could be a little biased though, since I grew up there.

Hope you have a great time.

[RHenriksen]

Thanks, we're just a 15 minute walk from the capitol, that's going to be our main focus! I was thinking parking might be a challenge.

[RHenriksen]

Be sure to grab dinner at the South Congress Cafe.

WOW. Wow. Just... wow. That was the best meal I've had in a long time, and I am also now a Hero to my foodie wife. Thank you!

Was a very fun afternoon. Got through the CHL line at the capitol w. no problem, the girl @ the information desk hooked me up with maps and a list of offices of the B&I committee members. Since it was already 3:00p on Friday, I had low expectations for finding people in their offices. Did manage to visit with staff for about 6 representatives on the committee, as well as my senator & rep (Gallegos & Sarah Davis).

Sarah Davis' staffer told me that Driver isn't interested in amending his campus carry bill to allow the med center hospital/universities to opt out, and so she's preparing her own version of a campus carry bill that would include such a provision. (!!)