Texas & Metal Detectors

[damien]

I carried there last year. You tell the metal detector guy that you are carrying, and instead of wanding you, you go over to a supervisor, and they call someone who comes on a golf cart and writes your name and your CHL number down, then lets you in. It is a hassle, but they knew the procedure.

The thread about the Texas State fair and a comment about there being metal detectors at the entrances made me wonder a little bit. I didn't want to pollute that thread, so I started a new one.

We don't get this treatment at the Illinois State fair. When I was down in Texas recently, they were doing metal detectors at the House of Blues (Dallas). I don't recall having ever been through a metal detector at a concert up here. I once had a guy at Soldier Field ask me what was causing an enormous bulge in a pocket (wallet, cell phone, big pack of gum, and keys all at once), but that is it.

What is with Texas? On one hand, it is a very gun-friendly state. On the other hand, they think everyone is packing, even people without licenses. Metal detectors seem to be everywhere. In Illinois, I think I have seen them at courthouses, airports, and the Sears Tower, that is it. Does this cause much of a problem for citizens legally packing? I guess in the case of the fair, the answer was no (they let people with CHLs enter according to posters). But in other circumstances?

 

[Geronimo45]

Does this cause much of a problem for citizens legally packing?

I've never run across 'em at any place but the courthouse, which is off-limits for CHLs. As for detectors anywhere that doesn't have blessed sign 30.06 - I suppose all they could do is ask you to leave. If you refused, you might get criminal trespass... maybe. But they could not call the cops on you just for having a gun unless they had 30.06 up. You could carry one of the little Texas CHL handbooks - has deadly force statutes and such. Show 'em the law if need be.
P.S. Last time I was at the courthouse, the policeman outside told me to go right on through the detectors after getting one look at me. Wise man. My boots, belt, wallet, keys, and cell phone would all be setting the thing off. Maybe the secret to getting through those places you may legally carry is to have so many false-positives that they despair of getting you through the thing in the next half-hour.

 

[El Tejon]

Only courthouse I was in when I was Tejas was the courthouse at Bandera. I went over during the early morning during a day in which a night shoot was scheduled and class was not until 3PM.

I pulled up next to the Indian jewelry place but found it closed. I had an hour to kill so I walked across the street to the courthouse. Walked right in, looked around and went upstairs to find the courtroom (yeah, just one).

I looked around and discovered a bailiff/deputy was sitting down drinking coffee and reading the paper. I asked him if I could see the courtroom. "No court today, young man. You got a ticket or something?" I said no, and then took my leave.

No metal detectors in Bandera, or much of anything else.

 

[damien]

Maybe the secret to getting through those places you may legally carry is to have so many false-positives that they despair of getting you through the thing in the next half-hour.

Maybe there is a good reason for body piercing after all. "Sorry my tongue studs, nipple bars, and nose ring keep setting that darn thing off officer!"

 

[Avenger29]

Maybe the secret to getting through those places you may legally carry is to have so many false-positives that they despair of getting you through the thing in the next half-hour.

Somehow, that happens to me at ANY metal detector I go through- even after unloading my pockets...

 

[TX1911fan]

I've seen them here at pro sports events (can't carry there anyway), the airport (can't carry past the detectors anyway), the court house (can't carry there) and the State Fair. It hasn't been a problem otherwise.

 

[skinewmexico]

I've never seen a metal detector outside of an airport or a courthouse. And it's illegal to carry in a bar ie house of blues anyway......

 

[oneshooter]

If airports are out of bounds then I guess the airshow this weekend at Ellington is also verboten.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

If airports are out of bounds then I guess the airshow this weekend at Ellington is also verboten.

You can carry at an airport, just not in the secured area (unless you are licensed, contracted, and working)

Check with the airshow though, they might 30.06 you. I know the Alliance show checks at the gate. But then again, they also claim you can't have one in your car in the parking lot... so, they don't know jack about Texas law.

 

[boredelmo]

live in downtown austin/dallas/houston for a few days and you'll know.

also TX isnt AS gun friendly as one of expect of the "wild west".

 

[TexasRifleman]

What is with Texas? On one hand, it is a very gun-friendly state. On the other hand, they think everyone is packing, even people without licenses.

It's not Texas, it's Dallas primarily, Houston somewhat less.

It's a VERY dangerous city with ineffective police and LOTS of gang activity.

The State Fair, House of Blues... most of the touristy areas actually, are in some very nasty parts of town. Lots and lots of violent crimes in the entertainment districts of Dallas and a police department that all but ignores it.

It's not a safe place. Downtown Dallas and downtown Houston are not representative of the rest of the state thank goodness.

I live in Ft Worth and see none of this stuff, I carry pretty much everywhere and have no problems at all.

By the way, the House of Blues no weapons policy is from their corporate office in Illinois. Although it would be legal in Dallas to allow CCW the corporate office says no, so it's not a Texas thing on that one. The Texas State Rifle Association has emailed the House of Blues corporate folks at my request but has not had much luck in getting a conversation started.

 

[dracphelan]

I second what TexasRifleman said. Fair Park (the location of the Texas State Fair) is about the worst area of Dallas there is. The House of Blues is on the border of downtown, which is also a very bad area due to all of the bars (attracts gangs) and the homeless.

As to Texas being gun friendly, I have to say yes and no. Due to issues of local DAs wanting to interpret the law however they want, the Texas legislature found themselves having to change a law so that people would not be arrested when traveling with a firearm (the law before had it as a defense).
I've compared the firearms and CHL laws with several states, and Texas is lacking.