What to do: TX 'amusement' parks off limits to CHL!!

Status
Not open for further replies.

cpileri

Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2002
Messages
1,425
Its illegal to carry even with a CHL in amusement parks in TX. So one day i will have to go to Sea World in San Antonio 'naked', right?

But how naked do i have to be?

Can I bring pepper spray? a pocket knife?
Is it legal to leave it in the car, in the Sea World Parking lot? ( I know, not advised but is it legal?)

I know, i know: concealed means concealed. But what if I get searched? DO they do that at Sea World?

I would like to be legal about all this. Please help.

C-
 
Last edited:
I don't know about Seaworld but Six Flags over TX and Astroworld in Houston both have metal detectors at the entrances. No guns, knives, etc. I have carried a swiss army knife into Six Flags though and not gotten a second look.
I was however practically arrested for trying to sneak in a bottle of Gatorade last summer. :mad:
 
By the law they technically do have to be posted with 30.06 to be legal, but I guess if they are running you through metal detectors they can decide what they want. I read post somewhere (may have been here) of them refusing to allow an off duty cop carry a knife in but allowed him to carry his handgun, :uhoh: I think this was at Six Flags up here in Arlington.
 
They do not have the 30.06 signs but they do have a no guns no knives
etc... sign

The security guards at the gate are thorough and surly so don't even bother trying to get anything in.
 
I went to Knott's here in California and they wanted to sieze my .308-shaped laser pointer! I showed my keys and they said "woah" and took a step back like it was going to detonate and kill everyone within 20 ft! They said "You can't take that in here." I said "Buddy, it's a LASER POINTER." They were so shaken, they said "Well... uhh... you can't take that in here either." :rolleyes:

I ended up compromising and giving them the two $3 apiece batteries it runs on. :fire:
 
They said "You can't take that in here.
That's about in the same (absurd) category - as my NRA ''silver bullet'' being taken from me prior to flying out of DC (even allowing for post 9/11 paranoia) 2 years ago. It went in a small baggie/envelope - and in with baggage - I was able to retrieve it other end.

Anyone who has one might know - its resemblance to a ''real'' round of ammo - is indeed less than passing ... a chunk of metal with a darned great hole in the base, for key ring.

Sheesh - it's time some folks got educated on real danger and zero danger. maybe they thought I'd beat someone around the head with it and take over the plane! :uhoh: :rolleyes:

Does TSA work at amusement parks!? :D
 
You always have the choice of not giving them your money. I know it limits the things you can do but if enough people take a stand then it will make a difference.

Look at Ohio and the boycotts the CCW holders had against many businesses that refused to allow us to carry in their buisnesses. We refused to give them our money and when they finally realized hey wait a minute this is starting to cost us money. A lot of them changed their story and started allowing us to carry in their buisnesses.

Do Not Patronize While Armed

SIGNS COME DOWN in businesses across Ohio

No Guarantee that a boycott will work, but it is your choice whether you give them your money or not.
 
cpileri, you might want to check the specifics of the law. It is not illegal to carry in all amusement parks.

Also, there is no law that says that they must have 30.06 signs posted. 30.06 only serves as official notification in place of a verbal warning. Just because a 30.06 sign isn't present doesn't mean that they can't preclude you from entering. As private property enterprises, they can most definitely preclude you from carrying whatever they want to preclude you from carrying, whether it be gatorade (as noted) or weapons.
 
I went to Sea World and Fiesta Texas last summer. Fiesta Texas would not let me in with a pocket knife. At Sea World, there was no signage nor metal detectors.

BTW, there were no signs against knives at Fiesta TX, but they made me go back to my car and put it up anyway.
 
Been to Sea Worls San ANtone the last two summers. Didn't try to pack a gun, walked right in with my usuall carry knife, no problems.

Double Naught is right about signage. Amusement parks, sporting events, schools, etc need not post 30.06 signs. You carry, get caught, got trouble.

Smoke
 
Based on my CCW class this past December:

Not all Amusement parks have that rule. In fact the law was very specifically written to only include the Six Flags owned parks (size of the city they are in, acerage of the park, ...). Sea World didn't want in on that deal and it is legal to carry there unless you see a 30.06 sign or they verbally inform you.

Even without the signs, it is illegal to carry at Six Flags, Fiesta Texas, etc.
 
Hang on here. Texas law prohibits concealed carry at "amusement parks" as part of the CHL rules. However, by the states own definition certain parks (I believe the number was four total) in the state of Texas meet the legal definition and therefore do not need to post 30.06 signs. Here's the definition:

PC 46.035(f)(1)

*Amusement parks. Amusement Parks means a permanent indoor or outdoor facility or park where amusement rides are available for use by the public that is located in a county with a population of more than one million, encompasses at least 75 acres in surface area, is enclosed with access only through controlled entries, is open for operation more than 120 days in each calendar year, and has security guards on the premises at all times. The term does not include any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area.

I think they were (and please correct me if I get any wrong):
Six Flags (Arlington)
Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio)
Sea World (San Antonio)
Six Flags AstroWorld (Houston)

I think that some of the waterparks in the state may be approaching the size requirement but I don't think they would qualify because of either the lack of rides or the days of operation. In any case, it's already prohibited there; sign or no sign.
 
I agree with the 3 Six Flags being on that list of automatically not-CCW friendly. I don't think that SeaWorld is automatically on that list though as it is under the size requirement (by like half an acre).

I wonder if Sea World would answer a direct question on this front...
 
Read the whole law, not just a section of it. The definition of an amusement park does not change anything in this instance. You can clearly see that the amusement park, like a church and hospital MUST post a 30.06 sign if they want to keep you off the premises.

§ 46.035. UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF HANDGUN BY LICENSE
HOLDER. (a) A license holder commits an offense if the license
holder carries a handgun on or about the license holder's person
under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code,
and intentionally fails to conceal the handgun.
(b) A license holder commits an offense if the license
holder intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries a handgun
under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code,
regardless of whether the handgun is concealed, on or about the
license holder's person:
(1) on the premises of a business that has a permit or
license issued under Chapter 25, 28, 32, 69, or 74, Alcoholic
Beverage Code, if the business derives 51 percent or more of its
income from the sale or service of alcoholic beverages for
on-premises consumption, as determined by the Texas Alcoholic
Beverage Commission under Section 104.06, Alcoholic Beverage Code;
(2) on the premises where a high school, collegiate,
or professional sporting event or interscholastic event is taking
place, unless the license holder is a participant in the event and a
handgun is used in the event;
(3) on the premises of a correctional facility;
(4) on the premises of a hospital licensed under
Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, or on the premises of a nursing
home licensed under Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, unless the
license holder has written authorization of the hospital or nursing
home administration, as appropriate;
(5) in an amusement park; or
(6) on the premises of a church, synagogue, or other
established place of religious worship.
(c) A license holder commits an offense if the license
holder intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries a handgun
under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code,
regardless of whether the handgun is concealed, at any meeting of a
governmental entity.

(d) A license holder commits an offense if, while
intoxicated, the license holder carries a handgun under the
authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, regardless
of whether the handgun is concealed.
(e) A license holder who is licensed as a security officer
under Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, and employed as a security
officer commits an offense if, while in the course and scope of the
security officer's employment, the security officer violates a
provision of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code.
(f) In this section:
(1) "Amusement park" means a permanent indoor or
outdoor facility or park where amusement rides are available for
use by the public that is located in a county with a population of
more than one million, encompasses at least 75 acres in surface
area, is enclosed with access only through controlled entries, is
open for operation more than 120 days in each calendar year, and has
security guards on the premises at all times. The term does not
include any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk or
walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area.
(2) "License holder" means a person licensed to carry
a handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code.
(3) "Premises" means a building or a portion of a
building. The term does not include any public or private driveway,
street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other
parking area.
(g) An offense under Subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e)
is a Class A misdemeanor, unless the offense is committed under
Subsection (b)(1) or (b)(3), in which event the offense is a felony
of the third degree.
(h) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that
the actor, at the time of the commission of the offense, displayed
the handgun under circumstances in which the actor would have been
justified in the use of deadly force under Chapter 9.
(i) Subsections (b)(4), (b)(5), (b)(6), and (c) do not apply
if the actor was not given effective notice under Section 30.06.
 
I went to the Fort Worth Stock show last year, and they had a HUGE 30.06 sign!


But I wouldn't carry in amusement park anyway. The crowd is just too dense. And if you actually ride a ride, you don't want your Glock flipping through the air!
 
Well, I'll be an Onkey's Muncle...

I'd have never believed it, but here it says that the amusement park must post a 30.06! Here's the edited text:
'Sections (b)(4), (b)(5), (b)(6) and (c) do not apply if the actor was not given effective notice under Section 30.06."

"amusement park" comes from Section (b)(5)

Under 30.06, besides the specifics of the sign, it also says that the CHL holder must leave if he receives notice from the owner or someone with apparent authority to act for the owner who provides notice via written or oral communication.

So if a security guard tells you to leave, you have to leave. No question.

But without a 30.06 sign, and if the security misses your properly concealed handgun; you are legal.

At least, that's how it reads to me.
Am I wrong, or has an ammendment or case law change been made?
Has that ever been tested legally?

And, most importantly of all: DOES SEA WORLD POST A 30.06???
C-
 
One thing I may point out...hopefully anyone that carries in an amusement park would have a REALLY retentive holster. :eek: :D

FWIW the King's Dominion here in VA also shuffles you through the detector.
 
I traveled to Hershey Park in Pa. with my sone about 2 years ago (or maybe last year). I have been there before and always forget to place the pistol in a water proof bag in my backpack or a fanny pack before going in. So I inevitably get soaked on all the water rides and so does the pistol (thank you Breakfree CLP). Last time though, I remembred to wrap it water tight at my car and place it in a small fanny pack. They search all bags, and I told them what I had. They refused to let me in with it in the pack but said I could wear it because I am an LEO. I did not argue, nor did I wear it. Instead, I went to the security office, locked it in a gun box, took the key, and had one heck of a time without having to worry about it falling out while turned upside down on a roller coaster or getting rusty because of a water ride.

Lots of times I will not spend at a place that would not allow private citizens to carry but when it is state law or regulation I do not boycott the location. I was told that in PA it is state law, but being from NY I don't know for sure. If you are really wanting to enter an amusement park where carrying weapons is banned, you may want to try to leave and firearms with the security office so long as they give you the key to the lock box. I sure do not like to leave them in the car. If I do that, then I often break down the pistol, leave the frame chained in my trunk and carry the slide in my pocket or a bag. I leave the barrel in the car too. This way if someone does steal it, they do not get a complete fully functional firearm.

All the best,
Glenn B
 
Originally posted by Texian Pistolero:

I went to the Fort Worth Stock show last year, and they had a HUGE 30.06 sign!

That is a different issue from the amusement park rules, and the Texas State Rifle Association contacted Ft Worth officials reminding them of SB501 and the 30.06 signs at Will Rogers have been removed.
 
Resurrecting an old post for updating...

I went to Seaworld about 3 weeks ago, after having read this thread, with my S&W 642 in a fanny pack. After having re-read the law (thanks Deavis) online (to be sure that I got the currently published version), I was very confident that I would not be illegal in entering SW armed. I was fully prepared to return it to the car if I saw any 30.06 signs (I don't like leaving a gun, loaded or not, in a car, but this was an experiment), or if they refused me entry with the gun. There were no such signs, so I proceeded to buy my tickets.

The entry point after that was used as a place where SW's employees could "search" people prior to entry. I observed for a few minutes before going in, and they only seemed to be searching large bags (backpacks, diaper bags, etc.) for food and drinks. Seeing the prices later on made me understand why :what: :barf: Anyhow, they didn't search my fanny pack, and I carried all day long without incident.
 
PM
TexasSIGman Quote:
Originally posted by Texian Pistolero:

I went to the Fort Worth Stock show last year, and they had a HUGE 30.06 sign!



That is a different issue from the amusement park rules, and the Texas State Rifle Association contacted Ft Worth officials reminding them of SB501 and the 30.06 signs at Will Rogers have been removed.

Makes me proud to be a TSRA Life Member.

Walter
 
Just to clarify a 30.06 sign is only ONE way of giving effective notice. Verbal notice that CHL is not allowed is also effective notice and certain policies (like student code handbooks at private universities are probably effective notice).

The good thing about that is that if they don't have a 30.06 sign up, chances are pretty good you won't be getting any of the other kinds of effective notice unless you screw up.
 
Right, 30.06 is just a written notice that serves in place of verbal notice. At any point in time, a representative from the property, should said person ID you as carrying, can ask you to remove your weapon from said property, if private property (non-city or state). The exclusion can be for any reason and does not have to be across the board.

To my knowledge, private schools in Texas fall under the same state laws for other learning institutions in that concealed carry by non-leos is illegal. That is one place of private property where the state does have domain.
 
remember the last time I went to universal, I had to walk all the way back to the car to put my pocket knife in there. Now was aren't talking something huge or tacticool. Standard three blade little pocket knife. It is redicules and I wont be going there agian for quiet some time.

Sucks too, I like amusment parks but once I get my ccw I wont bother going to any that deny me the right to carry.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top