Empty Holster in Secure Locations?

[TexCalhoun]

In the mail today I received a summons to report for jury duty in three weeks.

Now I don't mind serving and I know I can't carry my Sig to court, but I have a Supertuck IWB holster I wear everywhere, and I'm wondering what to do.

If I leave the holster at home, my waist size diminishes by about 2 inches and my pants won't fit properly, and if I wear my holster, should I expect trouble going through security?

Does anyone wear an empty IWB holster when flying, in federal buildings, or in sporting arenas where you have to pass through metal detectors?

[KC5AV]

I wore my supertuck through the metal detector at the courthouse the last time I had to register my truck, and it didn't go off. I think you're probably good to go.

[TexCalhoun]

I wore my supertuck through the metal detector at the courthouse the last time I had to register my truck, and it didn't go off. I think you're probably good to go.

Do you have the new metal clips or the older plastic ones?

I just received the new clips through their fantastic warranty program...

[KC5AV]

I actually ordered some c-clips from CompTac for mine.

[FlynJay]

There is no law against wearing an empty holster. If they give you grief about it, let them know that the reason it's empty is because it is not legal for you to have it in the courthouse.

[longtooth]

I have unholstered & left the holster on while going in to vote. Kept my cover vest on & there was no issues. I dont think you will have a prob.
My oppinion & others have their onwn.

[kauboy]

I agree with the above.
There is no law in Texas about holsters or magazines being prohibited.
The law is clear. You can't take a weapon in. It makes no mention of any "accessories".
If they give you grief, it's your choice on how you wish to proceed, but you won't be in violation of any law.

[ELB]

When visiting a judge's office/court one time I went through security with an empty IWB holster. They quizzed me about it ("Are you a police officer?") but no hassle. If I was going to be without the gun for a long time, I would probably leave the holster in the car and wear suspenders...

Don't forget to take a good book.

[TexCalhoun]

I'm standing on the street waiting for the bus to take me back to the parking area to drop off my holster. Not only was it a problem, but I was asked to remove it in the presence of the ret of the jury cattle call and denied entrance. I was told, "someone is going to see that and panic", which is unlikely since it is almost imperceptable.

I protested that there's no law against it, but I did not prevail.

In any case, because of the bus service, I'm going to be about 30 minutes late for my appearance.

WARNING: Do not wear a holster for Tarrant County Jury Duty!

[Keith B]

I'm standing on the street waiting for the bus to take me back to the parking area to drop off my holster. Not only was it a problem, but I was asked to remove it in the presence of the ret of the jury cattle call and denied entrance. I was told, "someone is going to see that and panic", which is unlikely since it is almost imperceptable.

I protested that there's no law against it, but I did not prevail.

In any case, because of the bus service, I'm going to be about 30 minutes late for my appearance.

WARNING: Do not wear a holster for Tarrant County Jury Duty!

Courts are weird. They can set rules prohibiting all kinds of things for jurors. My wife was made to take a 2 inch pair of folding scissors with blunt tips back to the car.

[mr.72]

I carried in my messenger bag with a book or two in it, your standard pens, pencils, etc., and I had taken my Gerber tool out and leave it in the car since it's a "knife" and my Evo Jr. also had to go. I had a flashlight in there, which prompted a hands-on inspection after it went through the xray, and then "kudos" from the deputy since, as he noted, the jury selection room has no windows (basement) and has more frequent than normal power outages. I walked through the metal detector with my FIST K3 (empty) and I had to remove my belt (but not the holster) to get through cleanly.

This was in Williamson County.

It just so happens that some of the deputies running the security checkpoint recognized me so I wouldn't have expected trouble if they had spotted the holster. So maybe I am not a good test for this policy.

I have gone to lunch with the judge who is my friend there in the courthouse and gone through the same process a few times, going all the way back to the judge's chambers and one of the courtrooms with my empty holster. I never tried to carry a loaded magazine in there. I suppose that would raise an eyebrow at least.

[TexCalhoun]

A little more about my experience...

When I originally declared an "empty concealed inside-the-waistband holster" after failing to get through the metal detector (the metal detector was extremely sensitive and causing lots of problems and slow-downs), the sheriff's officer who was running the checkpoint loudly scolded, "You can't bring a knife in here!" I careful and clearly explained I did not have a knife, nor any other weapon. I merely had a concealed empty leather holster inside my waistband. I removed the holster and showed it to her. She responded (very loudly), "I said, you can't bring weapons in here!" I protested that my car keys and my fountain pen are much more dangerous than a concealed leather holster than no one sees. She said, "But if someone sees it, they're going to panic because they will think you have a gun!" She ordered me to leave the building and return the holster to my vehicle (requiring a bus ride to a remote parking lot) which takes about 45 minutes round trip.

On the way back out (had to carry my holster unconcealed back through the entrance through a crowd of people) while the officer announced to the crowd waiting, "You can't bring weapons in here!"

As I exited, I verified the sign at the door: No weapons. No guns. No knives. No pepper spray.

After having to wait for busses and returning the holster to my truck, I finally returned to security. I was rushing to put everything in the basket to run through the X-ray machine and the officer (the same woman) asked, "Why are you rushing?" I said, "I'm late because I had trouble getting through security earlier." She said, "Oh yeah, you were the one who brought the knife!" I sharply corrected her, "No. I did not bring a knife or any weapon at all. I know you get to make the rules at your checkpoint, and I can accept that, but I was not in violation of any law." She scolded me, "The sign on the door tells you that you cannot bring a weapon." I said, "It was an empty holster, not a wea..." She cut me off, "The sign is clear, you violated the law." Not caring to get arrested, I ended our conversation by saying, "I suggest you reread your sign. I've tried to act in good faith. The first notice I received was from you."

I hurried on my way to the jury room. By that time, I was 30 minutes late and denied entry. I had to get rescheduled, and now I have to go back in November.

Is there anything I can do about this? What irritated me the most about the experience is the idiotic false claim, loudly announced, that I was carrying "a knife" or "a weapon". If she had just said "we don't allow firearms accessories on site", I would have been frustrated, but not angry. If they are going to exclude accessories, I think they need to post that information.

[BrianSW99]

Wow, maybe there's a reason she's on courthouse duty instead of out on the street with that kind of stupidity.

[mr.72]

Wow, maybe there's a reason she's on courthouse duty instead of out on the street with that kind of stupidity.

no kidding. They let this knucklehead carry a gun in the courthouse. I guess it's a good thing that he didn't get in there and have his holster spotted by this deputy, because she may well have shot him because he smuggled in a "weapon".

Please, let's have the universal police apologists chime in on why these LEOs all are doing a great job in a dangerous, underpaid, under-appreciated line of work, and justify this behavior of this particular officer.

[Mithras61]

Wow, maybe there's a reason she's on courthouse duty instead of out on the street with that kind of stupidity.

no kidding. They let this knucklehead carry a gun in the courthouse. I guess it's a good thing that he didn't get in there and have his holster spotted by this deputy, because she may well have shot him because he smuggled in a "weapon".

Please, let's have the universal police apologists chime in on why these LEOs all are doing a great job in a dangerous, underpaid, under-appreciated line of work, and justify this behavior of this particular officer.

An empty holster makes a good club! It WAS a weapon!

Sorry, just trying to help out.