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Almost broke the law this morning as I went to early vote and had just opened the door to the Polling Place that I usually vote in when I remembered I had my P3AT in my front pocket. So back out to the car and put the P3AT in my lock box and then proceeded to go and vote.

"Almost" is key though

I removed my 340SC from its customary spot in my right front pants pocket before entering the local HEB to cast my ballot . . . nobody would have noticed, but I guess I'm just too dang law abiding.

this should be in the "never again" forum.

Any way, way to be on your toes

Polling places are yet another place which is off-limits, but shouldn't be.

KBCraig wrote:Polling places are yet another place which is off-limits, but shouldn't be.

They are 'cause the gun grabbers are afraid they'll be intimidated by us CHLers waving our concealed handguns around...

Mithras61 wrote:

KBCraig wrote:They are 'cause the gun grabbers are afraid they'll be intimidated by us CHLers waving our concealed handguns around...

PC §46.03 applies to all weapons, not just CHLs.

There was a time when voting was not the ho-hum affair that it is today. Among other things, some people actually did practice voter intimidation, and ballot boxes were stolen and destroyed to tip elections.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:

Mithras61 wrote:

KBCraig wrote:They are 'cause the gun grabbers are afraid they'll be intimidated by us CHLers waving our concealed handguns around...

PC §46.03 applies to all weapons, not just CHLs.

There was a time when voting was not the ho-hum affair that it is today. Among other things, some people actually did practice voter intimidation, and ballot boxes were stolen and destroyed to tip elections.

- Jim

I realize that, but was trying to be funny. I was was envisioning someone waving around an invisible handgun...

I realize that voter intimidation is still practiced in some areas, as are stolen (aka "misplaced") ballot boxes, ballot box stuffing, etc. and will likely continue to be so long as there is gain to be associated with such fraud.

Mithras61 wrote:I realize that, but was trying to be funny.

I though you might, but I'm basically a nerd at heart.

- Jim

As an election judge, we are given some authority/guidelines in how our polls are to be operated...One of these is the issue of firearms in the poll while we are open for business...It has always and obviously been a taboo...

Regardless of how I feel, and I have given lots of thought on this issue...

I believe in some ways it may very well be interpreted by "some" people as intimidating "and" a form of electioneering within the "distance" markers that give a boundary and cushion to the doors leading to the polling location...

To others it embodies a symbol of empowerment which is very basic and a core value to individual freedom...

I have to be brutally honest in that I have to respect both sides on this one because of this position...If someone were to come to my poll and see someone (like us) armed, and they turned around and left without voting...I would feel like I personally betrayed them...As much as I would like to explain to them how I feel about my personal beliefs on the issue...

Most polling places are already off-limits because a majority of them are conducted in schools or other facilities that are already restricted...

So if Govenor Perry wishes to remove these restrictions (as poreviously discussed on another thread), he should consider how wide and far such an effort would effect the general (non-carrying) public...

We are charged with maintaining the "purity" of the election...Thats in our oath we take...So its kinda like I'm torn between Iraq and a hard place if you know what I mean...

A few years ago, I had to ask a Brazoria County Correctional Officer (in uniform) to leave the polling place and at least secure his firearm in his vehicle in the school parking lot...He was carrying the 1911 in a manner that I believe was purely unsafe and inappropriate...(Mexican carry, unholstered in the small of the back)...

I quietly asked him first and he refused...If you know what the authority (however silly it sounds) an election judge has while on the clock, you know what could have happened...I don't make a big deal out of it, but I was angry I had to actualy inform someone of that authority...

He eventually complied, and came back in to vote...And that was a neighbor of mine...

So basically a couple of things say you cannot, and the enforcement is strangely up to ordinary goobs like myself...So being on that side of the equation really makes me think more about the fact that if it stays concealed, and I don't know about it...Wellllll...

Some people, not so much myself, would consider Polling locations to be that hallowed ground that cannot be breached for any reason such as this...

I'm glad this came up to discuss...

Somehow I feel I am going to be hammered for this...

So let me go put on my nomex and y'all can fire away...

stevie_d_64 wrote:Somehow I feel I am going to be hammered for this...

So let me go put on my nomex and y'all can fire away...

Actually, I can see the need for polling places to be off limits. I just find it amusing that some folks are scared of firearms but know so little about them.

My 6yo daughter is scared of the bang they make, which sort of makes sense, but a grown person being scared of 'em is just kinda funny to me. I suppose that if someone were to point one at me I'd be scared of what they might do, but a gun in a holster or hanging on someone's belt, or even just stuffed into their waistband seems silly.

I understand voter intimidation. When it was widely practiced, it was largely by uniformed deputies with the full weight of the government behind them, so that really doesn't concern CHLs.

I've yet to see anyone intimidated by a concealed handgun that they don't know exists.

Kevin

KBCraig wrote:I understand voter intimidation. When it was widely practiced, it was largely by uniformed deputies with the full weight of the government behind them,...

Maybe they didn't want ordinary citizens defending their rights.

- Jim

KBCraig wrote:Polling places are yet another place which is off-limits, but shouldn't be.

To steal an old Jewish saying, "next Session in Austin."

Chas.