2007 State Fair of Texas - Important CHL Update

[stevie_d_64]

Good to hear and this is part of what makes this forum so valuable. Question is what would have happened to CHL'ers who do not read this forum and had gone to the fair carrying if they had not lifted the ban? Sure would have made alot of people upset if they had checked the State Fairs website prior to going and then were turned away once they got there.

Thats the spin the organizers want to have happen...It wouldn't surprise me one bit...

Bottom line its not that we want to carry in the fair, just because...It has nothing to do with them, its not about them, its about us and our right...They want to make you feel stupid for thinking you need to carry a gun....Its that simple...

I say lets let it coast this year, see what actually happens...And let the big dogs carry the fight in Austin...I am sure that because of the quick waffling by the organizers, they didn't expect this much of a backlash...So I'm thinking this has got legs we don't know the details about just yet...And I trust what Charles says when it comes to "things being addresed or looked at"...

I'm encouraged, yet sad that this is a battle we have to fight...We did not cause this to happen...Some people who want to take away or make difficult your right to defend yourself started this up again...

[ScubaSigGuy]

Thanks CHL/LEO!

I was worried about what I was going to do about my promise to go to the fair next week. I sure didn't want to go there and feel uncomfortable.

[shootthesheet]

I am ready to fight if someone can point me in the right direction. They are not above the law and must be forced to comply. That is my opinion.

[Commander]

CHL/LEO, add my thanks to the growing list. You are an asset to this forum.

[killerquad]

Something else I want to throw out for discussion - I had a conversation this morning with one of our officers (who is also a CHL holder) regarding the Fair. He brought up an interesting point regarding the Fair that none of us really had thought about before. This has to do with school events at the fair and how they impact CHL holders. Every year there are designated days during the Fair for certain school districts. The point he brought up was wondering if there are any conflicts in having these "school sponsored activity" days taking place and allowing CHL holders in.

46.03. PLACES WEAPONS PROHIBITED. (a) A person commits
an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly
possesses or goes with a firearm, illegal knife, club, or
prohibited weapon listed in Section 46.05(a):
(1) on the physical premises of a school or
educational institution, any grounds or building on which an
activity sponsored by a school or educational institution is being
conducted, or a passenger transportation vehicle of a school or
educational institution, whether the school or educational
institution is public or private, unless pursuant to written
regulations or written authorization of the institution;

(f) It is not a defense to prosecution under this section
that the actor possessed a handgun and was licensed to carry a
concealed handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code.

It was one of those, "Gee, I never thought of that before" type conversations. Don't worry, this is not a subject we're going to bring up with any one at the Fair or in our department, but I told him that I would run it up the flag pole on this forum and get some feedback.

intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly possesses
I think sums it up. If you go and there happens to be some kind of school activity going on and it was impossible for you to know before hand then you SHOULD be fine, but as it was pointed out previously a DA who really wanted to prosecute you probably would.

[Sangiovese]

Thanks for all the good info CHL-LEO.

[fratermus]

Glad it's resolved. No way I would go to Fair Park without a sidearm.



{edited to correct typo}

[NguyenVanDon]

Add my thanks to CHL/LEO for this great news. I was dreading over about not going to the State Fair this year due to this so called "Ban CHL Holder". I'll be going on Saturday, October 15th after all.

[Arock]

Taking the Three Mutant Offspring to Fair Day next Wednesday. As in years past the wife and I will both carry. East Dallas doesn't scare me. The Grove or the nitwits in Deep Ellum don't either. But I will be safer.

[Kalrog]

Besides this latest fracas, which may or may not be settled, I have always wondered about their Cotton Bowl prohibition. Since the law is written in the present tense, should I assume, from their prohibition, that the Cotton Bowl has sporting events taking place 24/7 during the State Fair?

I had a similar experience with the Travis County expo center and the rode there. Because of the way the law is written, I was able to carry everywhere except in the expo center while the rodeo part was happening. But 5 minutes later when the concert started, I could carry there as well. Strange law, but that isn't unusual.

[anygunanywhere]

I am ready to fight if someone can point me in the right direction. They are not above the law and must be forced to comply. That is my opinion.

Just a thought. We continually read on this forum where government owned facilities continually restrict our right to carry.

Many have suggested the TSRA take action, which is appropriate.

Why don't we bombard Texas Attorney General Greg Abbottwith every instance we find where governments restrict CHL in facilities that are not off limits? His email is on the OAG web page http://www.oag.state.tx.us/agency/contacts.shtml.

I do not recall specifically where anyone has tried using his office as a resource to force governments to act appropriately. His office has done well with respect to reciprocity with other states. IMHO this is just as important an issue and affects us Texicans more than reciprocity.

His website states that

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. Attorney General Greg Abbott is the lawyer for the people of Texas and is charged by the Texas Constitution to:

defend the laws and the Constitution of the State of Texas

I am sure one of his 700 attorneys would be able to make a few phone calls to the appropriate individuals on our behalf. Galveston County and other area municipalites currently post where they are not supposed to, and in all honesty I cringe every time I read the phrase "I do not want to be the test case." There should not have to be any test cases, no one should worry about carrying where we are legally allowed to carry with our second amendment permission cards. Municipalities should be the ones worrying about not being the "test case". Governments exist with our permission.

My keyboard is ready when yours is. From my cold dead scarred fingers!

/rant.

Anygun

[frankie_the_yankee]

Why don't we bombard Texas Attorney General Greg Abbottwith every instance we find where governments restrict CHL in facilities that are not off limits? His email is on the OAG web page http://www.oag.state.tx.us/agency/contacts.shtml.

I think that is a great idea.

[Nazrat]

If you want to really clarify that law, have a qualified official ask the AG for an opinion on the issue.

http://www.oag.state.tx.us/opinopen/opinhome.shtml

While there may be 700 attorneys in the AG's office, more than 400 of them are in the child support division.

[Liberty]

If you want to really clarify that law, have a qualified official ask the AG for an opinion on the issue.

http://www.oag.state.tx.us/opinopen/opinhome.shtml

While there may be 700 attorneys in the AG's office, more than 400 of them are in the child support division.

I didn't think that State Atorney General had any meaning. Its just an opinion. Would their opinion carry more weight than a local DA such as Chucky's

[Nazrat]

Yes, the AG's opinions have meaning. Did you see what happened with SSN's being released to the public after the AG issued an opinion? Most county and district clerk's offices were closed for business for a couple of days until the opinion was withdrawn.