With the State Fair of Texas coming soon.

[Barbi Q]

Saw posts last year where people were more or less called out. They would yell to someone we have a CHL or we have a Gun here.

I remember the discussion. Frankly, that alone would be sufficient to persuade me to vote with my wallet and not attend.

I went last year a couple of times allways carried. I showed the ID to the person wanding, then to a officer and went in. The last time (which will be the last time I ever go to the fair unless there is some kind of change in how things are handled) I showed the ID, she said ok, wanded me inline, hit on the gun (still in line) and asked out loud is that the gun, called a officer and I showed him the ID. All of that was inline with a crowd of people, then she pulled me out ask me for my chl license and was going to write down the info. I ask her for her driver license so I could get her info, she asked why I told her if anything happens at my house I know who had my info. She said no to me getting her info, I told her no to writing my info and she called the officer over and he told me I was not allowed to go in unless she writes my info down. Now all of this is out in the open and has taken about 20 minutes, I ended up going in after I got a supervising officer over and he didn't want to mess with it.

The only thing better would be having a friend outside the gates take pictures of all this with an obvious camera, big telephoto lens, etc.

Especially if your friend has press credentials!

[jimlongley]

Whatever policy the State Fair has regarding CHL, it is NOT any security company that makes the rules, it IS
the State Fair of Texas Corp / Board. Although the way the policy is enforced, or not enforced, at the various
gates, has in the past had no continuity from one entrance to the next. It was/ is strictly "luck of the draw" on
whether you were outed ,waved in, refused admittance etc.
Without going into a super long re-cap of my experience...... the bottom line should be.... at the most, show your
CHL to a uniformed DPD or DPS trooper. NO information should be recorded, no "outing" by ignorant gate wanders.
Enter and enjoy the Fair.
I now own a very, very small HD movie camera. I will be recording as I enter ........

If we go this year, I think I will be doing the same. Did you get a VHOLDR?

[gemini]

jimlongley: "If we go this year, I think I will be doing the same. Did you get a VHOLDR?"

No sir. I was able to experiment with a friends (vholdr) and found I got better "aim" and sound
(using a small lapel mike) with a unit that looks very similar in size etc to a cell phone. Drop it
in a shirt pocket and off I go.

[jimlongley]

jimlongley: "If we go this year, I think I will be doing the same. Did you get a VHOLDR?"

No sir. I was able to experiment with a friends (vholdr) and found I got better "aim" and sound
(using a small lapel mike) with a unit that looks very similar in size etc to a cell phone. Drop it
in a shirt pocket and off I go.

Almost got one of those, but was looking for a helmet cam specifically.

Mine would be kind of obvious going through the checkpoint, but I might have my wife wear it behind me.

I would also wear a separate voice recorder so that I could get good audio of any confrontation, including my request, as someone suggested above, for identifying information to write down, and they get the same reason back as they give for recording mine.

[momo7]

I'd like to go to the TSF this year, with my two older children, another mom friend and her child, but with it being in a bad part of town, I thought it prudent to carry. I don't want to be made a spectacle of at the fair (kind of negates the whole reason of having a CONCEALED HL), and don't want my other friends to have to wait while I refuse to give any personal information to a non-LEO.

After all the stuff when down last year, I'm really curious as to how CHL holders will be dealt with this year. I don't plan on going until Oct. 9th, so if other CHL holders go before then, if you could please post your experiences, I'd greatly appreciate it.

[Hoi Polloi]

I'd like to go to the TSF this year, with my two older children, another mom friend and her child, but with it being in a bad part of town, I thought it prudent to carry. I don't want to be made a spectacle of at the fair (kind of negates the whole reason of having a CONCEALED HL), and don't want my other friends to have to wait while I refuse to give any personal information to a non-LEO.

After all the stuff when down last year, I'm really curious as to how CHL holders will be dealt with this year. I don't plan on going until Oct. 9th, so if other CHL holders go before then, if you could please post your experiences, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Welcome! We have a ladies' only forum here that Crossfire can get you access to. Great to have another mom aboard!

[Heritage1]

How about we create a CHL day at the fair? Wouldnt that be interesting, having hundreds of CHL holders show up at the same gate at the same time. Or everyone shows up at the same time just at different gates. I wonder how their so called security would react then.

[Hoi Polloi]

How about we create a CHL day at the fair? Wouldnt that be interesting, having hundreds of CHL holders show up at the same gate at the same time. Or everyone shows up at the same time just at different gates. I wonder how their so called security would react then.

I'd propose same gate. Multiple gates would look very suspicious and would be seen as so out of the ordinary that something suspicious and secretive was afoot with guns involved. Not the image you'd want to portray. Instead, everyone being lively and friendly and normal all at one gate would be reasonable because you clearly choose to congregate and attend together, like many other groups, but you're not being secretive or suspicious. It would make documentation and individual searches of a positive and respectful group seem daunting and ridiculous, and if they tried to go ahead with it, they'd be kicking themselves in the butt for the work, too. It would really highlight the stupidity of the policy to all involved.

[gemini]

How about we create a CHL day at the fair? Wouldnt that be interesting, having hundreds of CHL holders show up at the same gate at the same time. Or everyone shows up at the same time just at different gates. I wonder how their so called security would react then.

I'd propose same gate. Multiple gates would look very suspicious and would be seen as so out of the ordinary that something suspicious and secretive was afoot with guns involved. Not the image you'd want to portray. Instead, everyone being lively and friendly and normal all at one gate would be reasonable because you clearly choose to congregate and attend together, like many other groups, but you're not being secretive or suspicious. It would make documentation and individual searches of a positive and respectful group seem daunting and ridiculous, and if they tried to go ahead with it, they'd be kicking themselves in the butt for the work, too. It would really highlight the stupidity of the policy to all involved.

Same gate or multiple gates. What possible difference? The gates do not communicate. As evidenced by their independent
enforcement of State Fair "policy". I doubt any "wander" would think CHL entries at various gates would equal a suspicious or
secretive act. That would be giving them too much credit.........
I do like the idea of a CHL Fair day. Now that could be interesting. Everyone report how various gates handled, attempted to
take personal info, refused admission or "no problem" .........

[momo7]

Thanks HP, for the warm welcome. I did go over and browse the "women's only" forum, and it was great to know that there' s a place that us girls can chat.

My hubby and I are discussing the possibility of a "trial run" at the Fair on either the 24th or 27th with all the kiddos. We've got free tix for us and most of the kids but they're only good for a weekday. We'll let you know how it turns out, and if it goes well, then I'll be comfortable going on the 9th sans the hubster.

[drjoker]

How about we create a CHL day at the fair? Wouldnt that be interesting, having hundreds of CHL holders show up at the same gate at the same time. Or everyone shows up at the same time just at different gates. I wonder how their so called security would react then.

That's a GREAT idea. I'm game. What which weekend do you wanna go? I suggest Oct 16. I suggest Oct 2 as a black out date (do not make this the date to go to the fair) because Hoi Polloi is having a social on that date. I also do not suggest the date of the Texas OU game as that would be suicide, the traffic would be very bad that day. OK?

[momo7]

The Texas/OU game is on the 2nd, so that works well as a blackout date.

[Barron76]

I always go in at the gates by the Colleseum & Ampitheater and have never had an issue. Show the guard my CHL & DL, he wands from my feet to my knees & says have a nice day... I usually go during the week too when it's less crowded so that may have some bearing on things as well. I plan on going on the 28th so I'll let you know how things work out!

[sjfcontrol]

Show the guard my CHL & DL, he wands from my feet to my knees & says have a nice day...

What the heck is the point of that? Are ankle-holsters outlawed?

[Crossfire]

I think we should all show up at 1 gate, at the same time, and invite Fox 4 News to meet us there.