Ft. Worth Stock show and Rodeo

[numist]

Since I hadn't found a definative answer to the questions I posed whether or not this was an 'unarmed victim' event, I sent a request for information to the show and got this response:

"Thank you for contacting the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Stock Show policy is that only licensed police officers are allowed to have guns on our property because we want to provide a family-oriented, safe atmosphere. "

My response:

"That's unfortunate that you alienate a segment of society that
takes training classes, submmits to background checks (local,
state and federal), fingerprints and photos, proficiency tests
and more to legally carry the means to protect themselves and
others.
The policy you have in place does nothing more than disarm those
persons that follow the law and that could protect people from
those who don't. I doubt seriously that someone with evil
intent is going to follow your policy and disarm before
entering.
A majority of those that are licensed to carry concealed weapons
are responsible people that include current and retired
military, police, protective services, security and other
profesional folks who obey the laws.
They are the ones who will dis-arm and be forced to leave their
weapons in their vehicles while attending your event. If their
vehicles are broken into it puts that many more guns in the
hands of the criminals instead of in the holsters of the license
holders where they belong.
I would like for the powers that be re-visit and re-think this
misguided policy."

Let's see what happens. I will post an update if and/or when I get a response.

[chlluvr]

Folks just don't seem to understand that the more law abiding, license holding citizens that are carrying the safer everyone is. If I am a criminal where is the best place for me to strike? A place like The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, where you know for sure no one has a gun except the police. With more and more CHL holders every day; and more worthless criminals getting shot by those license holders, the criminal will find a way to get around the system. If you can talk to the folks that run the show and figure out no CHL aloud at the event, so can the criminals. AND THAT'S WHERE THEY WILL BE! This is why I refuse to support buisinesses and other organizations that don't permit CHL holders to carry. If they don't trust me, I am surely not going to trust them or give them my buisness. Well thats my two cents, I wont get to high up on my soap box.

[Rex B]

Yeah but...is it actually 30.06 posted??

talk is cheap, we need to know if there is a legal 30.06 sign at all entrances.
If there is, I'll not go.

[Liberty]

I believe this rodeo is a professional sporting event. If so there is no 30.06 required. It's illegal to carry

[Rex B]

True for the rodeo, but the stock show itself is not a pro sporting event, nor is the midway.
The rodeo is just a part of the event.

[bigolbigun]

Looks like I will have to get my funnel cake fix somewhere else.

[Rex B]

Well, I went Saturday. There are metal permanent 30.06 signs at the entrance gate to the cattle barns area, which looked to be the primary entry for many people. I took the long walk back to the car, grumbling all the way.

So what does it take to get TSRA to challenge this sort of thing in court?

[Target1911]

There must be something I am missing.
Why can they legally post 30.06 at the stock show but not the TX State Fair?

[seamusTX]

Why can they legally post 30.06 at the stock show but not the TX State Fair?

They can't "legally" post it. The sign is invalid, but that does you little good if the police will arrest and the prosecutor will prosecute.

The state fair is no longer posted because numerous people raised a stink about it for multiple years.

- Jim
Edited to correct typo.

[Rex B]

Just to clarify, the sign I saw is a metal sign affixed to the chain-link gate where you drive into the parking area for the animal barns. I expect it is there year-round. If you were walking in through the people portal and not looking around real well, you might not see it. And I don't know what the many other entrances are like.
But I was looking, and I saw it, so I disarmed.

So now there are 3 places I visit with some frequency that are illegally posted:

Fort Worth Zoo Clearly illegal. they say it's a "school" since school field trips come there.
Fort Worth Stock Show barns Clearly an illegal posting
Tarrant County courthouse - Records Building (not 30.06 but very strongly worded to the effect "I don't care what you have, if you' aren't LEO we'll arrest you")

[numist]

Just to clarify, the sign I saw is a metal sign affixed to the chain-link gate where you drive into the parking area for the animal barns. I expect it is there year-round. If you were walking in through the people portal and not looking around real well, you might not see it. And I don't know what the many other entrances are like.
But I was looking, and I saw it, so I disarmed.

So now there are 3 places I visit with some frequency that are illegally posted:

Fort Worth Zoo Clearly illegal. they say it's a "school" since school field trips come there.
Fort Worth Stock Show barns Clearly an illegal posting
Tarrant County courthouse - Records Building (not 30.06 but very strongly worded to the effect "I don't care what you have, if you' aren't LEO we'll arrest you")

Well as far as those three places go, I know that I won't be spending any time or money at the stock show or zoo. Hopefully I will never need to go to their records building either.
BTW, I never got a return reply from the stock show / rodeo.
I always thought that Ft. Worth was as or more gun-friendly than Dallas but I guess I was mistaken.

[Rex B]

I suspect that the Stock Show area and certainly the courthouse sign is attributable to a current or more likely former Tarrant County Sheriff. Perhaps someone should ask the current sheriff about them
I wonder if he's coming up for re-election anytime soon? Political animals are much more reasonable when they have to stand for re-election.

[texasag93]

Live stock show is full of FFAs, Future Farmers of America. These are school sponsored.

4H is not school sponsored, but 4H and FFA are the bulk of showers.

Sorry, but it is a school sponsored event, so no CHL.

Midway is a different story.

Rodeo arena, not school, but i believe it is PRCA (PRO Rodeo Cowboy Association).

texasag

[srothstein]

I disagree with Texasag93. The mere presence of a lot of school goers does not make it a school sponsored event. Even the fact that the FFA is a club sponsored by a school, if they are attending as FFA and not a school team, it is not a school sponsored event. Since there are also 4-H and individual contestants, I don't think the school sponsored rule would apply.

But this is just my opinion, and IANAL. I would not make the arrest but another peace officer could have a different opinion and you could become the test case. Your decision on how to proceed?

[CHL/LEO]

but another peace officer could have a different opinion

Or could be directed by his supervisors to take a course of action that he personally would not take.