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Okay, so today, for the first time since I started carrying, I had to leave my CCW behind while I went to take care of business at the local municipal court. And, if you know Austin, you know that the municipal court is located in an interesting (sketchy) part of town. (Yes, I consider that part of town sketchy.) Just makes me nervous on the several-block walk from where I parked to the courthouse

So, I left my CCW, Gerber, pen knife, and rocket launcher in the truck while I made the walk to the courthouse. Upon arriving, I patted down all my pockets, again, and began to gather my keys, coins, phone, etc. all in one hand to place in the bucket at the metal detector. I say 'again' because last time I forgot to leave my Gerber behind, and was really chastised about it. (I had only owned it for two days, and forgot it was clipped to the inside of my pants pocket.)

So, I walk through and set off the metal detector. Well, I expected to, because I was wearing my metal-toed work sneakers. So the guard wands me. My shoes alert the wand, as does my belt buckle, as expected. Then he gets a 'beep' at my waist. I'm thinking, "Did I forget something else?" He lifts up my shirt, sees my M-TAC holster and says, "What's this?" Surprised, since I really didn't expect anything else to alert the detector, I say, "Oh, that's my gun holster." He just kinda said "Hmmm" and moved on.

Well, yea, there are some allen screws holding stuff together, I just didn't think about it setting off the detector. It didn't seem to phase the security screener much though.

lancermit wrote:Well, yea, there are some allen screws holding stuff together, I just didn't think about it setting off the detector. It didn't seem to phase the security screener much though.

More security theater, performed by someone who thinks his job is to get people through, not stop them from getting in. I see it every day at my own job. It's a joke.

Last July or August one of our forum members had a similar experience, except the screener went ballistic when she saw the empty holster and said in a loud voice "is that a gun??" It got the attention of all the uniformed people there for sure! The screener refused to let him in the courthouse with the holster, and made him go back to his car and leave it there. All over an empty holster. Amazing!

In the Ft.Worth courthouse, you have to take off your belt AND your shoes and put it in the plastic tub, for x-ray screening.

chabouk wrote:More security theater, performed by someone who thinks his job is to get people through, not stop them from getting in.

He likely thinks that because that is his actual job. Most of the sites I've been at, we're absolutely forbidden to "excessively" delay anyone (and checking ID is an "excessive" delay) unless they're on the "terminated" list (which gets updated about twice a year) or openly carrying a weapon. (Never mind that we're also forbidden to confront anyone we know to be armed...)

All I ever think of is this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWIHv7a6luY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

KD5NRH wrote:

chabouk wrote:More security theater, performed by someone who thinks his job is to get people through, not stop them from getting in.

He likely thinks that because that is his actual job. Most of the sites I've been at, we're absolutely forbidden to "excessively" delay anyone (and checking ID is an "excessive" delay) unless they're on the "terminated" list (which gets updated about twice a year) or openly carrying a weapon. (Never mind that we're also forbidden to confront anyone we know to be armed...)

That's what makes it theater, instead of actual security.

marksiwel wrote:All I ever think of is this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWIHv7a6luY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was thinking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt9IdPttScQ&NR=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not long ago I had to go the county court house in downtown Houston, Like a good boy I secured my HK USP Compact in the car and walked in. I set off every detector on the block, I had not emptied my back pocket of the two spare mags I carry. The guard laughed, said it happens often, took the clips while I took care of my business and gave them back when I left.

dac1842 wrote:Not long ago I had to go the county court house in downtown Houston, Like a good boy I secured my HK USP Compact in the car and walked in. I set off every detector on the block, I had not emptied my back pocket of the two spare mags I carry. The guard laughed, said it happens often, took the clips while I took care of my business and gave them back when I left.

I had a similar incident in the City of Plano Municipal court. I had forgot about my magazine from my 45. I just threw it in the bucket with my keys. the guard handed it to me with my keys on the other side. It isn't like the bullets are gonna do you any good without the gun to fire them from.

No matter what I do I will set off the detectors. I have metal in my back and my left elbow.

I have been to the Montgomery County Courthouse a few times and you can tell the difference between the veteran Deputy and the rookie.

One veteran told me “we have motor cycle riders and bull riders come through here with metal in their backs, knees and everywhere else”. One rookie kept searching my shirt pocket when the wand was actually picking up the metal in my elbow.