Texas State Capitol, my first visit ever.
Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2016 10:08 am
So, last week, I was in Austin with my SO as she was taking a State Board oral exam. After her successful completion of the test, we had time to kill, so we decided we'd go see the Capitol. After reading here, knowing about the "other" line for LTC folks, I wanted to see what the hubbub was about. I explained to my SO about it & made sure she had her LTC on her.
We entered the east entrance & there was NO ONE in line. I quickly surveyed the signs to determine which line I was to approach, read the sign for "Concealed Carriers here" (or something). Started walking towards that sign when one of the security staff starts speaking to me.
"Sir! Over here!"
"No, I'm in the right line."
(very loudly in the echoy long hall) "OHH! YOU'RE CONCEALED!"
SO: "well, so much for being discreet"
At this time, the Trooper starts approaching us, we hand him our DL/LTC. He's fiddling with some wires & moving the scanner around. Takes my LTC, starts swiping, swiping, swiping, swiping, swiping. No luck. Goes to manually enter the info.
Takes my SO's LTC, swipe. Done.
SO: "Well, guess it didn't like your card"
I forget what prompted me, but I something about resident/non-resident came up and I asked the Trooper "cannot out of state carriers carry in the Capitol?"
"Nope, must be a Texas resident." (Hmmm, wonder why?)
"Well, thank you sir" & we proceeded to walk around the capitol. It was pretty cool.
My SO had to step aside as the post test jitters were still getting to her anxiety & it got me to thinking. I NEVER ever even consider open carrying, but I was asking myself if I had to take my shirt off & expose my gun/undershirt to help my SO, would I still be ok? Shortly after the thought, a Trooper was walking near me & I asked him I could ask him something.
"Are you allowed to open carry inside the Capitol?"
"So long as you have your license, you are." he said very pleasantly, even with a smile.
"Thank you sir"
"No problem!"
He seemed very entertained by the interaction & walked off without even so much as a backwards glance. I almost open carried simply because I could & just because . . . TEXAS! The rebellious side of me wanted to do it for kicks & walk near the girl scout troop that was touring the Capitol. The smarter side of me prevailed though & I kept concealed.
As I'm thinking back about this event, this was not even 36hrs since the Dallas ambush. It wasn't even in my thoughts as we were so focused on getting my SO through her test.
We entered the east entrance & there was NO ONE in line. I quickly surveyed the signs to determine which line I was to approach, read the sign for "Concealed Carriers here" (or something). Started walking towards that sign when one of the security staff starts speaking to me.
"Sir! Over here!"
"No, I'm in the right line."
(very loudly in the echoy long hall) "OHH! YOU'RE CONCEALED!"
SO: "well, so much for being discreet"
At this time, the Trooper starts approaching us, we hand him our DL/LTC. He's fiddling with some wires & moving the scanner around. Takes my LTC, starts swiping, swiping, swiping, swiping, swiping. No luck. Goes to manually enter the info.
Takes my SO's LTC, swipe. Done.
SO: "Well, guess it didn't like your card"
I forget what prompted me, but I something about resident/non-resident came up and I asked the Trooper "cannot out of state carriers carry in the Capitol?"
"Nope, must be a Texas resident." (Hmmm, wonder why?)
"Well, thank you sir" & we proceeded to walk around the capitol. It was pretty cool.
My SO had to step aside as the post test jitters were still getting to her anxiety & it got me to thinking. I NEVER ever even consider open carrying, but I was asking myself if I had to take my shirt off & expose my gun/undershirt to help my SO, would I still be ok? Shortly after the thought, a Trooper was walking near me & I asked him I could ask him something.
"Are you allowed to open carry inside the Capitol?"
"So long as you have your license, you are." he said very pleasantly, even with a smile.
"Thank you sir"
"No problem!"
He seemed very entertained by the interaction & walked off without even so much as a backwards glance. I almost open carried simply because I could & just because . . . TEXAS! The rebellious side of me wanted to do it for kicks & walk near the girl scout troop that was touring the Capitol. The smarter side of me prevailed though & I kept concealed.
As I'm thinking back about this event, this was not even 36hrs since the Dallas ambush. It wasn't even in my thoughts as we were so focused on getting my SO through her test.
