So you attend the fair unarmed?

[traderdan]

I was surprised, my son and his friends all had to come back to the van and leave weapons. There was no chance that I was gonna leave the van ina lot in that ghetto!

 

[Cameramonkey]

I was surprised, my son and his friends all had to come back to the van and leave weapons. There was no chance that I was gonna leave the van ina lot in that ghetto!

So it was the monon entrance? Or main? Blind (Deaf) school on the back side?

As said upthread the only conceivable entry armed is infield parking. They do at least do back checks at every other entrance I have entered through. NEVER been searched entering in my car to park in the infield.

And I too advocate for ignoring the IAC and making sure it is the old Texas definition; Not even printing allowed. If caught they confiscate, escort you off property, and return your firearm and tell you to go home. Thats it. I can risk that given the neighborhood, etc.

The only upside I see is unlike most venues, they do handle security well with dozens of troopers roaming the grounds. (as opposed to an unarmed rent-a-cop or two for most GFZs)

Too bad we are too busy/broke with vacations this year to go. Not to mention our source of free tix dried up due to retirement last fall. Maybe next year.

 

[MCgrease08]

You know why they have metal detectors on the Monon Trail side? Because that is where all the local mopes enter. If you drive in there is no wanding, searching, or metal detectors. And if you know how to conceal properly you won't have a problem.

Bingo. And I think they only have them in place on the weekend.

Funny thing was, the two people on the other side of the detector were a middle aged woman in a wheelchair and a chubby kid that looked to be about 14.

I couldn't help but wonder how they would have responded to someone who decided they did not want to be disarmed, or worse, someone truly intent on doing harm.

 

[traderdan]

I let my family off near the main entrance, went to park and went to gate 18 off the Monon trail. No matter, I will never return.

 

[HubertGummer]

Too late for the OP but we went in through gate 14 today, no metal detectors.

 

[PistolBob]

I do not go because it costs way to damn much these days.

That's no kidding....even if you get a discount coupon from the paper it's too damned expensive.

 

[MCgrease08]

That's no kidding....even if you get a discount coupon from the paper it's too damned expensive.

The coupon in the newspaper is for a free admission. A newspaper costs what, $1-1.50?

You can pack a picnic lunch and go and enjoy the fair without spending any additional money. And that includes a free concert at night.

If you're spending copious amounts of money you're doing it wrong.

 

[Alamo]

... the old Texas definition; Not even printing allowed. .

?

 

[churchmouse]

The coupon in the newspaper is for a free admission. A newspaper costs what, $1-1.50?

You can pack a picnic lunch and go and enjoy the fair without spending any additional money. And that includes a free concert at night.

If you're spending copious amounts of money you're doing it wrong.

Have you taken any kids to the fair......

 

[churchmouse]

As to the area surrounding the fair.....yup, it is not the best place to be. I have spent many hours all through that area working on the section 8 houses owned by a real estate agency. I did all their HVAC and minor maint. work for about 4 years right after I retired (retired....) and there are some good folks living in there. Just not enough of them.
Yes I have some good story's.

 

[Cameramonkey]

?

Didnt they used to have the law written that you could only carry concealed, and even if the outline of the gun was visible it was not considered concealed? I'm talking 10 years ago or more possibly.

EDIT: From a FAQ on the old CHL law:

What does “concealed” mean?
Concealed means that the weapon cannot be visible, and that its presence cannot be discernible through ordinary observation.

 

[Alamo]

Didnt they used to have the law written that you could only carry concealed, and even if the outline of the gun was visible it was not considered concealed? I'm talking 10 years ago or more possibly.

EDIT: From a FAQ on the old CHL law:

What does “concealed” mean?
Concealed means that the weapon cannot be visible, and that its presence cannot be discernible through ordinary observation.

The FAQ does not correctly state the (old) definition of a concealed handgun. The legislature applied its ability to write sentences that nobody can quite figure out exactly what they mean to the old definition, like using the words "openly discernible." Not just "discernible", but "openly" discernible. Whadduzatmean?

The effective working definition of this became as long as it's covered, it's concealed. Short of showing some part or all of the handgun (and even then inadvertent displays didn't count), you would not have been bothered for any level of "printing" short of this, I think:

and maybe not then. Since the inception of concealed carry in Texas, the yearly total of license holders convicted of anything has hovered very closely to about 100 per year. I never heard of anyone convicted of failing to conceal. Or even arrested for it.

But having a bulge, a big "point" where the grip juts out, an L-shaped outline, not an issue.

"Printing" was never a problem in Texas, except on the gun forums.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Thanks, Alamo.

But my original point stands. Concealed means concealed. Not kinda concealed. Concealed.

 

[nakinate]

I have been attending unarmed. After reading this thread maybe I won't in the future.

 

[Tactically Fat]

They had metal detectors set up on Saturday at the main gate on 38th St.

We parked directly across 38th from that main gate.

$12 x 3 for admission (Thankfully, little man is still free)... Plus a ton of delicious fair food and rides for the kids. That's all we ever purchase.

 

[T.Lex]

They had metal detectors set up on Saturday at the main gate on 38th St.

We parked directly across 38th from that main gate.

$12 x 3 for admission (Thankfully, little man is still free)... Plus a ton of delicious fair food and rides for the kids. That's all we ever purchase.

Same!

Except for the kid-young-enough-to-get-in-free part. Couldn't do the drive-in parking at the time we got there, so had to park south of 38th St.*

Was surprised to see the metal detectors at the 38th St. entrance. Was worried about losing my pocketknife, but put it at the bottom of the little tray and dude didn't even dig around.

Did not have my pistol on fair grounds, because - unlike LEO/retired-LEO - I'm concerned about having it confiscated if I am found possessing it. Plus, it always seems like the ISP has a lot of uniforms around, so I do consider it a low-risk environment. Except for the food. And the rides.

I can neither confirm nor deny having violated other parts of IAC at other times.

* In the queue in the parking lot leaving, there was a complete b***h who openly rejected the social norms by not letting us alternate between her and the car in front of her, along with refusing to let someone else in front of her later. People suck.

 

[Tactically Fat]

Same!

Except for the kid-young-enough-to-get-in-free part. Couldn't do the drive-in parking at the time we got there, so had to park south of 38th St.*

Was surprised to see the metal detectors at the 38th St. entrance. Was worried about losing my pocketknife, but put it at the bottom of the little tray and dude didn't even dig around.

Did not have my pistol on fair grounds, because - unlike LEO/retired-LEO - I'm concerned about having it confiscated if I am found possessing it. Plus, it always seems like the ISP has a lot of uniforms around, so I do consider it a low-risk environment. Except for the food. And the rides.

I had my two super duper scary semi-automatically assisted opening assault Zero Tolerance knives under my phone in the basket. Left my flashlight in my pocket. Walked right through. The content of the baskets weren't ever jostled around. I, too, was worried that I was going to have to run them back to my car.

 

[MarkC]

Same!

Except for the kid-young-enough-to-get-in-free part. Couldn't do the drive-in parking at the time we got there, so had to park south of 38th St.*

Was surprised to see the metal detectors at the 38th St. entrance. Was worried about losing my pocketknife, but put it at the bottom of the little tray and dude didn't even dig around.

Did not have my pistol on fair grounds, because - unlike LEO/retired-LEO - I'm concerned about having it confiscated if I am found possessing it. Plus, it always seems like the ISP has a lot of uniforms around, so I do consider it a low-risk environment. Except for the food. And the rides.

I can neither confirm nor deny having violated other parts of IAC at other times.

* In the queue in the parking lot leaving, there was a complete b***h who openly rejected the social norms by not letting us alternate between her and the car in front of her, along with refusing to let someone else in front of her later. People suck.

As a retiree, if I go in through Gate 10, I can get into the Fair at no cost. AND... they don't even make me work the Fair anymore!

Other than long, hot days it used to be (and probably still is) a good detail for a Trooper.

 

[rhino]

So . . . other than the delicious, but potentially life endangering fair food, what is the allure of the fair if you don't have kids to entertain and you do not participate in 4-H competitions?

To me, big crowd = no bueno, regardless of their efforts to stymie carrying tools you might need.

 

[lovemachine]

So . . . other than the delicious, but potentially life endangering fair food, what is the allure of the fair if you don't have kids to entertain and you do not participate in 4-H competitions?

To me, big crowd = no bueno, regardless of their efforts to stymie carrying tools you might need.

I haven't been in years, so I got nothin'.