If anyone will be going to the Texas state fair. When entering the grounds metal detectors are in use. They would not let me in with a 3’ pocketknife (was considered a weapon) but did not even question longhorn fans entering the grounds with a full size set of real longhorns that had been made into a hat. Go figure that one out.
When they said that I could not enter with the knife I said OK, I’ll go to the car and put it away. I went out on the street and slipped it in my boot (we had rode the bus and I had also noticed that the guards were not checking shoes and feet) went through another line and no problems. Made me feel real safe!

 

Just exactly how did you get a 3 foot pocket knife in your boot????????

Here in OHIO we call a 3' knife a machete.

I know,I know a shift key is a terrible thing to waste.

Just funnin' MR

 

I'm just wondering what YOU needed a 3 foot knife for at the fair ? Expecting a confrontation at the pie baking competition ? ;D

Reminds me of the time back in '94 when a bunch of drunk sailors took one of our shipmates (of mid-eastern descent) to the Honolulu airport to send him home.
Going through the metal detector, when it didn't beep or anything, he turns around ... frisks his own pockets and said ... "the bomb ... I forgot the bomb. Did you remember it ... crap I must've left it in the hotel".

Not a pretty site ... luckily it was long before 911.

PISTOL

 

[quote author=bigfoot link=board=10;threadid=20952;start=0#msg196496 date=1066098029]
If anyone will be going to the Texas state fair. When entering the grounds metal detectors are in use. They would not let me in with a 3’ pocketknife (was considered a weapon) but did not even question longhorn fans entering the grounds with a full size set of real longhorns that had been made into a hat. Go figure that one out.
When they said that I could not enter with the knife I said OK, I’ll go to the car and put it away. I went out on the street and slipped it in my boot (we had rode the bus and I had also noticed that the guards were not checking shoes and feet) went through another line and no problems. Made me feel real safe!

[/quote]

Last year when I went not only did I have a folding knife in my pocket but I was legally carrying a concealed handgun. Of course the Glock on my right hip made the little wand the guy had go crazy. I requested to speak with the Dallas police officer standing off to the side, showed him my CHL and was given the nod to enter (although I don't think he was all that excited about the idea). At the time they did not post 30.06 signs at the fair and it's not considered an amusement park because it's only open for about a month out of the year. Perfectly legal....and I felt safe all day too.

I haven't been this year, but I understand they have the 30.06 signs posted now. :

The State Fair is located in a very rough part of Dallas. Nearly every year someone is robbed or beaten up while trying to get to the fair grounds or while leaving. It has gotten better in recent years, but only because of the HUGE amount of police officers that now patrol both inside and outside of the fair grounds. You generally want to head for home before the sun goes down. However, once you're inside the fences then it's generally pretty safe.

 

[quote author=bigfoot link=board=10;threadid=20952;start=0#msg196496 date=1066098029]
If anyone will be going to the Texas state fair. When entering the grounds metal detectors are in use. They would [/quote]

Metal detectors to enter a State Fair!?

I know last year the Minnesota State Fair made a big deal about security and they spent over $1 million on security. They didn't go quite as far as to have metal detectors though.

They did things like rerouted all auto traffic away from pedestrian areas. They also built truck inspection areas. All trucks and vehicles going into the fairgrounds get a full inspection including mirrors underneath. They even inspect vehicles owned by the fair.

They talked big about security, but the reality is you could easily get a bomb onto the fairgrounds still.

A local TV station did an expose during this year's fair showing the cops not actually inspecting trucks and just basically waving them through. That changed real quick once the TV report aired.

The Minnesota State Fair has the highest daily attendance of any state fair in the USA, but Texas has a greater total attendance.

Brian Elfert

 

You boys should pay a visit to the anderson county fair...

It's a completely different world.... :-X

 

OK, OK I get the point it was a 3” knife,Not that I would not need a 3” one if I had stayed after dark. The thing is the metal detector operators were not doing a very good job by allowing persons in with something that would make a lot better weapon than my small knife.
Also they did seem to be having a great time using metal detector around the bra area of women’s backs so they could feel for snaps/ hooks.

 

I have not been to the fair in several years. Last time I was there they had done alot of cleaning up down there. Fair Park can be rough but during the day the fair grounds are probably ok. I would not go down there any other time however.

It is a sad state of affairs when we need this much security just to take the family out for a day of fun. :'(

goat

 

Go to the Ft. Worth stock yards. More fun and much safer.