American Airlines Center (yes, again)

[i8godzilla]

Okay this has--American Airlines Center--been discussed ad nauseum many times. However, here we go again.....

I am attending a Get Motivated seminar at the American Airlines Center on Tuesday. (https://www.getmotivated.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) Because one of the speakers is Laura Bush, I am sure that there will some kind of Secret Service protocols in place. Can the Feds put any restrictions in place to prevent me from carrying there? I am not a fan of leaving my weapon in my truck and will be traveling 200+ miles to get there, so, I am not leaving home with out it.

Thanks!

[Purplehood]

Okay this has--American Airlines Center--been discussed ad nauseum many times. However, here we go again.....

I am attending a Get Motivated seminar at the American Airlines Center on Tuesday. (https://www.getmotivated.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) Because one of the speakers is Laura Bush, I am sure that there will some kind of Secret Service protocols in place. Can the Feds put any restrictions in place to prevent me from carrying there? I am not a fan of leaving my weapon in my truck and will be traveling 200+ miles to get there, so, I am not leaving home with out it.

Thanks!

I would be interested to find out how the SS (abbreviation not intentional) handles this. If I recall correctly, they are well aware of Texas laws regarding Concealed Carry and have had to cope with these situations in the past without unduly restricting the exercise of the right to carry.

[seamusTX]

I went to see former president Clinton at a scheduled event in 2008. The Secret Service and Texas State Police had no special protocol or search. They just gave everyone the hairy eyeball. I could have carried if I hadn't anticipated a search or prohibition.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13862&hilit=+galveston+clinton" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As to whether they can, sure they can, if they want to. The average citizen attending such an event doesn't have much choice. They were throwing people out of events a few years ago on account of the T-shirts that they were wearing.

- Jim

[blackdog8200]

I sat right next to President Bush 41 at the Alley theater in Houston....his security detail right behind us, my Glock sat concealed on my hip. My wife even asked out loud if I was carrying.....she got the LOOK and realized the problem.

Anyway....no funny looks from the team although I half expected to be tackled when I got up to go to the restroom

[SlickTX]

I sat right next to President Bush 41 at the Alley theater in Houston....his security detail right behind us, my Glock sat concealed on my hip. My wife even asked out loud if I was carrying.....she got the LOOK and realized the problem.

Anyway....no funny looks from the team although I half expected to be tackled when I got up to go to the restroom

OMG!!! I hope she asked in Swahili or something.

[Keith B]

IANAL, but here is my take on this. While they may not be able to legally restrict the carry of a firearm by a CHL in a building owned by the city, if they have metal detectors and searches going on and they find you have a firearm, they can still prevent you from attending the event by denying you access. This also goes for gun shows that post a 30.06, but are on city owned property. They may not be able to arrest you for carrying, but they can kick you out or deny access on any grounds they choose.

If there is no security checkpoint that is required to go through, and no signage, then I would assume it is no different than any other open event.

[seamusTX]

If there is a legal limit on what the Secret Service can do to protect someone who is in their care, I don't know what it is. You're not gonna win an argument with them. They're professional and fairly polite and don't want to get their suits mussed, but they carry machine guns and who-knows-what-else.

You might win some token lawsuit several years on, but I don't recall that ever being successful.

- Jim

[The Annoyed Man]

The Secret Service and Texas State Police had no special protocol or search. They just gave everyone the hairy eyeball.

NO!!! Not the HAIRY EYEBALL!!!

[srothstein]

I would be interested to find out how the SS (abbreviation not intentional) handles this. If I recall correctly, they are well aware of Texas laws regarding Concealed Carry and have had to cope with these situations in the past without unduly restricting the exercise of the right to carry.

I believe the line from the movie (though it was the FBI and not the SS) is:

"This is Texas. Everyone has a gun."

As far as I know, that is their general attitude for most events unless the currently serving office holder is there. it may differ if you get in a close in situation, such as if Mrs. Bush sets up a meet and greet table or something. She was at the Texas Book Festival last weekend and no one who I know that went mentioned anything about extra security problems.

[olafpfj]

In my experience they tend to be less uptight with non-sitting presidents. I work in entertainment and have been through the ringer with the secret service with both a sitting and past president. It was two entirely different experiences. I performed for the ground breaking for Reagans library and I wasn't even screened aside from doing a background check prior. I never showed ID and ultimately just got on a bus to take me to the gig without ever being so much as glanced at. For Bush Sr. they assigned a guy who followed me into the bathroom to make sure that I really was just happy to be there ;)

If you ever have to deal with a sitting president's security detail, a fun game to play is find the football. That and the SUV's with mini SAMS in them. They don't have a sense of humor either

[TxKimberMan]

While serving aboard ship in the USCG, I worked with the Secret Service during the summer of '85 for an event in San Francisco Bay, involving George H.W. Bush while he was the sitting Vice President. The authority of the Secret Service was omnipotent; they could modify our ROE at any time...all they had to do was point at something and say "kill it".

[i8godzilla]

The After Action Report:

Okay, I have just returned home from a very inspirational day. There was 'security' at the door and they were looking through bags and using the hand wand. I presented my entry ticket and walked up to the wander. He proceeded to do his thing and naturally, when he came to my weapon the thing went off. He moved it over again and actually hit my hand grip with the wand. He simply motioned me in and off I went.

On a side note, if you ever get a chance to attend this event it is more than worth both your time and money.

[C-dub]

The After Action Report:

Okay, I have just returned home from a very inspirational day. There was 'security' at the door and they were looking through bags and using the hand wand. I presented my entry ticket and walked up to the wander. He proceeded to do his thing and naturally, when he came to my weapon the thing went off. He moved it over again and actually hit my hand grip with the wand. He simply motioned me in and off I went.

On a side note, if you ever get a chance to attend this event it is more than worth both your time and money.

So, no ID check? That's a little strange if not. Awesome, but strange.