Help to Verify 30.06/30.07 Status

[Dragonfighter]

They say you can't prove a negative but I am hoping to do so.

I help a large anime convention with their safety and fire planning. I also write the prop and weapons policies. This year they have moved to Fort Worth with the Convention Center being the central location. I have told the owners that neither they nor Fort Worth can post it. However they are involved with three hotels.

I went over to our trusty Texas3006.com and only the Sheraton was listed as posted. The Omni and Hilton were not. Can anyone verify that those two are NOT posted. The weapons policy will have a paragraph on lawfully carried weapons and I want to add warnings of posted locations that we are involved in.

Any help is much appreciated.

[rotor]

This help at all? Website of Hilton does not mention guns. Website of Sheraton does not mention guns. Omni says "Omni Hotels reserves the right to not allow the open carry of handguns or other weapons on the hotel premises."
Best to contact a manager at all three hotels to confirm policies before you end up looking bad and keep their names. Perhaps Sheraton and Hilton are in violation of code below but you would need to make a reservation to be sure. Omni would imply CC is OK.

"Texas law requires that any policy prohibiting a guest’s right to bring firearms onto a hotel premises be disclosed in the terms and conditions of guest reservations on the hotel’s website at the time a reservation is made. Under Texas Occupations Code § 2155.103 (2015), if a guest makes a reservation by phone, the hotel’s written confirmation of the reservation must include information about how guests may access and review the applicable gun policy."

The penalty for the hotel is a misdemeanor with a max fine of $100 so they probably don't care too much about it.

[Dragonfighter]

Thanks Rotor.

Russell, I tend to agree with your philosophy on this. I hadn't thought about checking the website though.

I was hoping someone here had first hand knowledge. Scouting may be the answer, after all I will soon have to scope it out to put together the MCI plan, coordinate with the event coordinator, etc.

[mojo84]

I remember something about hotels and motels must let you know when you reserve the room. I could be wrong but you may want to check the law.

[rotor]

I remember something about hotels and motels must let you know when you reserve the room. I could be wrong but you may want to check the law.

That's what I posted above.

[rotor]

I would disagree somewhat with rotor's answer about contacting the hotels to ask. You are almost guaranteed to receive verbal notice as a knee-jerk reaction and be technically forbidden at that point from carrying.

Best to check the buildings yourself or send some scouts over.

Here is the reason I said to check with a manager and get a name. If they say it is OK you have someone with authority that has given permission. If the OP has to put his name on the line to tell people it is OK or not to carry he has now covered his behind and won't get fired or whatever for letting the members know the status. A hotel may not have a sign today though and have one tomorrow. Only Omni seems to be meeting the occupation code with info on the website.
The other issue is this, if the OP calls and asks policy and they don't allow firearms then he has been notified. They still technically need to notify each person.
Finally, if the Texas occupation code is not followed and they are in violation by not notifying an individual on their website or by phone, is it illegal to enter a hotel that is posted and you don't find out till you get there? Probably you still can't go in carrying and have to make a formal complaint to get them fined under Texas occupation code.

[mojo84]

I remember something about hotels and motels must let you know when you reserve the room. I could be wrong but you may want to check the law.

That's what I posted above.

I didn't read through the entire thread. I just saw the OP's question and tried to answer it. I do not try to read every post on the forum. Sorry if I stepped on your toes. It wasn't my intention.

[Dragonfighter]

I would disagree somewhat with rotor's answer about contacting the hotels to ask. You are almost guaranteed to receive verbal notice as a knee-jerk reaction and be technically forbidden at that point from carrying.

Best to check the buildings yourself or send some scouts over.

Here is the reason I said to check with a manager and get a name. If they say it is OK you have someone with authority that has given permission. If the OP has to put his name on the line to tell people it is OK or not to carry he has now covered his behind and won't get fired or whatever for letting the members know the status. <SNIP>

Thank you Rotor. I appreciate your thoughts on this. While it is true a have a certain amount of reputation on the line (which is why these guys are asking me to help) it is a casual business arrangement, sort of a paying hobby. But if they contract me, I'll have a little more skin in the game.

The situation is, I overhauled these guys' prop weapons policy a couple of years ago and tweaked it again last year. As to lawfully carrying firearms, it was simple. The Anatole posted 30.06 and in January added 30.07. The policy does not allow any real firearms regardless of functionality in the cosplay weapons policy regardless of functionality. That policy will follow the convention. The last thing we need is a Deadpool striking a pose with his H&K and blasting someone or getting shot.

However, with the move to the FWCC, lawfully carried firearms cannot be prohibited. And I am loving that. I think posting will be my standard. Once I verify whether each is posted (Sheraton was on Texas3006.com), I will add a preamble with words to the effect, "Lawfully carried firearms are not allowed to be part of Cosplay in any manner. Violation of this rule may result in revocation of your pass and or criminal charges (Texas Penal Code, Title 9, Chapter 42, Sec. 42.01)." Then I'd want to add, "The X, Y and Z hotel is posted in accordance with TPC 30.06 and/or TPC 30.07"

More of a warning as opposed to a prohibition or "permission" paragraph. I'll probably include words to the effect, "You are responsible for the safe and lawful carry of firearms at all times."

I am practically giddy that we are in a venue that is not posted and can't be posted. But that complicates the policy as it has to be addressed somehow.

Thanks again.

[Dragonfighter]

Well, I broke down and took Rotor's first suggestion. Just too many variables even if I took a three hour tour to visually verify.

The manager at the Hilton sounded insulted when I asked him, "We DO NOT post any signs or restrict lawful carry." The all caps were not him getting loud, just that he emphasized "DO NOT".

The Omni's answer was a little more interesting. When I ask if the posted against CHL/LTC, he first asked what I meant and I explained that the question was whether they restrict licensed carry of handguns. He started with, "weeeellll, I know we allow open carry. And we don't have any other signs that I've noticed and we don't intend to post any."

I did not call the Sheraton as they are already documented on http://texas3006.com.

So there you have it boys and girls, both allow lawful carry and the Hilton gets their feelers hurt if you ask otherwise.

Thanks Rotor, your suggestion was actually the best road after all.

[TVGuy]

Well, I broke down and took Rotor's first suggestion. Just too many variables even if I took a three hour tour to visually verify.

The manager at the Hilton sounded insulted when I asked him, "We DO NOT post any signs or restrict lawful carry." The all caps were not him getting loud, just that he emphasized "DO NOT".

The Omni's answer was a little more interesting. When I ask if the posted against CHL/LTC, he first asked what I meant and I explained that the question was whether they restrict licensed carry of handguns. He started with, "weeeellll, I know we allow open carry. And we don't have any other signs that I've noticed and we don't intend to post any."

I did not call the Sheraton as they are already documented on http://texas3006.com.

So there you have it boys and girls, both allow lawful carry and the Hilton gets their feelers hurt if you ask otherwise.

Thanks Rotor, your suggestion was actually the best road after all.

Good for the Hilton and Omni, too many hotels I see are posted these days.

[Outnumbered]

That's interesting about Hilton. When I check 30.06.com, I see a lot of Hiltons posted. We always avoid them for that reason.

[Dragonfighter]

That's interesting about Hilton. When I check 30.06.com, I see a lot of Hiltons posted. We always avoid them for that reason.

I had assumed they were because the Anatole was which is where the convention has been held these last 3 years. I had assumed it was a corporate policy. The convention director told me he had assumed as much but has found out they are franchised.