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I am planning on attending the gun show at the George R Brown next weekend to buy a new Colt AR-15. This is my first gun show since having my CHL licence. Are there any restrictions to carry concealed at the GRB and the gun show that I sould be aware of, or is it carry as normal? I seem to remember HPD at the front checking to make sure everything is unloaded, but will that apply to CHL holders? Sorry in advance if it is a stupid question.

More importantly, I am going to buy/build a Colt AR-15 chambered in 5.56, quad-rails, 16 inch match grade barrel, flat top with an Eotech 512 sight, surefire light/laser, with some nice backup sights in case the eotech runs out of juice. I want next weekend to be here NOW! I have a local LEO who is very knowledgeable comming with me to shop and advise.

I hate to disappoint you, but most gun shows are marked with 30.06. Leave it in the car.

Though that AR sounds like it will be nice!

mikeintexas wrote:but most gun shows are marked with 30.06. Leave it in the car

Both George R Brown and Pasadena Convention Centers are posted 30.06, as MikeinTexas said, "leave it in the car"
Whether its legal to post either location is debatable, but I certainly do not want to be the test case of the legality of it.

So, no carry at a gun show. Ok, I will leave it in the car.

Who else is going to be there Saturday? I may need a support group for my AR purchase. *grin*

Why cant he carry it in instead of leaving it in the car to get stolen? There are thousands of attendees carrying there. You cant open carry it in per se but have it unloaded and let the officer zip tie it. the 30.06 isnt debatable as the center is government owned. I have walked in the door everytime, then take it out of the holster and hand it to the officer to be checked. Considering the presence of multiple LEO agencies both attending and working, including HPD and the ATF I have never seen a person hassled or even looked askance at. I generally leave my shirt behind the pistol as it is checked and it gets hot in there. The only hassle I have ever received is dozens of vendors asking if my Kimber is for sale.

rm9792 wrote:Why cant he carry it in instead of leaving it in the car to get stolen?

Yes, you do have the option of unloading it in the car, leaving the ammo in the car as they also have a "no ammo" sign tacked to the bottom of the 30.06 sign.
So if you want to carry and empty weapon, to save it 'from getting stolen', feel free. As you said, let the officers zip-tie it upon entering (don't forget to clear the chamber in the car as well!)

The unloaded rule is policy, not law, and it's inconsistently enforced. Do what you think is right but know that it's policy.

p.s. If the 30.06 sign was valid, it would be illegal for a CHL to carry a handgun at the show, even an unloaded handgun.

jester wrote: p.s. If the 30.06 sign was valid, it would be illegal for a CHL to carry a handgun at the show, even an unloaded handgun.

Not if it isn't concealed.

Teamless wrote:

rm9792 wrote:Why cant he carry it in instead of leaving it in the car to get stolen?

Yes, you do have the option of unloading it in the car, leaving the ammo in the car as they also have a "no ammo" sign tacked to the bottom of the 30.06 sign.
So if you want to carry and empty weapon, to save it 'from getting stolen', feel free. As you said, let the officers zip-tie it upon entering (don't forget to clear the chamber in the car as well!)

You seem to think that getting something broke into in downtown Houston is a rare occurence. I usually park on the curb by all the cop cars, seems to be pretty safe there.

rm9792 wrote:You seem to think that getting something broke into in downtown Houston is a rare occurence.

not whatsoever, thats why I carry a gun LOL

But I seem to think that the facility is posted 30.06 and there are signs saying "no loaded magazines", so rather than being a test case, as I do not have a lawyer on retainer, nor the time or money to fight a possible silver bracelet issue, id rather follow the posted signs.

Carry-a-Kimber wrote:

jester wrote:p.s. If the 30.06 sign was valid, it would be illegal for a CHL to carry a handgun at the show, even an unloaded handgun.

Not if it isn't concealed.

What do you mean by that?

I was saying that if it's legal to carry an unloaded handgun then it's legal to carry a loaded handgun. The other way around too. If it violates Texas law for a CHL to carry a loaded handgun in some place, unloading it makes no difference in Texas law. If I'm wrong, please point out the actual law so I can understand.

Unload in the car, get zip tied, open carry inside the building. No ammo, not concealed.

Question for those that attended the Gun Show on Sunday...

I arrived around 10:45 and tried to park in my usual metered-area expecting it to be free since it's Sunday. However, EVERY meter had a green tarp wrapped around it saying that "all parking was prohibited without a permit." These were public streets and I couldn't find a meter that wasn't covered. -- Conveniently, all of the parking lots were open and booming at $15 a pop.

I circled GRB for about 20 mins and finally gave up, parking at a close meter with the tarp and took my chances.

When I came back, my vehicle was surrounded by others that had the same idea.

Who owns these tarps and is it enforceable? Legal?

Don't know anything about the meter covers but I would suspect that it had something to do with the Astros game.