Open Carry at the Gapefest Festival between Dallas and Fort Worth

My Daughter and Son in law, and two grandchildren were going to the Grapefest in Grapevine, Texas, between Dallas and Fort Worth. They graciously invited me to tag along.  Sunday afternoon, 19 September, 2016, was the time that fit with schedules and the kids naps.  The temperature was 97 in Dallas, and I could feel the humidity.

I missed my Sun Helmet.  I am heat acclimated, but the kids were not.  We had to walk a couple of blocks to the festival, and the family stopped in some shade to consider options.

I notice some sign-age that looked as if it might contain a 30.06 or a 30.07 sign.  I went to investigate.  It contained neither, but did stipulate that no weapons were allowed, except legally permitted firearms.

I went to the ticket counter.  There was one for media, so I went there.  After I handed them a Gun Watch card, they handed me a media pass for free.

I casually strolled through the gate, pass in hand.  I was openly carrying my old Glock in a Fobus retention holster.  No one seemed to mind or pay attention.  I handed my pass to the proper person, and found  a couple who were willing to take my picture.  I asked them to be sure to get the pistol in the frame.

They were very friendly and helpful.

As I wandered out, the people at the entry were searching backpacks, strollers, and purses.

I told the lady doing the searches that I was writing a story, then asked what they were looking for.  An efficient and alert looking officer with a pistol in a higher level retention rig was sitting next to her.

She told me they were looking for “big knives, mostly” and that when they found one, they checked for a permit. She said people with firearms permits could bring in guns. She said permits were checked out by the officer.

Last session, Texas came very close to removing the silly limitations on knives in the Lone Star State.  Only the unethical maneuvers of a Democrat committee chairman kept the reform from becoming law.

Everyone was very pleasant.  The festival seemed a success.  Quite a few people were going in and out, even in the heat.

My daughter and her husband had made a wise decision not to keep the children out in the extreme heat and humidity, but I was glad we came.

Open carry is becoming accepted in Texas.

©2016 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
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