Toyota Center 30.06

Popshot · Post by **Popshot** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:06 am

Toyota Center in Houston seems to be posted with 30.06. I say "seems to" because:
I did not measure the letter height.
The white lettering is on glass and with the lighting on Friday night, the signage was not totally legible. Therefore, I'm not certain if the signage was identical to the statute.

I did not carry and it bothered me on several levels.

Downtown Houston at night can be unsettling, especially when you have to walk a few blocks between the event and your vehicle.

I was not attending a sporting event, which CHL carry is prohibited. We went to the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas concert.

I understand that Toyota Center's security screening can be obtrusive, with wanding and pat-downs. However, Friday night's security crew was lax, with only the flashlight glance into ladie's purses. Maybe it's because Mannheim Steamroller concerts inspire fans with the spirit of Christmas, instead of drunken brawls. (BTW- Nice show!)

Toyota Center lists a whole lot of of prohibited items on their website, but it is a bit odd. A list titled Prohibited Items list "...knives, weapons of all types,,," are not allowed. Under Accessibilty-Building Policies, prohibited items also lists "...unauthorized firearms..." I wonder what is the definition for that last item?

I understand that Toyota Center is owned by City of Houston, so I'm uncertain if 30.06 is legal to post for this building.

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:59 am

There's been some discussion in the past.

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... ter+centre

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... ter+centre

Not sure I've got any good advice on it.

KBCraig · Post by **KBCraig** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 1:21 pm

Russell wrote:Are you sure it is owned by the city of houston? It is, after all, called the "Toyota" center.

Minute Maid doesn't own Minute Maid park. Virtually none of the "sponsored" venues are owned by the sponsors.

One would be led to believe that toyota either bought it or is leasing it out for several years, which would make toyota the company that controls the building. (Just like renting a house).

There's been a lot of discussion on this in other threads, but the plain language of the statutes is clear: if the city owns it, it doesn't matter who leases or "controls" it: 30.06 does not apply.

Kevin

kauboy · Post by **kauboy** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:38 pm

I'd have to say that "unauthorized firearms" means that anybody without a CHL must have authorization to carry a firearm there. A CHL'er can disregard that policy since the only written notice we can receive must follow 30.06. As for the sign that you saw, if the place is owned by the city, it is not enforceable, regardless of whether or not it meets the specs.

stevie_d_64 · Post by **stevie_d_64** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:28 pm

Paladin wrote:There's been some discussion in the past.

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... ter+centre

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... ter+centre

Not sure I've got any good advice on it.

I remember that discussion as well...The guy and his wife were coming down from out of town to attend a non-sporting event at the (at the time) new Toyota center...I believe he ended up not carrying into the facility, but left it secured in his vehicle...

I told him that I have never been there, and that the new definitions and clarifications from SB501 gave us a little more wiggle room for venues such as the Toyota Center...But we figured it best to err on the side of caution, and not allowing the security folks to make a scene...

I guess what irritates me the most is that the facilities/organizations/and their security contigents, are still going to continue to post and restrict, and make life miserable enough to where we don't bother to carry to the facility, or not even go...

All the security, screening, detectors and wanding are still going to be in place and actively looking for people like us...And I guess if I felt like going to an non-sporting event, at a facility that normally would be off-limits to us, then my wife and I would certainly would give it a go...

I'm just not so sure we would still be in the mood to attend after getting the Nth degree from the process...

Popshot · Post by **Popshot** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:29 pm

I agree that if the City of Houston owns the building, that a 30.06 is not applicable. Therefore, the posting of this sign really chaps me. I did not know of these practices at Toyota Center before we purchased the tickets.

However, it may not be so easy to say, "that does not apply". Confronting the security staff will likely result in your being denied access. These folks, after all, are not the decision makers. Another problem is that bystanders may learn that you are carrying a concealed handgun. The whole point of CHL is for us to keep the presence of our firearm concealed, except for the last resort of self defense.

It seems like in these times, only a test case in court will resolve these problems. I, for one, prefer to spend my money wisely. Therefore, I will likely not visit these type of places.