State Fair / Carry - That time of year again.

[dshaf]

Parked at School for the deaf, I got the wand treatment and had to walk my Benchmade knife back to the car

 

[Spencir]

Parked at School for the deaf, I got the wand treatment and had to walk my Benchmade knife back to the car

That's crazy how much the security differs at the different entrances. I could have easily carried without issue at my entrance.

 

[Trigger Time]

Let's just say, Someone I know went to a performance that was help in the coliseum and carried. No pat downs no wands.
This rediculous law needs abolished! We need to work on our state reps and governor and eliminate the state fair as a gun free zone where we can be forced victims by our politicians. Too many thugs and terrorist in the world to be caught anywhere without a firearm for protection. The safety of yourself and your family is your responsibility. Not the cops. It's not their fault if you get caught unprepared for the fight.

 

[minuteman32]

I've carried every time I've gone w/o issue.

 

[yeti rider]

We went in off of 42nd street in the back. They stopped my wife and peered in to her very small purse. I asked "security" what they were looking for, and the response was guns, knives, or any dangerous weapons. No wands, as i walked through with my knife in my pocket, and absolutely could have been carrying.

 

[Cameramonkey]

That's crazy how much the security differs at the different entrances. I could have easily carried without issue at my entrance.

And EVERYONE who drove into infield parking could have carried whatever the hell they wanted. Including Claymores, grenades and SBRs. No searches there as they cant exactly search everyone inside every car. Great security guys... The only consolation was the roving bands of ISP officers on golf carts I would see literally every 5 mins or so.

In fact, my spidey senses went off when I was there with my family on Thursday:

First to set the scene... Thursday it was roasty toasty... not swamp nuts hot, but still plenty warm. It was hot enough to make us seek shade whenever possible at 85F according to the weather guys.

I was standing under a tree near the exit to the wine/beer pavillion eating my italian sausage . As I finished the family unit decides to head across the street toward the coliseum. As we proceed my spidey senses went off as a stout, bordering on portly middle aged gentleman with a buzz cut crossed our path. What struck me is he was wearing a windbreaker type jacket zipped up... in almost 90 degree weather. He was definitely out of place.

 

[88E30M50]

If they are trying to keep the local criminal element from carrying guns into the fair, then I'm all for wandings and metal detectors. But, if someone presents a LTCH, they should be allowed to pass freely into the fair grounds without the search. Post signs saying 'No Illegal Weapons'. Anyone carrying should have an LTCH and should be good to go.

 

[jdmathew]

Personal experience with firearm at Indiana State Fair

Well, I can tell you what happened to me tonight when I carried at the State Fair.

I didn't do much research on it (my fault) and I when I got to the fair, there were absolutely no signs, even info on the tickets, no pat downs, no wands, or anything at all indicating the NO FIREARMS policy, so I just walked right in. After an hour, I was tired of my shirt bulging and pulling on my right side so I tucked in my shirt exposing my holstered handgun. Of course we make our rounds, eat some food, etc, and sit RIGHT next to the State Police booth. They must have just spotted me because several state troopers walked over and promptly asked for ID. I gave ID and my carry permit and told them I had looked for signs and didn't see anything. They had some radio chatter and told me I was going to be escorted out. They never asked to see the firearm or anything like that. I apologized because I honestly did not know it was even a fair policy, and I hate making the police go out of their way for me.

They drove me and my brother back to our car and said we're more than welcome to lock up the weapon and come back inside. They polite and professional and were even willing to give us a ride back in. But by then, we were ready to go, so we just left.

Long story short we got a free personal escort back to our car Now I know The State Fair has an administrative no-firearms policy that is [eagerly] enforced by the State Police. You will be removed from the property and you risk getting your firearm impounded or worse, especially if you make an issue out of it or give them ANY attitude at all.

I learned my lesson the embarrassing way. I WILL do more research, but I do not intend to conceal carry. It hinders my ability to draw the weapon, and I strongly believes the public needs to know that there many GOOD people carrying firearms all around them. I believe the knowledge of present, good, armed, citizens is CRUCIAL to PREVENTING would-be assailants in the absence of immediate police presence, and attempting to commit a violent crime.

My primary motivation for CC is not my own safety anyway, but to have the ability to PREVENT violent crime against my family, friends, and the people I love, in the city I love, and wherever I go. If some of those people (not quite AS close to my heart) don't want me around with a firearm. No problem! I'll come back for the Gun and Knife show LOL. C ya later!

God bless and keep the peace!
-Jon

 

[jsharmon7]

Jon, it sounds like that went as well as could be hoped for given the silly rule about not allowing firearms. I carried concealed went I went earlier this week and nobody noticed. We saw the Village People, but I didn't do the "YMCA." It was a good time as always.

 

[MinuteManMike]

What total garbage. What sensical or moral justification is there for disarming us anywhere? We should organize and petition the state reps to revise this abortion of a law.

 

[jd4320t]

Wow that's crazy.

I went early Saturday morning to make sure I parked inside the gate so I could carry. I pocket carried and didn't have any issues.

I only saw one person open carrying and when he turned around I saw he had his badge around his neck.

 

[cbhausen]

I don't even know where to start with some of the recent posts in this thread... So I'll post tomorrow after I attend the State Fair later today.

 

[jd4320t]

I don't even know where to start with some of the recent posts in this thread... So I'll post tomorrow after I attend the State Fair later today.

Good luck.

 

[MCgrease08]

I took the family back today. We usually park on the south side of 38th St. and enter through the entrance off the Monon trail. Today was the first time I saw a kid standing there wanding people.

I may or may not have had a j-frame in my right pocket and a speed loader in my left. The sight of the wand actually caused me to pause for a moment. My wife and I stopped at the entrance and I contemplated going back to the car.

After a couple of minutes we saw them let a couple of waves of people through without wanding them so I decided to roll the dice.

I walked up confidently, showed my ticket and walked right in. No wand, no check of the multiple bags under my kid's strollers.

I hope the sight of those 16 years olds with wands makes the sheep feel safe, because they sure aren't effective at keeping firearms out.

 

[Trigger Time]

Well, I can tell you what happened to me tonight when I carried at the State Fair.

I didn't do much research on it (my fault) and I when I got to the fair, there were absolutely no signs, even info on the tickets, no pat downs, no wands, or anything at all indicating the NO FIREARMS policy, so I just walked right in. After an hour, I was tired of my shirt bulging and pulling on my right side so I tucked in my shirt exposing my holstered handgun. Of course we make our rounds, eat some food, etc, and sit RIGHT next to the State Police booth. They must have just spotted me because several state troopers walked over and promptly asked for ID. I gave ID and my carry permit and told them I had looked for signs and didn't see anything. They had some radio chatter and told me I was going to be escorted out. They never asked to see the firearm or anything like that. I apologized because I honestly did not know it was even a fair policy, and I hate making the police go out of their way for me.

They drove me and my brother back to our car and said we're more than welcome to lock up the weapon and come back inside. They polite and professional and were even willing to give us a ride back in. But by then, we were ready to go, so we just left.

Long story short we got a free personal escort back to our car Now I know The State Fair has an administrative no-firearms policy that is [eagerly] enforced by the State Police. You will be removed from the property and you risk getting your firearm impounded or worse, especially if you make an issue out of it or give them ANY attitude at all.

I learned my lesson the embarrassing way. I WILL do more research, but I do not intend to conceal carry. It hinders my ability to draw the weapon, and I strongly believes the public needs to know that there many GOOD people carrying firearms all around them. I believe the knowledge of present, good, armed, citizens is CRUCIAL to PREVENTING would-be assailants in the absence of immediate police presence, and attempting to commit a violent crime.

My primary motivation for CC is not my own safety anyway, but to have the ability to PREVENT violent crime against my family, friends, and the people I love, in the city I love, and wherever I go. If some of those people (not quite AS close to my heart) don't want me around with a firearm. No problem! I'll come back for the Gun and Knife show LOL. C ya later!

God bless and keep the peace!
-Jon

this guy just joins Ingo and comes up with this story. Sorry but this fish ain't biting.

 

[Trigger Time]

I don't even know where to start with some of the recent posts in this thread... So I'll post tomorrow after I attend the State Fair later today.

Keep it hidden. You will have zero problems!! And if something happens at least you'll be alive

 

[Trigger Time]

Frankly I don't think they wanna have the law challenged in court.

 

[Cameramonkey]

this guy just joins Ingo and comes up with this story. Sorry but this fish ain't biting.

I don't even know where to start with some of the recent posts in this thread... So I'll post tomorrow after I attend the State Fair later today.

I agree TT. My first question... Which INGOer was it? Given the statement by cbhausen, maybe he is too embarrased to check in with his real name because he either got sloppy or wanted to test the troopers to see exactly what happens?

Seriously though, Given how surprisingly high INGO pops up in Google search results, its not beyond reason for this person to get home and start googling carrying at the state fair for the law and this thread appearing in the results.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Edit: Nevermind... BTW Jdmathew, purple=sarcasm here

 

[cbhausen]

I wasn't ever intending to "test" the State Fair's security... Hell, I don't even own a deep concealment handgun. But if I did I could have walked right in with it. They weren't wanding at the northside gate we entered around 1 PM. They were wanding later in the evening. We left around 9 PM and the wands were out.

At the risk of getting flamed fiercely here, I walked with an empty OWB holster and dual magazine holder. I wad surprised how many people were obviously gawking at it. I think some folks wanted to tell me I had lost my gun.