FloridaCarry.org

[CDBingham]

For at least the past two years the Florida State Fair Grounds has prohibited "weapons" with a prominently displayed sign and has had "security" wanding citizens as they enter. Is this allowed under the preemption law and what could be done about it? Last year I had to leave my "weapons" in my vehicle. Last year, on the other side of "security" was a Hillsborough Country Police Officer so I grilled him about preemption. He had no answer. This year was the same. I grilled two Hillsborough County Police Officers (a male and a female) and neither of them had any answers to my questions.

[SeanC]

We're already working in this issue. The state fair is run by the state dept of AG, the same agency that issues the CWFL. Our opinion is that this regulation is preempted.

[ADulay]

Sean,

Thanks for going to work on this question.

I've had several people ask me about this, or similar outings and would like to eventually have a definitive answer for them.

AD

[ScottW]

Sean,

Thanks for going to work on this question.

I've had several people ask me about this, or similar outings and would like to eventually have a definitive answer for them.

AD

I agree, Andy. This issue needs to be settled as far as public venues being leased/managed by private entities. I'm pretty sure the grounds in question do not fall into this category, but most public venues (fairgrounds/arenas, etc.,) do. I have not been to the Duval County Fair recently, but do know that in recent years they have had detectors/wands and have refused entry to lawfully armed patrons.

Gotta stop.

[SeanC]

The signs are being replaced today. They will say "No Unlawful Weapons". Security staff is also being retrained.

[SeanC]

New signs are up and security staff has been retrained. carry on!

[SeanC]

I recommend this sign!

[Charlie]

I was pleased to see that you could finally carry at the state fair!

The thing is, I didn't know what to expect going in, and what to do at the security check. My wife and self both went to the fair yesterday, and the security at gate 2 didn't have the wands, but she poked a stick around in my wife's backpack. I was next, and had my Florida CWL out and handed it to her. She didn't know what it was, and sent me over to a Hillsborough County Police Officer standing near by. I handed him my license, and he asked me if I had a weapon, and I told him yes that I had a pistol.

He said that he had to call it in? Finally after a few minutes, he said your good to go, and I asked him why he did that. He said that he wanted to check that I hadn't been arrested after the license had been issued. I thanked him and went into the fair.

My question is, did I do the right thing? Not ever experiencing this before. I know when going to gun shows you have to go thru the gun check where they zip tie it unloaded, but here I can carry concealed.

I just wish that someone else had visited the fair and posted their experience here before we went.

[Rich7553]

I was pleased to see that you could finally carry at the state fair!

The thing is, I didn't know what to expect going in, and what to do at the security check. My wife and self both went to the fair yesterday, and the security at gate 2 didn't have the wands, but she poked a stick around in my wife's backpack. I was next, and had my Florida CWL out and handed it to her. She didn't know what it was, and sent me over to a Hillsborough County Police Officer standing near by. I handed him my license, and he asked me if I had a weapon, and I told him yes that I had a pistol.

He said that he had to call it in? Finally after a few minutes, he said your good to go, and I asked him why he did that. He said that he wanted to check that I hadn't been arrested after the license had been issued. I thanked him and went into the fair.

My question is, did I do the right thing? Not ever experiencing this before. I know when going to gun shows you have to go thru the gun check where they zip tie it unloaded, but here I can carry concealed.

I just wish that someone else had visited the fair and posted their experience here before we went.

Did you do the right thing? Well, you got to go into the fair while carrying and didn't get arrested, so I'd say you did fine. Personally, I wouldn't volunteer my CWFL unless my firearm were discovered at the gate, but that's me.

[Charlie]

Thanks Rich,

I didn't have a backpack, so I could have walked in, but I didn't want to take any chances