Howdy All:
Saturday I attended an Armenian chuch fair in Montebello, CA (SoCA) while wearing my Tommy's Guns fanny pack adorned with a Harley-Davidson patch. I rode my Harley to the event with a friend. The food, music and all were very pleasant as was the weather. There were armed security guards but no secuity inspection 'stations'. None of the armed security types walking around gave my fanny pack a second glance. I was also wearing a HD T-Shirt.
Sunday in Irvine, CA I attended an Israel Expo at the Samueli Jewish Campus riding my Harley to the event for parking ease plus again the weather was very appropriate for my 'means' of transportation. Again wearing my 'Harley-Davidson' fanny pack, I noticed a security station with two armed security types plus Irvine LEO's a few feet removed behind the security station. I witnessed all packages, purses and etc being examined thus prior to me going through the security station, I removed my CA Drivers License and CA CCW (Carry Concealed Weapon) permit issued by the Orange County Sheriff Department from my wallet to have them available. After waiting my turn in line I handed both 'documents' to one of the security types (both armed). He nodded his head and waved me past him wtihout examining my fanny pack. I didn't get very far because an Irvine LEO who was observing those in line, asked me to show him what I shown to the security type. I hadn't had a chance to put my CA Drivers License and CCW permit away in my wallet thus handed these to the Irvine LEO. He gave them back to me and said the campus was privately owned and if the owners didn't want me to be CCW armed, I would have to remove what I was carrying and place it in one of my Harley saddlebags. I then asked why he stopped me and he said since all packages etc were being examined, he was curious why security didn't check my 'Harley' fanny pack! Note, I was waiting in line with lots of people in front and to the rear of me.
After the Irvine LEO encounter, I walked down many stairs to the event, purchased an event ticket and you guessed it, there's another security station. Hmm, Monday night quarterbacking, I now knew why the Irvine LEO informed me about the campus being privately owned CCW etc! Only this station isn't manned by the security types nor Irvine LEO I encountered in the campus parking lot entrance. These types aren't checking bags or anything. Both are wearing dark sun glasses, tactical pants/t-shirts, armed and scanning those handing entrance tickets to attendants. I get within 5' of one of them (for your info- I'm wearing a T-Shirt with a Star of David plus lettering - MY HOG IS KOSHER) and one 'scanner' with foreign accent (take a guess where he was from!) asks me what's in the fanny pack? Before I retrieve my wallet in the 11:30 position in my waist-band, I inform him I have documents I need to show him prior to me telling him what's in my fanny pack besides my camera/cell phone. With my left hand I retrieved my wallet and using both hands extract my previously described documents and hand them to him. Both of then look at my documents, one hands them back to me and says "don't display IT unless you have to", smiles and waves me through his side of his security station.
Later, an Irvine LEO motor officer whom I've met while training at Raahauge Shooting Enterprises in Norco, CA stops to inquire where I purchased my T-shirt (
Star of Davidson) and then said, "haven't we met"? Yes, I informed him at Raahauges in Norco. We chatted about my T-shirt, training, Cowboy Action Shooting and naturally, weapons. Irvine PD just issued Sig P220s to their motor officers because their previous carry (didn't ask make) slides were rusting. If I am not mistaken, the Sig P220 stainless steel slides are coated! He hadn't even practiced with it yet! He asked me if I was carrying and I told him yes and he gave me this - you've got to be kidding look! I just shrugged my shoulders, said my goodbyes and when I turned around, I nearly got knocked over by a Camel's rear end (honest- I wasn't drinking or smoking)! One of the Expos attractions was a Camel ride and there were many lined up for that experience. HEADLINES - CCW Permit Holder Run over by Camel during Israel Expo in Irvine CA!! ONLY KIDDING!!
Great weekend! Food, music, entertainment, weather and security/LEO encounters!
Tough Guy Levi
SASS# 61430L
NRA Cert. Pistol Instructor
NRA Life Member (1967)