Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo bans open carry, concealed handguns for 2016



See what the Texas Open Carry law really says ... less The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announce dTuesday that it would prohibit both the concealed and open carry of handguns by private citizens during the 2016 season.

See what the Texas Open Carry law really ... more The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announce dTuesday that it would prohibit both the concealed and open carry of handguns by private citizens during the 2016 season. Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 32 Caption Close Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo bans open carry, concealed handguns for 2016 1 / 32 Back to Gallery

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced Tuesday afternoon that it will ban handguns carried by private citizens inside the RodeoHouston complex for the 2016 season.

"The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, in an effort to provide a safe environment and promote a family-friendly atmosphere at the city's iconic entertainment event, will prohibit concealed and open carry of handguns by private citizens at the 2016 Show," the organization said in a release Tuesday afternoon.

Open carry of firearms has been a hot topic in Texas since a new law went into effect Jan. 1 which allowed licensed handgun carriers to openly wear their weapons both in public, and private establishments that allow it.

A number of businesses – most notably the Houston Zoo – have stepped forward to say they will not allow the open carry of weapons on their grounds, however RodeoHouston's decision may be the biggest made so far involving a public event (especially an event that so vividly recalls the gun-loving mystique and lore of the cowboy and American West).

Joel Cowley, president and chief executive officer of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, spoke to reporters on Tuesday afternoon about the private, non-profit entity’s decision.

“It’s our goal to promote a family-friendly atmosphere,” said Cowley. “We don’t think the private carry of handguns is conducive to that.”

Though RodeoHouston is held on Harris County property, they retain exclusive use and control rights of the complex during the duration of the annual event.

In 2015 the rodeo began prohibiting concealed carry and began wanding visitors who entered the grounds. This year they will use magnetometers not unlike what is used at Houston Texans games to check for prohibited items.

Legal pocket knives will still be allowed on the grounds, he notes.

There is a full list of items that are not allowed at RodeoHouston, posted on the event's official website. This year they have added hover boards to the prohibited items list. Sorry, kids.

So far no open carry advocates have come forward to complain, Cowley says, about the decision.

Most people, he says, were concerned that the rodeo brass would in fact allow open carry of firearms to the concerts, the fairgrounds, and everything else that makes up the rodeo experience.

“Some people were waiting for a decision on the rodeo’s end to buy tickets to our events,” Cowley says.