[jmorris]

http://www.nraila.org/legislation/state-legislation/2012/03/texas-use-of-lawfully-owned-suppressors-while-hunting-legalized-in-the-lone-star-state-(1).aspx

[Mot45acp]

I may actually be interested in hunting now.

My FNH PBR with YHM 7.62 Phantom may have a ahem "legitimate" use now.

[allaroundhunter]

I need to turn 21 already......


Times are a changin' in Texas ;)

Let's hit open carry next!

[Twmaster]

Woot. Great news. As a new Texan I'm lovin' this.

[Gemlin]

Only issue I have is this will increase wait times for the ATF. Imagine going from a 6-9 month wait for your stamp to a 10-16 month wait.

[allaroundhunter]

Only issue I have is this will increase wait times for the ATF. Imagine going from a 6-9 month wait for your stamp to a 10-16 month wait.

Suppressors are not getting any cheaper, and Texans have already been allowed to own them. I would not expect any change in wait time.

[Swing]

Arizona did the same thing recently. Good to see cans becoming more mainstream. :)

[TXSWFAN]

Now I can legally use the integral suppressed 10/22 on squirrels and the .308 can on the AR-10. Now I need a three round mag for the suppressed Saiga 12 so I can hunt doves.

[CoRoMo]

Kudos.

I wish my state were simply thinking about moving in that direction. It'd add a little more to the elk hunting experience.

[allaroundhunter]

Now I can legally use the integral suppressed 10/22 on squirrels and the .308 can on the AR-10. Now I need a three round mag for the suppressed Saiga 12 so I can hunt doves.

You would need a two round mag. 2 in the mag + 1 in the chamber is the three that you are allowed.

[TXSWFAN]

You would need a two round mag. 2 in the mag + 1 in the chamber is the three that you are allowed.

You'd be right. For me, it wouldn't matter if I had a 20 round mag for dove. I'd still wouldn't be able to hit one.

[allaroundhunter]

You'd be right. For me, it wouldn't matter if I had a 20 round mag for dove. I'd still wouldn't be able to hit one.

Haha it is all in the follow through. I love dove hunting. This year I told myself that I would limit out (15 dove) in 18 shots at least once......my best was in 19....

[tarosean]

Now if we could only do something about our retarded knife laws....

[allaroundhunter]

Now if we could only do something about our retarded knife laws....

Compared to many other states, our knife laws are not that bad last time that I checked....but I admit, I am not as well versed on knife laws as of late.

[Double Naught Spy]

While I am happy with the passage of suppressor use which I do think should be able to be used, I found the major reasoning for it is be rather silly - the preservation of the hunter's hearing. Many hunters don't wear hearing protection while hunting claiming that such protection interferes with their ability to hear game and other noises...as if electronic hearing protection hasn't been around for the last two decades and hasn't be quite reasonably priced for the last 13 years or so, but the hunters I have seen interviewed on this issue act like that such hearing protection doesn't exist and never has. If hunters are willing to spend $50-200 on a set of electronic muffs to protect their hearing, I have my doubts that they are going to be willing to pay the tax stamp and price for the suppressor and gun modification.

Reduction of noise pollution particularly at gun ranges that are often shut down because of noise complaints? Well the use of suppressors at gun ranges is legal already, but I have seen any ranges requiring the use of suppressors to reduce noise. I realize that there are some suppressor-only ranges in Europe, but their access to suppressors is significantly less expensive than ours.

[tarosean]

Compared to many other states, our knife laws are not that bad last time that I checked....but I admit, I am not as well versed on knife laws as of late.

A Bowie knife is illegal here... That should tell you how asinine our knife laws are when that name is synonymous with our revolution.

Plus 5.5 inches is not much of a fixed blade. I do like switchblades too that are legal in many states.

[allaroundhunter]

A Bowie knife is illegal here

Bowie knifes are illegal to carry in public. You are still allowed to own them and carry them on your own private property or vehicle (or if the owner of the property they are on gives them permission to carry it).

I personally have no reason to carry a 10" Bowie knife in public so it really doesn't bother me. And I can live without switchblades (but I do admit, they are pretty cool).

[mike.h]

Good job, Texas. :cool:

[CoRoMo]

Originally Posted By myself
I wish my state were simply thinking about moving in that direction.
I don't know why, but I swear that I read in Colorado's hunting regs that it was illegal to hunt with a silencer.

It has never been illegal here.

[JEB]

sure must be nice. i hope one day iowa will at least allow us to OWN a supressor. hunting with one would be a great option to have.

[wally]

And I can live without switchblades

They can't be that illeagal in Texas, as you see them for sale at about every gun show.

Like the Bowie, I don't think possession is the problem, its carrying it off your property that could get you a weapons charge (which could make getting it home from the store a potential issue, keep your sales receipt!). OTOH all the dog walkers carrying a stick (cudgel) are basically violating the same law.

But then I never think of any knife as a self-defense instrument, its just another tool like a screw driver or hammer or baseball bat that could do in a pinch.

[Auf Grosser Fahrt]

You're pretty dead pretty quick with a 5.5 inch blade, so I don't get the blade length restriction, either, but I do carry a thumb-opener just out of principle.

I also don't get the switchblade restriction, as with no effort I can open my knife with my thumb almost as fast. I've never understood why HOW the knife opens makes any difference.

I'm trying to imagine how many more folks I could take out with one than I could with the other. :banghead:

[smkummer]

If one's car made as much noise as a firearm, you would be ticketed, so the sound is muffled. But if you put a muffler on a firearm without fees, wait and permission, its a felonie? Does this make sense to anyone? Govt. for the people by the people? The simple reason you don't see many suppressors is because of the govt. involvement, its "title 2 " classification and the general public's believe that if the govt. requires all the hassle to have one, they (govt.) must have a valid reason. The original intent of the NFA was to tax these items to the point that it would discourage ownership. Stupid breeds stupid.

[bmxr4life87]

Just like the assault weapons ban its all about whats "scary"

[Acera]

allaroundhunter wrote:You would need a two round mag. 2 in the mag + 1 in the chamber is the three that you are allowed.

Are you sure about that?? NOT.

In Texas there is no restriction on magazine size for rifles when hunting.

From the rule book, page 55...........
Magazine Capacity (number of shells/cartridges allowed): There are no restrictions on the number of
shells or cartridges a legal firearm may hold when hunting game animals or game birds (except
migratory game birds, see Legal Shotgun, pg. 68).

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/nonpwdpubs/media/cs_bk_k0700_284_2011_2012.pdf

[Acera]

wally wrote:They can't be that illeagal in Texas, as you see them for sale at about every gun show.

You sure about that wally? No it is illegal. Just because you can buy it does not mean the seller has any responsibility to make sure you are legally able to carry it, and civilians are not able to possess them. Check out the Texas weapon laws, Sec 46.02

46.02 Unlawfully Carrying Weapons (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his person a handgun, illegal knife or club.
(11) “Switchblade knife” means any knife that has a blade that folds, closes, or retracts into the handle or sheath, and that: (A) opens automatically by pressure applied to a button or other device located on the handle; or (B) opens or releases a blade from the handle or sheath by the force of gravity or by the application of centrifugal force.

Your contention about a bowie knife, or one with a blade over 5.5 inches, they fall into a lot of separate areas. It's ok if you are hunting, or if that knife is used in your work. You can even carry one legally if you possess a CHL and are currently carrying a handgun.


Surprised at the amount of misinformation in this thread.

[jmorris]

They were talking about Dove hunting and they are migratory game birds and are subject to the 2+1 rule.

[Acera]

I also read into the 10-22 comments as a restriction.

[wally]

I see switchblades as defined in (11) of various kinds at just about every gun show and police in uniform get in free at every show. I don't seen anyone getting hassled about buying or selling them.

Houston has had an anti-gun DA for a very long time and the City had to lose a lawsuit to let gun shows happen at GRB convention center so I seriously doubt they ignore any enforcement action that could make gun owners and/or gun shows look bad.

Maybe a real lawyer will chime in, but from these observations it would suggest "blue-law" status, much as its illeagal to wear open toed shoes in a bar, a law aimed at harassing prostitutes, that is violated about everywhere women are allowed to drink.

[WardenWolf]

Arizona did the same thing recently. Good to see cans becoming more mainstream. :)
Could someone link me to this? Last I heard it was still illegal, but I haven't looked in a while. This makes me more interested in getting a suppressor, though I currently don't have any guns that could mount one except my AK.

[bamawrx]

Just got one approved. 155 days from pending.