anyone carry in the car in Texas without chp

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scndactive

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Does anyone carry a gun in there vehicle without chp?

LIke under the seat or in the glove box?

I know it is legal, but I have also heard you can beat the rap but you'll still take the ride.
 
Just get a CHL and dont worry.

I wouldnt worry unless I was in Austin and a few other occupied areas. The vast majority of LEOs' and DAs' probably wouldnt give it a second thought as long as everything else is in order.
 
I do all the time. there is no law on where it has to be, just has to be concealed. I wear mine in an IWB. Wouldn't worry about the ride anymore. There is no charge to even consider unless said LEO wants to identify you as a gangbanger or says he can see your weapon.
 
The only guy who (Illegally) prosecuted people for car carry just resigned amid a rather torrid scandal involving a coworker. With a new law in place specifically to protect the right to carry in your car, and Chuck Rosenthal out of office, I wouldn't hesitate to do so.
 
i did it between the age of 19 to 21, after which i got my chl. before i got my license, i was pulled over many times and never had a problem. i just declared that i was traveling with a firearm onboard and sometimes i was asked to step outside the car and sometimes i was asked to hand over the weapon. beyond that, they were all routine traffic stops. i mostly drove in sugar land (ft. bend county), houston (harris county), austin (travis co.) and bastrop. i'd say you'll be fine but i still recommend just getting a chl.
 
I carry in my center console most of the time now, and almost aways when I drive out of town. I'm still waiting on my CHL to come in as well. While I have never had the issue come up at a traffic stop, it has been my experience that Texas Police and Sheriff's in general are pretty good people and much more common sense oriented than in some states, plus they generally seem to be much more laid back about the whole gun thing compared to many other states. If you do get stopped and they ask to search your vehicle or if you have any weapons, tell the truth up front though as if you lie or they find something unexpected, they are usually a bit less understanding from what I hear. I never understood why some people act too proud, refuse to give information, etc as an officer can ruin your day if he wants to so don't give him any more of a reason to. ;) Hays/Travis county Sheriff's are pretty laid back, though I would watch out for anything Williamson County related as they've been pretty strict and by the book in my experience.
 
A CHP is not needed in Texas to carry in your vehicle.Why so much doubt?
Click to expand...

Because we had a few rogue DA's that said they were going to prosecute anyway. It got to the point where even the ACLU got involved because of these DA's ignoring the law.

As mentioned, the main one is in deep trouble for a zipper problem and the legislature has reworded the law again.

At this point the worrying is over but I can see how someone might wonder given all that's happened the last couple of years.
 
Nope. It's too easy to get a CHL, so I did a few years ago, and quit worrying. I've gotten a few warnings instead of speeding tickets, so the CHL has paid for itself.
 
I have carried a gun in my truck for the last 25 years. Most of the time that was a rifle which has allways been legal to carry. I don't want to wear a gun, just have one in my vehicle.

I even had a gun in my pocket when i came face to face with a man who murdered a traveler a week later. Yes i am armed. I try not to ever give the cops a reason to search my truck.

All i can say is God bless the people that decided that people can carry thier weapons when driving.
 
My CHL is currently processing so in the mean time I carry a pistol in my truck. My only problem is i don't like to leave a $700 pistol sitting in my truck when I need to get out of my vehicle...
 
I carry in my truck when I travel with my wife and daughter. Mainly when going to Houston, driving the back roads at night. Hwy 90 and FM 1960
 
I carry in the car now. I read awhile back that it was up to the county on how they wanted to handle it. So I asked the cop here at work and he said that as long as you weren't causing/asking for trouble, you'd be ok. They can always take you in for it (without chl) and let you handle it with the DA.
 
They can always take you in for it (without chl) and let you handle it with the DA.
Click to expand...

They better be damn careful with that now. The law is very clear.

46.02. UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPONS. (a) A person
commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or
recklessly carries on or about his or her person a handgun, illegal
knife, or club if the person is not:
(1) on the person's own premises or premises under the
person's control; or
(2) inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle
that is owned by the person or under the person's control.
Click to expand...

The ONLY exceptions now are also VERY clear, the above does not apply if you are:

(A) engaged in criminal activity, other than a
Class C misdemeanor that is a violation of a law or ordinance
regulating traffic;
(B) prohibited by law from possessing a firearm;
or
(C) a member of a criminal street gang, as
defined by Section 71.01.
Click to expand...

Officers arresting to just "let the DA figure it out" will likely not keep their jobs long.
 
(quote) " It got to the point where even the ACLU got involved because of these DA's ignoring the law."

Wow, i never heard that before. Now, when are these clowns going to apply this logic to "sanctuary cities"? :banghead:
 
I think Lurp brought up the best point - yeah it is legal to carry in your vehicle but you run into a logistics issue when you have to get out of the car - a car, even with a locked glovebox, is not a secure place to keep a weapon - without a CHL your options are limited - pretty much wherever you are in TX you can find a CHL class - it's not that expensive, so I recommend if you're planning to carry in any capacity, just get your CHL.
 
The web site http://www.texas-on-line.com/gun.html
states "Vehicle carry and transportation: unlicensed individuals and non-residents may not carry handguns on or about their persons while in a vehicle loaded rifles and shotguns may be carried in plain view or in a case"

And then goes on to say "Carry of handguns "on or about one's person" on foot or in a vehicle is explicitly prohibited by statute. "On or about one's person" has been defined by the Texas courts to include any handgun within arm's reach of an individual whether concealed or open. Under one's seat, on the dash, in the glove compartment or even in the backseat are spatial positions which have been held to be "on or about one's person." Texas law, however, exempts individuals who are carrying handguns for self-protection while traveling across Texas on a "bonafide" journey or engaged in a lawfully related firearm activity such as hunting or target shooting."

Sounds confusing to me. I think a good answer would be to get a lawyer.
 
The trick is that, as of September of '07, the law was revised to say:

Code: 
A person commits an offense if the person
  	intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or
  	her person a handgun, illegal knife, or club if the person is not:
  	             (1)  on the person's own premises or premises under the
  	person's control; or
  	             (2)  inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle
  	that is owned by the person or under the person's control.
  	       (a-1)  A person commits an offense if the person
  	intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or
  	her person a handgun in a motor vehicle that is owned by the person
  	or under the person's control at any time in which:
  	             (1)  the handgun is in plain view; or
  	             (2)  the person is:
  	                   (A)  engaged in criminal activity, other than a
  	Class C misdemeanor that is a violation of a law or ordinance
  	regulating traffic;
  	                   (B)  prohibited by law from possessing a firearm;
  	or
  	                   (C)  a member of a criminal street gang, as
  	defined by Section 71.01.

So you can carry your gun inside or directly en route to/from your car (you must be the driver/legally in possession of the car) unless the gun is in plain view (must be concealed) or you are engaged in a criminal activity, barred from possessing a firearm, or a gang member.

This update was to remove the confusion about what constituted a "Bona fide" journey.
 
Texas law, however, exempts individuals who are carrying handguns for self-protection while traveling across Texas on a "bonafide" journey or engaged in a lawfully related firearm activity such as hunting or target shooting."
Click to expand...

That is a VERY outdated version of the law you describe there.
 
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