San Antonio: an observation

[Slinger]

I just returned from San Antonio Texas last Sunday night after attending my son's graduation from BMT at Lackland AFB. (I'm about as proud as a dad can be of him).

A couple observations from a Indiana boy about Texas.

1. Good Lord it's hot down there!

2. They love the men and women in uniform down there.

3. Every where we went had signs prohibiting the carrying of weapons. I'm
not talking about the AirBase, I mean just about every establishment in
San Antonio we went in had a big angry sign in the window warning you
that it is against the law to carry a weapon in this establishment. I don't
think there was one on the door of the Alamo. Wife even commented about
this..."I thought they loved their guns down in Texas". How do you Texans
with carry permits deal with this? I'm not bashing your fair city, I'm just
saying it has got to be frustrating to y'all. We have carry permits in Indiana
and I'm hard pressed to think of seeing any signs like this up here.

4. I really thought I'd see more cactus and tumbleweeds than I did.

 

[wdlsguy]

just about every establishment in San Antonio we went in had a big angry sign in the window warning you that it is against the law to carry a weapon in this establishment.

Did they look like this?

This sign gives notice that it is unlawful to carry a weapon on the premises unless the person is licensed to carry the weapon under the concealed handgun law.

 

[Outlaws]

Contrary to popular belief, the wild west is no longer wild.

 

[TexasRifleman]

I work in San Antonio regularly. I don't remember seeing a (legal) sign there in years and years......

I don't think there was one on the door of the Alamo.

No there most certainly isn't a sign there

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Unless it's the 30.06 sign or a 51% sign it doesn't mean anything. Both of those signs are actually pretty rare in Texas.

The 30.03 sign must look exactly like this:

"PURSUANT TO SECTION 30.06, PENAL CODE (TRESPASS BY HOLDER OF A LICENSE TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN) A PERSON LICENSED UNDER SUBCHAPTER H, CHAPTER 411, GOVERNMENT CODE (CONCEALED HANDGUN LAW), MAY NOT ENTER THIS PROPERTY WITH A CONCEALED HANDGUN."

"CONFORME A LA SECCIÓN 30.06 DEL CÔDIGO PENAL (TRASPASAR PORTANDO ARMAS DE FUEGO) PERSONAS CON LICENCIA BAJO DEL SUB-CAPITULO H, CAPITULO 411, CODIGO DE GOBIERNO (LEY DE PORTAR ARMAS), NO DEBEN ENTRAR A ESTA PROPIEDAD PORTANDO UN ARMA DE FUEGO."

If if doesn't, it doesn't count.

A 51% sign must be five inches or taller, contain a red "51%" and language stating CHL is not allowed.

Anything else, doesn't count.


The sign wdlsguy posted doesn't mean a thing to legal CHL citizens, but you will see them anywhere that alcohol is sold because state law requires them. You'll also see a lot of the classic gun in a circle signs. They mean nothing.

I'm guessing that most of the signs you saw had no actual legal value to them.

 

[Winchester 73]

San Antone

As Texas cities go,San Antonio leans to the left.
You'll find more 30.06 off limits signs here than most other places in Texas.But still they are fairly minimal.
The powers that run the town are a very liberal bunch by Texas standards.
When I took training at Ft.Sam Houston in the '60's it was still a laid back conservative place for the most part.Sadly its changed for the worse.
But they do still love us guys in uniform as was said.Went back 2 years ago and the natives are as friendly as ever.

 

[Hauptmann]

My home town was Austin. I remember as a kid how it was such a great town, now I avoid going there unless it is to see my family. It's become a haven for transplanted San Francisco liberals who want to turn Austin into the second gay capitol of the world, or worse. If you go west or east you will still find a good deal of conservative Texans in the less populated areas. The liberal transformation is mostly in central Texas and in the larger cities.

 

[Thegungal]

Congrats to your Son!!!!

You are lucky and this is no joke, but this is the mildest summer we have had in 20 years. It has not even come close to being "hot" here this year. The tempuratures you went through when you were here, would have been what we would have called a merciful and meaningful break in the heat durring a normal year...or the first signs of what we call "fall." I can not even begin to express to you just how hot it can get here...and how long it can last.

As for the signs, They are pretty meaningless. 95% of them are not legal. You also have to consider that the areas around downtown are touristy and is different from the rest of the city. You also have to understand that the areas around Lackland are not the best areas of town. This is changing somewhat but again, not the worst area of town but still not even up to average. As strange as it seems, I have noticed that the more economically depressed an area is the more "no guns" signs you tend to see.

Most of Texas is very gun friendly. We have few laws here and about the only thing we dont have is open carry.

 

[dracphelan]

Unfortunately, the major cities in Texas (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and increasingly Fort Worth) are becoming bastions of east and west coast liberalism. If it wasn't for my mother-in-law needing us here, I would already have my house up for sell and be looking for another state to live in.

 

[Nicolai]

Thegungal is right on all counts:
Congrats to your son and thanks for his service.
This summer has been way milder and wetter than usual (and snakier in our part of Texas).
A couple of previous posts gave you the straight info on legal signs (I love that "section 30.06 of the Penal Code"), but there are a lot of the "unofficial" signs out there.
Some time ago, my wife and I were at the Quarry Market in San Antonio and passed by Whole Earth Provision. Their sign featured a semi-auto pistol in a red circle with a slash through it. My wife said, "looks like they don't like Glocks; it's a good thing we carry Smiths." And no, Whole Earth Provision, did not get any of our money that day or any day since. I was looking for a certain SAK from Victorinox and found it here: http://www.knivesplus.com/

 

[armoredman]

Please thank you son for his service for me. I always marvel that the anti carry sign is from section 30-06....call it the Garand law, because it specifically prohibits concealed handguns, so carry your Garand under a car coat.

 

[El Tejon]

Slinger, when I started going down to Saint Tony's in the mid-90s the carry reform bill had just passed. The entire city was blanketed with .30-'06 signs (not that I could legally carry anywho) at first.

However, as I went down over the years, the carry situation got better and better. The signs started to come down.

The 'big, angry" no guns sign do not comply with Tejas law and are usually put up around the River Walk or the Mercado for any tourists who can look at the signage and feel "safe".

Glad your boy is doing well. For tumbleweeds and such you will have to head to West Texas (Texas has several distinctive zones--the state museum in Austin has a great exhibit on this).

Thegungal, you have a LOT of gun laws that Slinger and I do not have, but it is getting better and better for you. Some day it may even be as good as it is up here.

 

[Rexster]

The bastions of conservatism in Texas are in the 'burbs, small towns, and outlying rural areas. San Antonio even bans the carry of folding knives with a mechanism that locks the blade in the open position. Yep, your Spyderco or Benchmade can get a guy fined or arrested in S.A.!

 

[Thegungal]

Thegungal, you have a LOT of gun laws that Slinger and I do not have, but it is getter better and better for you. Some day it may even be as good as it is up here

Such as?

 

[waterhouse]

As mentioned, most of the signs don't mean anything. I regularly carry in Austin and about 10 times a year spend some meaningful time in San Antonio without running into too many legitimate signs.

As for heat, I think I can count the triple digit days this summer on both hands. Usually you'd run out of fingers and toes to count on by July 1. Not many people around can remember a wetter or cooler summer in central Texas.

4. I really thought I'd see more cactus and tumbleweeds than I did.

There is a lot of cactus in TX, just not so much in the Central area and not in the populated areas. As for tumbleweeds, I saw my very first real tumbleweed about a year ago when driving out in west Texas. It was pretty neat to see one rolling along after hearing about them for almost 30 years.

 

[Rexster]

When I want relief from the humidity of the coast, I head inland, about as far as Austin/San Marcos/S.A. and the Hill Country, where it is hotter, but less sticky.

 

[El Tejon]

Thegungal, there are many, to list just a few:

1. training requirement to carry. We do not have that.
2. cost of license. For the cost of your license I can get a Lifetime carry license for your license of only a few years.
3. your license is restrictive to the weapon type. ours is not.
4. your 51% law. We do not and I carried in a tavern last night and probably will tonight.
5. you have a dress code. There is no concealment requirement here.
6. you have restrictive reciprocity (e.g., Indiana was not recognized until 2005 and that took me two elections, a change in Texas law, and a personal trip to the Attorney General's office). We recognize the licenses to carry of all states and foreign countries.

Stuff like this and just the general gun culture is far more restrictive down there. We have been carrying for many, many decades here (I am the fourth generation in my family to have a carry license, shhh, don't tell the media, they think Florida was first) and the attitude is a shrug of the shoulder to those carrying guns. Whereas in Texas it is brand spankin' new and people are jumpy about it. Over time, it will get better for you as things are headed the right direction down there.

 

[Car Knocker]

Such as?

I was surprised at how restrictive Texas gun laws are when someone mentioned some no-no's. Here in Utah, for example, I can legally carry:

In public schools (elementary through university)
Bars
State, county and city offices
The Capitol, even when the Legislature is in session (chatted with The Gov once while carrying)
Churches (unless the church prohibits weapons)
Hospitals
Public transit
Sporting events, concerts, etc. (private property exceptions apply)
Police stations (outside the secure areas)
Open carry

Signage (at malls, etc.) has no legal weight

We also honor CC licenses from any state

 

[James T Thomas]

remember the Alamo

My youngest son preceded yours by March this year. That was my first visit to the Lone Star State also.

I believe the great republic of Texas began deteriorating with the LBJ Presidency! Remember: "The Great Society, War on Poverty, Medicare, Medicaide, etc?" I saw a film of him as he entered AF One, and as he turned around to wave to the crowds he was muttering " So long Suckers." He was the epitomy of a Democrat. The scences where he placed his weary head in his hands and was sorrowful for "his boys;" the US soldiers was just another staged photo of propaganda.

The thing that shocked me most about San Antonio was the construction of the I35 corridor highway being built right through the middle of the belt way circling the city.
It will be an open; yes no border check point nor stop, superhighway running right up through our nation! It will give acess to any and all vehicles to travel by so many major American cities, by trucks, without the benefit of any security inspections what so ever.

I did not notice the signs you mention, but as far as being defensively armed, I did drive through (was lost; unintentional) parts of San Antonio that have the appearance of Old Mexico. Lackland had been warning the BMT graduates to be cautious when visiting the city due to Latino gangs, and I kept waiting for some sombreroed young men to step off the curbs, approach me, and tell me "you got nice boots -guy." I went through an area where virtually every shop, house and the schools had metal bars or grates over the windows.

Most of San Antonio's people are gracious and friendly, I must say, but
"forewarned is forearmed."

 

[wdlsguy]

This is what a 51% sign looks like

This sign gives notice that it is unlawful to carry a weapon on the premises.

 

[texas bulldog]

the key to the sign wldsguy posted is "the unlicensed possesion..."

if you have a CHL, you are licensed. walk right in and enjoy.

 

[chris in va]

It says 'licensed' too.

 

[Rexster]

wdlsguy has posted two different signs. One, the lower sign, is for places that derive 51% or more of their income from dispensing booze for on-premise concumption, i.e., bars, where nobody can carry except peace officers and certain personnel. The other is for places that sell booze, but the main source of income is not booze consumed on premises, i.e., restaurants and retail establishments, where licensed persons can carry handguns.

 

[Rexster]

The other sign to look out for is the 30.06 sign, prohibiting anyone from carrying handguns pursuant to the CHL law. This means persons allowed to carry weapons under other statutes can carry there legally, such as peace officers and others with official status. Signs such as a silhouette of a handgun, with a red circle and slash, or signs without the official wording, have no legal meaning, except that the owner or manager of private property can ask any person to leave the premises for any reason, and refusal to leave can result in an arrest for trespassing.

 

[def4pos8]

Please thank your son for joining the 1% of us who are the defenders.

You're right about Texans appreciating GIs. My son felt so welcome after some time at Brooke Medical Center that he decided to stay!

I saw a few of those signs when visiting San Antonio. Some actually demand that a person have a carry permit when entering the premises with a firearm. Others cite statute and prohibit all firearms. You learn to read fast. . . .