Texas CHL question

[Snarlingiron]

I see a lot of discussion about printing, brandishing, "concealed means concealed", etc. I have read the Texas code several times, and I find nothing regarding "being made". There is nothing regarding penalties, what constitutes concealed, what is not concealed, and so on. I carry often, and while I certainly don't brandish, or intentionally try to flaunt the fact that I am carrying, I also don't worry about it a great deal. I know some of my Hawaiian shirts do print when carrying my Glock 19, it appears to me that as long as it is "concealed" i.e. covered, and not in the open at least here in Texas there is little that can be done about it.

I am prepared to be wrong here. If I am, please inform me. I am just airing my thoughts about the subject...not looking for an argument nor a castigation.

As Mr. O'Reilly says, "What say you?"

 

[Snarlingiron]

Ok, I just re-read it, and it says:
§ 46.035. UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF HANDGUN BY LICENSE
HOLDER. (a) A license holder commits an offense if the license
holder carries a handgun on or about the license holder's person
under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code,
and intentionally fails to conceal the handgun.

I suppose "Intentionally" is the key word.

 

[McKnife]

I dont think it's that big of a deal if you print. As long as the normal everyday person can't tell you're carrying, you'll be okay.

Even if you accidently show, you won't be in trouble as long as you weren't 'Knowingly, Intentionally or Recklessly' displaying your weapon.

Something along those lines.

 

[McKnife]

Wow...

Apparently it took me 5 minutes to reply to the initial post. Looks like you done good.

 

[Deavis]

It is there, you just need to search for it.

SUBCHAPTER H. LICENSE TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN
§ 411.171. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Action" means single action, revolver, or
semi-automatic action.
....
(3) "Concealed handgun" means a handgun, the presence
of which is not openly discernible to the ordinary observation of a
reasonable person.
....

There you go. If an ordinary person would not discern it, then you are fine, it is concealed. So what if it prints? If an ordinary person would think it was a cell phone, you are fine. Note it does NOT say "a law enforcement officer" or "fellow CHL holder" or anything else like that. Combine that with the intentional part, which has the penalties, and you are done. You have the definition of concealed and the penalties for intentionally not concealing it.

If you don't know about this, it is helpful.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/ftp/forms/ls-16.pdf

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Guns print in a couple of different manners. There is printing where you tell there is an object and printing where you can tell if it is a gun. If you know your gun prints and it is the latter, then you are intentionally failing to conceal as you are not rectifying the problem you know you have.

I carry in a variety of manners and get a kick out of having a non-gun item print and having folks telll me they know I am carrying because I am printing, who then discover my "gun" is a cell phone or leatherman.