Visiting Houston, driving from Florida.

[Hoplophile]

Since Florida is basically the Gunshine state, it's a rare day that I don't have my WASR-10 in the seat next to me. Yes, I'm a bloody poor college student, it's my only gun, I can't afford another, and I'm NOT TWENTY ONE YEARS OLD so don't tell me to buy a pistol, because I can't. Sorry for the scolding, I get at least four people in every rifle carry topic telling me to "just carry a pistol".

Anyway, the odds that I will end up sleeping in my car for at least one night are roughly 100%, so is it legal in Texas to keep ol' Ivan loaded and ready for playtime by my side like some obscene teddy bear? Is this kosher in Houston?

No, I can't buy a pistol. For those of you who were going to ask. Please speak to your state representatives, as this was decided for me, long before I could vote on it, if you are curious why 19 year olds can't carry or purchase ickle handguns.

 

[bdickens]

Keep it in the trunk. It is a lot more discreet and we won't hear about you in the news if you get pulled over for something.

 

[Titan6]

Buy a pistol.... oh wait

Yes open carry of a rifle is legal in Texas. I don't know about sleeping in a car on the side of a road however. I would think even a $25 fleebag hotel would be safer than getting rolled up by the local thugs or engaged by some rancher who thinks you are a lookout for a rustlers (yes such things still happen in America).

 

[biggiesmalls]

yeah its legal but local leos are definitely not gonna like it. houston pd and harris county s.o. will probably give you a hard time if they encounter you. you can't get in trouble for just having the rifle but the hassle they can unload on you is not worth having the rifle just for one night's car-sleeping security imo, especialy if you can find a cheap*ss motel.

funny, isn't everyone in texas going to florida for spring break? why are you coming here? haha. if you tell me when you are going to houston, i might be able to let you crash at my place. i'm on spring break and i may or may not be around.

 

[DCortez]

Should be able to drive Miami to Houston non stop. Pull over every half tank, stretch legs, refuel. That's how I did it, about 10 times iirc. Even now, I can do Houston - Orlando non stop in 15 hours.

Last thing you need is a LE mess.

 

[nalioth]

Yes open carry of a rifle is legal in Texas.

So is concealed carry.

So is surfboard carry.

So is carriage by balloon.

You can even have your duck fleet carry it for you.

Long gun transportation and possession are not regulated at all, short of the usual locations (voting places, posted locales, etc).

Just do yourself a favor and keep a newspaper or other cover on top of it. Just because it's legal, doesn't mean some folks won't hassle you about it. I should know, I got pulled over for speeding and got to sit on the side of the road for 3 hours in the back of a cruiser while they tried to figure out if the WASR in the back seat was "legal" (had to wait on the nearest revenuer to arrive and make that decision).

Out of sight, out of mind.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Buy a pistol

I am going to say it anyway. Buy a pistol. It's perfectly legal, in Florida, for a 19 year old person to buy a handgun from a private party (Florida state resident) in Florida.

 

[navajo]

houston

If you have the time visit Collectors Firearms. Not buy, just to look. That place is like visiting a museum.
And their stuff is priced that way but its fun to look around in there.

 

[feedthehogs]

If your prone to carry an auto knife, you can't in Texas.

 

[Greg_TX]

Perhaps a more important question is this: where in Houston are you going to be? This is a very important consideration if you're going to be sleeping in your car.

 

[Titan6]

So is surfboard carry.

It might be legal but I wouldn't get all that salt water in my AR

 

[Ed Ames]

Young male driving through LA with FL plates and a rifle in the passenger seat? "Think forfeiture."

 

[MaterDei]

My daughter goes to school in Naples and drives nonstop. It's really not necessary to sleep by the side of the road.

With that said, I wouldn't travel without a firearm either. As somebody said earlier, be smart and keep it covered so you don't have any 'imperial entanglements', if you know what I mean.

Be safe and remember, Don't Mess with Texas!