Spotty Understanding for the New Guns in Cars Law(TX)

Ammoland.com ^ | 5 September, 2011 | Alice Tripp, TSRA

[marktwain]

Houston, Tx --(Ammoland.com)- If you work for a Texas company and recently received information from your employer regarding your right to have a firearm in your vehicle while parked in your employer’s parking lot, I’d like to know.

I’d also like to see the document. Most companies have moved toward complying with Final Version of SB 321, which became law on Sept.1st.

This law protects the jobs of Texans wanting to have a firearm in their vehicle. It allows all firearms and ammunition and most industry employees are protected, with or without a concealed handgun license. The exceptions, which are not exclusions, are within the gas and oil industry.

Remember the issue was heavily opposed for a number of sessions and industry lawyers are still working to discover and create loopholes and hurdles impacting the new law. These struggles are not specific to Texas and have been the case in every state that passed a similar bill.

No Shooting This Go-Round for Renewing Instructors Tx DPS Announces New Renewal Proces for CHL Instructors

This fall Texas Concealed Handgun Instructors are in various stages of renewing their instructor credentials. Some have completed their online application, others have taken the online exam, many have done both, and yet others are waiting. Everyone has been waiting to be told the details of how, with the new online renewal process in place, instructors would go about qualifying on a shooting range.

Soon all DPS-certified Texas Concealed Handgun Instructors will receive a packet of information with the detailed answer to this question and more. However, the really good news is that beginning with this year’s 2011 renewal group, instructors will demonstrate range proficiency every other renewal.

This means renewing instructors in good standing will not be required to demonstrate handgun proficiency this year. The few who might be required to demonstrate proficiency have recently lapsed credentials. These few will be notified seperately.

All questions about future range qualifications will be answered with materials in the packets. Don’t fret.

So Texas Instructors, get your online business taken care of.

DPS has two classes scheduled in October to certify new instructors as the program continues to grow. We currently have 2,680 active CHL instructors and 505,208 active Texas licensees.

September 1 means New Hunting and Fishing Licenses Whether you hope for a place to dove hunt, teal hunt, or fish for shark, you better pick up that license. Don’t test the water and be fined. Members, stay tuned for information about a National CHL Reciprocity Bill moving in Congress later this fall. I’ll let you know when and who to call.

Remember TSRA is the NRA state affiliate but our money and our power comes from Texans. Join, renew, or up-grade your membership at www.tsra.com or call 512-615-4200 during regular business hours.

Pray for Rain and Keep the Faith, Sincerely, Alice Tripp Texas State Rifle Association

About: The Mission of the Texas State Rifle Association is to protect and defend the inalienable rights of the individual Texan to acquire, possess, transport, carry, transfer ownership and enjoy the right to lawful use of firearms for self preservation, for the defense of family and property and the common defense of the Republic and the individual liberties of the people. Visit: www.TSRA.com

[marktwain]

Some clarification of the new law.

[Gaffer]

Damn....if this isn’t a case of literary A D D, I don’t know what the hell is. Starts off reasonable law-change premise and a good “can you have a gun in your car at work?” question. Then plummets to the depths of gobbledygook on-line something or other instructor-something hell.....

just damn...

[RC one]

ya know, I would be just as nervous driving through Texas with a gun in my car as I would in Massachusetts, Illinois, California, or New Jersey, or basically any liberal stronghold state. The only state that I ever felt truly comfortable carrying a gun was in Arizona and, to a lesser extent, New Mexico.

[Gaffer]

I realize there might be complexities in their law....it’s just how this ‘article’ rambled on and drifted is what got me...

I feel fine here in GA carrying or transporting - I have the license but it literally only took me about 1/2 hour to get in my adopted city (north GA) versus the 8 weeks it took in Cobb County (bureaucracy hell, IMHO, being a resident tracing relatives back to the 1840-60s there and in counties northward). Life is much simpler when you don’t live around transplanted yankees.....

[grobdriver]

If you work for a Texas company and recently received information from your employer regarding your right to have a firearm in your vehicle while parked in your employer’s parking lot, I’d like to know.

Interesting point, and I can't help him.
Some time ago I sent an internal email to the site manager with a link to the new law here in Texas, let him know I am a CHL holder and I will be carrying on site and storing in my locked truck on company property (an otherwise "gun free" property).
I urged him to make the site population aware of this new law in case someone saw me moving my sidearm from holster to the lock-box or back to holster at the end of the day.
Not a peep.

I make a point to be discreet and I hope at least that site security is aware I'm legal...

[TStro]

You can legally carry your loaded concealed firearm in Texas without a concealed carry license. You can’t carry it outside your car except going into your motel room or some other place where you can legally have it (such as a shooting range). The definition is you must be “travelling”. Any time you are using your car you are travelling. You also don’t have to tell an officer you have a gun unless he asks. Most officers are firearm friendly. Just keep it hidden until they ask for it.

[Deaf Smith]

"I make a point to be discreet"

More discreet is: Don't ask, don't tell.

[grobdriver]

More discreet is: Don't ask, don't tell

Well, I don't - but I also can't help but expect that sooner or later someone will see me with a pistol in my hand in the transfer and better that they are informed that it's legal now rather than go all ballistic and call 911.
That, I don't need.

[Deaf Smith]

How do you know that your confessional e-mail hasn't been forwarded around the company?

[grobdriver]

How do you know that your confessional e-mail hasn't been forwarded around the company?

By the Site Manager?
Not Likely.

[dusttoyou]

You might be right dragging Ohio tags!

Having been traffic stopped and asked about Conceal Carry, the DPS Trooper checked my CHL and never want to check the pistol. Texas LEO (for the most part) have little concern about us totin in our cars/trucks.