This is a question I never thought I'd be asking asking... I moved to Houston from Los Angeles and Before that, the UK.

Soooo...now that I'm in the proper Land of The Free, can I keep a handgun in my glovebox (legally)?

And if so... SHOULD I?
And if so... loaded...Glovebox Locked?!

I bloody love it here, did I mention that yet?

 

Here's something....

https://faq.sll.texas.gov/questions/42809

Cheers
DD

 

Thanks!
Seems like I might have committed a bit of a faux pas... I appreciate not many people are keen to discuss these matters on a public forum!

 

Religion, politics, guns. All can get heated

As for your "Should I?" question, well, that's entirely up to you.

I know a number of people who carry. Some carry 24/7/365. Others carry only at selective times/circumstances. I know a couple people who have considered buying a gun and carrying and then decided against it. Every one of them has their own personal reasons.

I'm sure there are people here who carry and can explain their decisions/habits/rationale for your consideration.

There's no requirement that it become a heated topic but some might try to make it one. Or...maybe not.

Cheers
DD

 

Arkansas is an "Open Carry State", I believe Texas is also an "Open Carry State" and as such you can put a gun on your hip, and walk down the street. No questions asked. I have actually seen a civilian do it, and while it seemed a little strange, it's perfectly legal. I'm 98% sure it's the same in Texas. Might want to check to be 100% sure.

Good Luck

Jack

 

FWIW....

None of the people I know open carry. They don't think it's a good idea......but not necessarily for the same reasons. They're rather adamant about it, actually.

Again, it comes down to the individual.

Cheers
DD

 

Doug, I would agree with you. As I live in Arkansas and also have a concealed carry permit. I don't want someone to realize I have a gun, until the opportune moment. At which they say, Awe **** Man Don't Shoot!!!
That's the reaction I'm looking for, as it means they will get to live another day, and so will I.

Jack

 

This may be Texas, but the state is run by attorneys, for attorneys. Any one of which will relish in wiping out your entire family fortune if you so much as shoot out someone's porch light. So if you feel you must, take all the classes and buy the insurance.

 

Great advice thanks!

 

Yes for sure take a class so you know ALL the regulations. Knowledge is power as always!
It's actually pretty fun and usually taught by a ex state police guy or somebody similar.
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yes you can, yes you should, yes it should be loaded and keep it in your pocket when you leave your car.

 

Again a good reason to take a class. Just "in your pocket" may not be good enough. While the new law repealed some language requiring specifically a shoulder or belt holster, there's still a bunch of references requiring a holster (of some kind) in other sections of the penal code. I know its old-fashioned, but I still read our local newspaper. People getting shot has become so commonplace that its rarely reported on the TV news anymore unless its extremely unusual circumstances. But every incident still gets a paragraph or two in the newspaper. I cannot remember a day going by in the past couple of years without at least one or two local incidents reported. I'm really kind of shocked at the number each year that are accidental. We had one where I worked decades ago, a lady fishing for something in her purse and her gun went off. Luckily the bullet lodged in her cubicle wall. She was terminated of course. We kept the wall panel in the basement for years and would take new employees down to see it as "education".

You've got to be careful and take every precaution including proper holsters that protect the trigger and a safe for storage at home. When I was in college, I worked in a store that sold outdoor sporting goods and guns. The store was broken into 13 times before the owner had to close it down because he couldn't get insurance any more. This was back when there were no background checks or computer systems, rather we just kept paper records on file and the ATF or local police had to physically come to our store to get the paperwork to trace gun ownership after a crime so we got to talk to them about some of their investigations. But one of the things we learned and I try to pass on to gun owners today is "NEVER let anyone know you have a gun." One of the things that would happen at our store was that criminals would "stake out" and watch our store. They'd learn who our "regular customers" were and assuming (usually correctly), that our frequent customers had lots of guns, they'd follow them home, stake them out, learn their routines and then burglarize their homes. The authorities explained to us that criminals want guns more than anything else they could steal. Your home stereo or jewelry they have to "fence" to convert to cash, but guns could be traded directly for drugs.

So when you go to the range to practice or to the gun store, don't take the Jaguar, but take the Honda winter beater so you don't stand out. And then drive a circuitous path home making sure that you are not followed.

 

Welcome to Texas!

 

I take the Jag everytime. Usually drive straight home. In a town of 75,000 it's pretty easy to spot a tail at the gun range/store. In a city of millions maybe not so much. It's funny because I always look for the tail that is never there.

 

Thanks! Some really important things to think about... I'll admit, before moving here I thought I'd be carrying everywhere... But the responsibility you carry with a gun is quite sobering when it comes down to it!

The LTC training sounds like a great idea!

 

I remember Dad telling me, when I was just a youngster, "Whenever you have a gun in your hands your responsibility increases ten times over". As a nine year old being presented with his first .22 I probably didn't fully grasp the words at the time but as I grew I did.

(It was a bolt action single shot but in my eyes it might as well have been a Weatherby ! . Being presented with that little rifle was a rather somber rite of passage. I remember it well, and fondly)

Thanks for letting me stroll down memory lane

Cheers
DD

 

AGREED.

"I forgot" is not a reasonable excuse when someone gets caught at airport security because they have a firearm in their bag. The firearm should be forfeited.

Glad you didn't put an eye out with that thing, Ralphie.