Was that dumb? Foolish? Other?

Long story, but it's my first time in this state with a gun. We stopped for the night at a hotel in Houston and found a nearby Mexican restaurant. I noticed the sign as we walked in and knew what it meant, but I did not want to leave the LCP in the car. FWIW, I drank Diet Coke.

How do TX residents deal with this?

As someone who makes the occasional trip across the Red River I will say that concealed is concealed. However, when I travel to Texas I avoid places with that sign because the legal consequences can be a real pain.

I too make occasional trips to Texas. Unlike most states the do not carry signs in Texas carry force of law and consequences can be rough. I have eaten cold sandwiches out of service station coolers in places where the only eatery were posted.

My best understanding is this, if caught they have to ask you to leave. If you refuse and PD is called it’s a misdemeanor. I don’t lose any sleep over the signs anymore. I DO try to give my business to places that do not have the stupid sign.

Clicky:

http://codes.findlaw.com/tx/pe...enal-sect-30-06.html

You will see a LOT of 30.07 (open carry) signs and some 30.06 signs (concealed carry) around especially restaurants.
Use common sense and you will be fine.
Common sense might be to not carry where they "wand" you or check you as in an event.
A lot of places have no idea what these signs are and what they don't know won't hurt you.
The penalty as mentioned above is not Draconian any more so it is better to be judged .... you know.
One only "allegedly" carries is these places anyway, right?

quote:

Originally posted by dry-fly:
My best understanding is this, if caught they have to ask you to leave. If you refuse and PD is called it’s a misdemeanor. I don’t lose any sleep over the signs anymore. I DO try to give my business to places that do not have the stupid sign.

Based on arfmel's link, it looks to me like you are guilty of a Class C misdemeanor simply for entering where legally posted, and a Class A misdemeanor if you don't leave after orally being asked to leave.

In NC, entering where posted has been reduced from a misdemeanor to an "infraction," and the sign can still be anything.

Don't know what impact a misdemeanor or infraction has on a CCW (like whether you lose it or if it affects renewal). Also don't know if your gun is confiscated while LE investigates.

Not a huge deal. While yes you’re in violation, as was noted above it’s a Class C Misdomeanor if asked to leave and you don’t. In your situation, I can see why you did it. Wouldn’t encourage it as a habit.

Thanks for the replies. I will not bring my LCP on to Ft Hood, and I did not bring it into the GW Bush Library at SMU, a federal facility (NARA) where they had metal detectors. I did carry into Dallas' 6th Floor/Dealey Plaza/JFK Museum, where the door had a no guns symbol but not the 30.06 sign.

Other than reducing chances of a lawsuit for a business with a sign, does 30.06 accomplish anything? Good guys will either obey the sign or ignore it and not shoot anyone, bad guys ignore signs and laws.

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:

Other than reducing chances of a lawsuit for a business with a sign, does 30.06 accomplish anything? Good guys will either obey the sign or ignore it and not shoot anyone, bad guys ignore signs and laws.

That's about it, but IDK the impact on liability. I suspect it has little to none but rather a corporate or individual dislike of guns. Maybe JHE will see this and elaborate on reducing liability.

quote:

Originally posted by dry-fly:
My best understanding is this, if caught they have to ask you to leave. If you refuse and PD is called it’s a misdemeanor. I don’t lose any sleep over the signs anymore. I DO try to give my business to places that do not have the stupid sign.

Same. I don’t care anymore and don’t open carry. My Church has both signs on one entrance but not all entrances so I ignore.

quote:

How do TX residents deal with this?

I don't read real good these days.

Concealed is concealed.

Depends on your job also. If your LEO there is a FEDERAL law stating you can be armed, and no local nor state law can over ride that. I dont know if you are LEO, but its nice to remember a fellow officer will not ticket or arrest you for it, since under FEDERAL law your doing nothing wrong. Until you start drinking

quote:

Originally posted by fatmanspencer:
Depends on your job also. If your LEO there is a FEDERAL law stating you can be armed, and no local nor state law can over ride that.

That is not accurate. I strongly urge you to better acquaint yourself with LEOSA if you plan on carrying off duty.

(IIRC, you aren't even certified yet; just a jailer. So you'll hopefully have a chance to get some training on it before you do become a certified LEO and qualify for LEOSA.)

From https://leb.fbi.gov/articles/l...fficers-and-firearms

quote:

Limitations also exist as to where a concealed firearm may be carried. LEOSA exempts qualified officers from state laws limiting or prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons. However, LEOSA does not supersede state laws permitting private property owners from limiting or prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons on their property. This would include public bars, private clubs, and places, such as amusement parks. Nor does the act circumvent any state laws prohibiting carrying concealed weapons on state or local government property. Possible examples would be courthouses, schools, or parks.

The 51% signs are to be taken very seriously, felony.

30.06, 30.07, and 51% are all stupid laws. Texas gun laws make zero sense.

quote:

Originally posted by burnetma:
The 51% signs are to be taken very seriously, felony.

30.06, 30.07, and 51% are all stupid laws. Texas gun laws make zero sense.

I won't attempt to debate this point (tried in the past and it didn't end well). But what I will say is that Texas laws are built on a somewhat different principle that many other parts of the country. In this case it's the belief in the rights of property owners to use/enjoy their property how they see fit. This extends to owners' ability to decide whether to allow handguns on their property. Not that I'm defending their choice, but I will defend their right to make it. In the end it makes it easy for me to decide where to spend my money.

The 51% is total BS. All it takes is a stand alone alcohol vendor at a premise/property owned by a governmental entity that would otherwise be barred from posting and restricting carrying to transform it to an off limits place. I’ve seen this across the state at many fairgrounds and stadiums/convention centers. Doesn’t matter that as a whole the property isn’t bringing in more than 51% of sales from alcohol, all that matters is that one licensed vendor with a contract to supply/serve that facility makes more than 51% on alcohol. Can’t prove it but I suspect many places strategically do this to skirt the law.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeyspizza:

quote:

Originally posted by dry-fly:
My best understanding is this, if caught they have to ask you to leave. If you refuse and PD is called it’s a misdemeanor. I don’t lose any sleep over the signs anymore. I DO try to give my business to places that do not have the stupid sign.

Based on arfmel's link, it looks to me like you are guilty of a Class C misdemeanor simply for entering where legally posted, and a Class A misdemeanor if you don't leave after orally being asked to leave.

In NC, entering where posted has been reduced from a misdemeanor to an "infraction," and the sign can still be anything.

Don't know what impact a misdemeanor or infraction has on a CCW (like whether you lose it or if it affects renewal). Also don't know if your gun is confiscated while LE investigates.

Yes, they reduced the penalty, and a conviction for this will no longer make you ineligible for an LTC. And while a class c misdemeanor is pretty mild (most speeding tickets are c misdemeanors, you could still wind up with a conviction for a gun-related misdemeanor. I'd not want to find out what consequences that might have on my life.

quote:

Originally posted by fatmanspencer:
Depends on your job also. If your LEO there is a FEDERAL law stating you can be armed, and no local nor state law can over ride that. I dont know if you are LEO, but its nice to remember a fellow officer will not ticket or arrest you for it, since under FEDERAL law your doing nothing wrong. Until you start drinking

Read the LEOSA very carefully! The LEOSA does not override all state/local laws and restrictions.