Posted
9/11/2005 04:05:00 PM
by Douglas
Here's a list of new laws that take effect in
Texas on September 1st. One of notable interest is
HB 823 which basically makes it legal for anyone to carry a concealed weapon in their car. How? Because the original statute
[section 46.15 (b) (3)] says that you can carry a concealed weapon if you are "traveling." The 75th legislature has now clearly defined what "traveling" is. And I quote:
(i) For purposes of Subsection (b)(3), a person is presumed to be traveling if the person is:- (1) in a private motor vehicle;
- (2) not otherwise engaged in criminal activity, other than a Class C misdemeanor that is a violation of a law or ordinance regulating traffic;
- (3) not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing a firearm;
- (4) not a member of a criminal street gang, as defined by Section 71.01; and
- (5) not carrying a handgun in plain view.
I'm sure this would rile up a lot of the anti-gun crowd, but they're not going to read this, anyway. The
Vermont-style is the way to go, but if the laws are going to be on the books, they need to be clearly defined and not covered by a vague term like "traveling."
The question now is why bother to get a CHL permit at all? I'm
"traveling" all the time, as defined by HB 823. So do I need to start packin'?