Chas.,Charles L. Cotton wrote:I had to interview a witness that worked for my client before going to prison. I met with him at the prison in Cotulla, TX. Since "premises" is statutorily defined, I didn't think twice about leaving the gun in my car, until I got to the gate and saw a sign basically saying "no guns." I called the prison from outside the gate and the warden met me at my car, took the gun into the prison and told a guard to let me have it when I was leaving.
The warden thanked me for calling and letting me know about the gun, but they really didn't seem too concerned.
Chas.
My problem with this is the warden has no authority to do anything other than allow lawful carry by a CHL on the 'premises' as define in the Penal Code. Too many mayors, city councils, police chiefs, etc., think they can regulate CHL carry in their jurisdiction where the transportation of handguns by a CHL is clearly, explicitly and exclusively defined by the legislature.
Unfortunately, too many of these 'mini-legislators' seem to know that the threat (whether real or imagined) of a ride in the back of a patrol car is enough to persuade most CHL holders to not be able to exercise the right defined by the legislature.
There needs to be a way (2009???) to clear these types of clearly not legally enforcible situations when they arise.
Gary
