IF YOUR SHIRTAIL BLOWS UP....................

[hoss4570]

Or if you show your shooter while reaching for your billfold in a store or cafe,is that not a Violation under Texas CHL rules??? I think thats what they taught us and what the book says, unless it's changed. The same as your shooter "printing" through your clothes. Some of you younger, smarter guys help me out here. I'm old and it's been a while since I qualified, so I may be wrong.

[SCone]

It would not be "intentional" & other than probably causing a scene for the wrong person seeing the gun, it would not be illegal.

[ELB]

The law as written (my emphasis and brackets). This is from the current Texas Concealed Handgun Laws and Selected Statutes 2007-2008, including those laws amended by the 80th Texas Legislature, published by the DPS and sent with my renewal packet in May 08, and from http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/statutes.html (which is a handy link -- you should put that in your "Favorites").

PC § 46.035 UNLAWFUL CARRY OF HANDGUN BY LICENSE HOLDER. (a) A license holder commits an offense if the license holder carries a handgun on or about the license holder's person under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411 ["License to Carry Concealed Handgun"], Government Code, and intentionally fails to conceal the handgun.

DOT DOT DOT...

PC § 6.03. DEFINITIONS[0] OF CULPABLE MENTAL STATES. (a) A person acts intentionally, or with intent, with respect to the nature of his conduct or to a result of his conduct when it is his conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result.

My first CHL class was in 1998, and I recall the instructor/LEO then (and all subsequent instructors) specifically briefing us that the wind blowing open your jacket and exposing the gun was NOT a legal failure to conceal. If your instructor told you otherwise, you might want to consider that when it comes time to go back to class and you have to decide who your instructor is going to be. Or maybe your what he told you wasn't what you remembered, and your memory slipped a gear. I know mine gives me problems like that occasionally!

I know of two times when I inadvertently "unconcealed." Once I hopped out of my truck and was halfway to the door of the drycleaners on a busy street when I realized my T-shirt had ridden up over the gun. I executed a smart about face, while covering up, looked around to see if anyone had noticed -- apparently not -- and pressed on. One other time the back of my vest stuck to the seat back in a restaurant without me realizing it, and when I stood up I noticed a woman across the room staring at me out of the corners of her eyes. I slyly checked my gun with inside of my arm -- WHOOPS -- casually covered it up as Istrolled to cash register to pay as if it were all in a day's work. No harm no foul either time.

Caveats: IANAL and all that. Use at your own risk. Your mileage may vary. etc.

[nitrogen]

So far, i've been made a few times, usually due to something dumb on my part.

Once, I was in a grocery store and lost a button on my shirt. Checkout guy asked me if I was a cop. A great discussion about CHL ensued.

Another time, my shirt got caught behind my weapon after getting out of the car, heading for lunch.
The waitress asked me what kind of gun I had, and we had an on and off conversation about guns, which was mostly positive.

[Bart]

Like someone already said, it's a violation to intentionally fail to conceal. Not knowingly, not recklessly and not negligently. The standard is intent. I'm not saying every cop knows the law but I never had a problem.

Most people are sheep. They're not paying attention and won't notice printing or inadvertent flashing. Even if they do they won't panic unless you do something to stampede them. If your behavior says everything is normal they don't panic. Maybe they assume you're a detective or off duty or PI or whatever. I have also talked to police while carrying and I'm sure some of them must have guessed or even known I was armed but they probably also could tell from my behavior that I wasn't a threat to them or innocents.

[NcongruNt]

Like someone already said, it's a violation to intentionally fail to conceal. Not knowingly, not recklessly and not negligently. The standard is intent. I'm not saying every cop knows the law but I never had a problem.

Most people are sheep. They're not paying attention and won't notice printing or inadvertent flashing. Even if they do they won't panic unless you do something to stampede them. If your behavior says everything is normal they don't panic. Maybe they assume you're a detective or off duty or PI or whatever. I have also talked to police while carrying and I'm sure some of them must have guessed or even known I was armed but they probably also could tell from my behavior that I wasn't a threat to them or innocents.

I have first-hand experience with this, and posted about it immediately afterwards in this thread:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... =26&t=8309

I got a flat tire the other day and went into the shop to get the flat fixed. I wear a Hi-Power OWB, with an unbuttoned shirt for cover. I'm usually very good about making sure my weapon is covered up when I get out of my van. Well, my seatbelt or seat must have caught my shirt as I was getting out. I adjusted my belt as soon as I was out as usual, just as the tire fellow was walking up to me. His eyes got a little big as he looked at my waist area. I look down, and sure enough my shirt had tucked itself behind the grip, and my gun was there for the world (just the one guy, really) to see. I fix my shirt and continue my business. The rest is uneventful - found that the problem was a gash on the edge of the tread, so had to buy a new tire.

Echoing what others have said on this forum - I believe the main thing here is that if you do happen to accidentally expose your weapon, cover up and continue as normal. When your actions indicate that what just happened isn't a big deal, people are less likely to freak out. Having confidence about yourself will convey that your possession of a concealed firearm is normal.

[razoraggie]

Or if you show your shooter

Sorry, but I found that wording funny. Never heard it said like that before.

[longtooth]

I saw the previews of "Lonesome Dove" & that is what the star called it.
Dont know his name.

[Mike1951]

Also, Quigley referred to cap and ball revolvers as shooters.

[WildBill]

Having confidence about yourself will convey that your possession of a concealed firearm is normal.

[DoubleJ]

Didnt' we *just* cover this in another thread.....
AND at IDPA the other night....

[WildBill]

Didnt' we *just* cover this in another thread.....
AND at IDPA the other night....

This has been covered in many threads. I am not sure about the other night at IDPA.

[shaggydog]

IF YOUR SHIRTAIL BLOWS UP....................







....................................you should probably stop buying those shirts made out of C4.

[Mike1951]

IF YOUR SHIRTAIL BLOWS UP....................

Should be good for an episode of Mythbusters.

After all, they did the exploding overalls.