Carrying in other states

[AustinBoy]

I am curious how many TX CHL holders carry in other states due to reciprocity.

I traveled to a city up in the Northeast this week and did not take my weapon. I really wish I had.
There were 24 shootings in this city the weekend I was there (per the local news). I was approached over 10 times in a 5 day period by people asking for money or a cigarette. (yes, I know I should quit smoking) Two of which were pushy to the point of making me very uncomfortable.

I consider myself a fine, upstanding, law abidding citizen.

I have done a TON of research on TX law to make SURE that I am always carrying legally. Many thanks to this forum!

In TX we make it pretty clear. 51% or 30.06.
Other states, not so clear.

Can you carry in a restaraunt that serves alcohol? etc...

All the searches I have done on Google pull up legal language for other states that would take weeks to figure out. IANAL.

Because of this, I have never carried in another state. I am paranoid about breaking one of their laws that I am not familiar with.

So, have you carried in another state? Did you research the heck out of their laws before carrying there? Have you found a site that clearly explains other states laws without all the legal language?

I may have to go back this city and I really dont want to spend weeks studying their laws for the 3-5 days I may be there. But, I will NEVER go back without carrying.

Thanks

(I didnt name the city as to not offend anyone but it is in a reciprocity state)

[lonewolf]

First off, I don't think you would offend anyone by naming the state. Secondly, I have only had the opportunity to carry in Oklahoma and Kansas since getting my Texas CHL. No problems. Just do the little bit of research. I'm trying to remember the website TAM refers everyone to, but it escapes me. Just do a search on the forum for "handgunlaw" and I think you'll find it. Get the basics down for the state your visiting and you'll be good to go.

[dicion]

I carried in South Dakota when I was up there on business! That was fun. First time carrying out of state.

Of course, all I did was go from the hotel to Chili's in the parking lot and back....
.... but boy.. let me tell you.. if someone would have happened to stop by that Chili's while I was there with bad intent.. I was prepared.

Then again, I was one of like 3 people in the place... because it was Winter, in South Dakota.. where -15 was a warm day.

[Kirk]

I carry in Louisiana but agree with you on trying to learn another state's laws is a pain. Louisiana's law on restaurants is fuzzy depending on who you talk to. If you frequent another state try to find a forum that in that state that is similar to this one. The one I found in Louisiana isn't as great as this one.

I carry there for the same reason I do here.

[The Annoyed Man]

I recently carried in New Mexico and Arizona, and I open carried briefly in Arizona. The site I usually referred people to is: http://apps.carryconcealed.net/packngo/index.php. Unfortunately, their application doesn't appear to be working anymore. It's a real shame as it was very useful. The other site that everyone recommends is http://handgunlaw.us/. They also have this app: http://handgunlaw.us/LicMaps/ccwmap.php, which is pretty useful.

[AustinBoy]

TAM,
Funny you should mention New Mexico.
That is where my Dad lives and I have never carried there due to their laws.

Their laws are very confusing.
Their restaurant and tribal land laws are especially confusing.

Thanks

[Dragonfighter]

I second handgunlaw.us...great site. Research each state (I download their penal codes, etc.) and ask if you have to. For instance, FL law on carry where alcohol is served is vague where it comes into a restaurants. I frequent there and called the state police and was directed to the sheriff's office in Escambia county where I was going (they apparantly issue CHL's..I dunno). He said that bars in restaurants are remarked and or divided from the main floor. He told me to stay out of those areas and that I would not be in violation.

Sure enough, Flounders, has two bars both on elevated floor areas. The restaurant where we celebrated my daughter's birthday 3 years ago had the bar sectioned off and white lines showing a "lane" to the restrooms. Just do your due diligence and carry away (where legal).

[CC Italian]

I have concealed carried in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Louisiana. I have open carried briefly in Nevada in public because my CHL is not honored there and in my car in NM, CO, UT and AZ. opencarry.org is a good site for that. I am not a fan of open carry and in all the states that I have been to that have it I have only seen two people carry openly and it was in rural areas. Out of those states Louisiana is the one that I think is the most difficult to keep up with for conceal carry. There are also some local Parrish laws and yes the restaurant stuff is a little fuzzy. The handgun law website that TAM referenced is very useful. If you ever have any doubts call the states highway patrol or trooper service, they are always very kind and helpful and love to hear from Texas residents. Utah and Arizona I think are the only states in the country that are friendlier to resident’s gun rights then Texas. In fact when I called the Utah highway patrol they encouraged me to exercise my second amendment rights and thanked me for planning on visiting there state.

Also, remember just because you can open carry in a state legally doesn't mean you can do it anywhere in the state. I know that sounds stupid but in North Las Vegas NV and Denver CO have city ordinance against it and the state has upheld the ordinance. Usually things like this pop up because of pockets of liberal resistance in these states. I wish we could do that with some federal laws!!

Just remember if you go out west that tribal laws are probably what you need to worry about most. The state of NM does not allow you to carry in tribal land and other states like AZ, UT and CO will allow you to if the tribe you pass through allows it. You must call every single tribe you pass through and ask if you want to be sure. That's what I do and some will not let you and some give you a very gray answer. I have contacted at least 5 major tribes in the last year and two gave me a thumbs up, one down and two gave me a gray answer like “you should be ok”.

[CC Italian]

NM laws for tribal land is another reason I never travel through North central and Northwestern NM. It is almost impossible without going into tribal land unless you know all the little back roads!

[cheezit]

been in AR and OK no issues in either.

[tacticool]

So, have you carried in another state? Did you research the heck out of their laws before carrying there? Have you found a site that clearly explains other states laws without all the legal language?

Except for voting and jury duty, if I'm dressed I'm carrying. I generally don't have much difficulty finding info for other states. The website for the state police or attorney general usually gets me what I need, sometimes with references to the actual laws if I have questions. I avoid gray areas in other states, but usually I'm GTG by skipping bars, government buildings, and other places I don't want to visit anyway.

[The Annoyed Man]

TAM,
Funny you should mention New Mexico.
That is where my Dad lives and I have never carried there due to their laws.

Their laws are very confusing.
Their restaurant and tribal land laws are especially confusing.

Thanks

I've heard that about their tribal laws, but it didn't really affect me. I was just driving through. Spent the night in Santa Fe westbound, and in Albuquerque eastbound. It's possible that some gas station along I-40 might have been on tribal land, but if they were, I sure didn't know it. I carried anyway, and...... concealed is concealed.

[longtooth]

I have been to Louisiana & Oklahoma.
I dont get far from home & dont do that very often. OK was a funeral.

[The Annoyed Man]

I have been to Louisiana & Oklahoma.
I dont get far from home & dont do that very often. OK was a funeral.

I forgot OK. I've carried there too......including at a funeral. What is it about that state?

[45er]

OK, AR, MO, LA. I plan on carrying all the way through to FL next year as well. Back before I found the USA Carry reciprocity map, I researched each state individually to find out what was expected. I still brush up on the basic laws for the states I plan to carry in, especially the touchy subjects like restaraunts and alcohol.