TexasCHLforum.com

Hello Everyone,

I'm looking into getting my CHL and I have some questions.

First, a little about myself:
31 years old. Got my first gun in December 2013. Springfield XDm 3.8" .40S&W Compact. Now also own a Browning Buck Mark Camper .22 and a 12 Gauge Winchester 1300.
Born and raised in McKinney, TX. Now live in Princeton, TX. Both are in Collin County, north of Dallas.
Married for 8 years. Wife is supportive of gun rights and of having them in our home, but she's a little scared of them (a little less scared since we took an Intro to Handguns class a few weeks ago).
One child. 5 year old son (soon to be 6 in April).

Questions:
1. Is there one place to go to for all the answers?? Or are all the answers spread across different Laws and Bills and individual agency/groups rules?
2. It is my understanding that, without a CHL, I can carry a)in my home and b)in my personal vehicle. Is that correct? Also, what about a family member/friend's home or vehicle that's ok with me carrying?
3. Can I carry at these places with a CHL: a) while fishing on COE land, like Lake Lavon b)while camping, like at Ray Roberts State Park, Eisenhower State Park, Dinosaur Valley State Park, Beaver's Bend & Broken Bow (Oklahoma), Crater of Diamonds State Park (Arkansas) c)while on a boat on a lake (Lavon, Ray Roberts, Ray Hubbard, Texoma) d)while hunting on public lands for dove, duck, or whatever (not using a handgun to hunt with)

I thought I had more questions, but that's all I can think of for right now. I hope I haven't broken any forum rules with anything I've written here.

Thank you in advance for reading my post and any helpful comments you may have.

Chris Jr.

Hi Chris,

welcome to the forum,

well, that's alot of questions, let me see what I'll answer and what I'll leave for the guys to cover...

first, sounds like the more your wife gets out to the range and gets familiar with the guns, me more comfortable she will be with them. She'll be fine.

Also, start now teaching your son to leave the gun alone, that it's not a toy. look at the Eddie Eagle Program through NRA. My kids loved that video.

1. Where to go for all of the answers? Here for a start. your CHL class next.
2. correct, in your home and in your vehicle, and there are limitations there that I'll let the others cover. I'll let the guys cover anywhere else.
3. oh dear.....OK, the others are going to have to fill in here, but I do know (I think) that COE land is a "NO" and I know for sure, State Parks are a "YES", cause I go to several, Federal parks are a "NO"

I think I've given it a good start. I'm sorry I could answer everything, but honestly I just don't fish and hunt so it's not something I worry about.

Just a little FYI
House Bill 1815 as passed by the 80th Legislature allows for the carry of a concealed handgun on your premises or premises under your control (a vehicle and/or an RV included).
Unfortunately if you are not the driver then a vehicle is not under your control. Without a CHL you are not legal to carry in another vehicle or another's home.

COE land is off limits.
This includes not being allowed to store your gun in your car at lake-side parking lots. ALL COE land is off-limits.

Title 36 -- Parks, Forests, and Public Property

CHAPTER 111 -- U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

PART 327--RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING PUBLIC USE OF WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ADMINISTERED BY THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS


327.0 Applicability.

The regulations covered in this part 327 shall be applicable to water resources development projects, completed or under construction, administered by the Chief of Engineers, and to those portions of jointly administered water resources development projects which are under the administrative jurisdiction of the Chief of Engineers. ALL OTHER FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT WHERE APPLICABLE TO THOSE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

327.13 Explosives, firearms, other weapons and fireworks.

(a) The possession of loaded firearms, ammunition, loaded projectile firing devices, bows and arrows, crossbows, or other weapons is prohibited unless:
(1) In the possession of a Federal, state or local law enforcement officer;
(2) Being used for hunting or fishing as permitted under 327.8, with devices being unloaded when transported to, from or between hunting and fishing sites;
(3) Being used at authorized shooting ranges; or
(4) Written permission has been received from the District Commander.
(b) Possession of explosives or explosive devices of any kind, including fireworks or other pyrotechnics, is prohibited unless written permission has been received from the District Commander.

First, welcome to the forum.

This forum is probably your best resource for information that is not learned in your CHL class. There is a wealth of knowledge and information here and some great folks that are always willing to help. When it comes to a CHL, the only stupid questions are (1) those not asked and (2) those that the same person keeps asking (my pet peeve is to have the same person ask me the same question sveral different times).

There are also several CHL instructors as well as a couple of people that has helped draft not only the original CHL law but a lot of the following years laws.

Want to add a question to the OP's questions on carrying within your home and your car..........what about in your place of employment assumming your employer allows it?

Paul's Shield wrote:Want to add a question to the OP's questions on carrying within your home and your car..........what about in your place of employment assumming your employer allows it?

Only is the place of business is under your control. If the boss is there and running the business then you are not in control.

ChrisJr wrote: d)while hunting on public lands for dove, duck, or whatever (not using a handgun to hunt with)
Chris Jr.

No. If the animal is not legal to hunt with a handgun, you may not have a handgun on your person. (Unless you have a CHL)

SewTexas wrote:Hi Chris,

{Snippity doo dah}

.... Federal parks are a "NO"

Federal parks are a yes; EXCEPT, one can NOT carry in a building/structure where federal employees are present.

Oldgringo wrote:

SewTexas wrote:Hi Chris,

{Snippity doo dah}

.... Federal parks are a "NO"

Federal parks are a yes; EXCEPT, one can NOT carry in a building/structure where federal employees are present.

ah, that's the bit....I just remembered we couldn't carry at the missions.

Welcome! You didn't ask, but I "read between the lines a bit"
Kudos on the Basic Pistol Class!!! Might I suggest getting your wife involved in some ladies classes as well. In addition, You need to look at reliable, accessible home and vehicle storage. Kids are AMAZING little people that can figure out WAY more than we often give them credit for. I suggest looking into the Eddie Eagle program offered by the NRA - GREAT for kids and he is the perfect age. We teach Shooting Safety for 4-H and have younger siblings tag along often. They are AWESOME and very curious. Satisfy that as much as you can under strict supervision or they will attempt to satisfy it without you. I shot my first .22 at 7, and if Dad had his way it would have been before that, but Mom made me wait until then.

Again, welcome and JMPHO - apologize for being overzealous.

Thank you everyone for your replies.

SewTexas wrote:Hi Chris,

welcome to the forum,

well, that's alot of questions, let me see what I'll answer and what I'll leave for the guys to cover...

first, sounds like the more your wife gets out to the range and gets familiar with the guns, me more comfortable she will be with them. She'll be fine.

Also, start now teaching your son to leave the gun alone, that it's not a toy. look at the Eddie Eagle Program through NRA. My kids loved that video.

1. Where to go for all of the answers? Here for a start. your CHL class next.
2. correct, in your home and in your vehicle, and there are limitations there that I'll let the others cover. I'll let the guys cover anywhere else.
3. oh dear.....OK, the others are going to have to fill in here, but I do know (I think) that COE land is a "NO" and I know for sure, State Parks are a "YES", cause I go to several, Federal parks are a "NO"

I think I've given it a good start. I'm sorry I could answer everything, but honestly I just don't fish and hunt so it's not something I worry about.

Thank you SewTexas,

Yes. My wife is getting more and more comfortable with them. The first time her dad and I took her out, she shot her dad's .22 Beretta and was ok with it but wasn't crazy about it. She fired one round out of my .40 xdm and put it down and didn't want to touch it again. We test fired a bunch of .22s and she really liked the Browning Buck Mark, so I bought one. The Intro to Handguns class seemed to be very good for her. They let us shoot 16 different guns in .22, .38, 9mm and .45. She REALLY liked the 9mm Glock and the .45 Colt Defender. And she wants to go to the range sometime to try my .40 xdm again.

About teaching my son to leave the gun alone, I've just been keeping them away from him. I don't let him see them at all. I didn't know if that was the right thing to do, or if I should let him know they are there and to leave them alone. I will definitely look into the Eddie Eagle Program. Well, he has seen my shotgun because I took him dove hunting with me a few times. But I just told him not to mess with it, stay away from it, don't touch it and he didn't put up much of a fuss so I left it at that for now.

sammeow wrote:Just a little FYI
House Bill 1815 as passed by the 80th Legislature allows for the carry of a concealed handgun on your premises or premises under your control (a vehicle and/or an RV included).
Unfortunately if you are not the driver then a vehicle is not under your control. Without a CHL you are not legal to carry in another vehicle or another's home.

COE land is off limits.
This includes not being allowed to store your gun in your car at lake-side parking lots. ALL COE land is off-limits.

Title 36 -- Parks, Forests, and Public Property

CHAPTER 111 -- U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

PART 327--RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING PUBLIC USE OF WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ADMINISTERED BY THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS


327.0 Applicability.

The regulations covered in this part 327 shall be applicable to water resources development projects, completed or under construction, administered by the Chief of Engineers, and to those portions of jointly administered water resources development projects which are under the administrative jurisdiction of the Chief of Engineers. ALL OTHER FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT WHERE APPLICABLE TO THOSE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

327.13 Explosives, firearms, other weapons and fireworks.

(a) The possession of loaded firearms, ammunition, loaded projectile firing devices, bows and arrows, crossbows, or other weapons is prohibited unless:
(1) In the possession of a Federal, state or local law enforcement officer;
(2) Being used for hunting or fishing as permitted under 327.8, with devices being unloaded when transported to, from or between hunting and fishing sites;
(3) Being used at authorized shooting ranges; or
(4) Written permission has been received from the District Commander.
(b) Possession of explosives or explosive devices of any kind, including fireworks or other pyrotechnics, is prohibited unless written permission has been received from the District Commander.

sammeow,

Thank you for the information about other people's vehicles and homes. I guess that makes sense. But, that really sucks about not being able to carry on COE property. That's one of the main reasons I wanted to be able to carry. I do alot of fishing from the bank on COE property (Lake Lavon) and sometimes, you're just not sure about all of the people out there. Most of the time, it's just another fisherman stopping by to see how you're doing. But sometimes, a person can make me a little to alot nervous. Especially when I have my son with me. There's been several times that I've packed up and left because I didn't feel comfortable. And so many people have been robbed from the banks and at the boat ramps and parking lots. But oh well. I guess there's no point in whining about that. But if there's ever any petition to sign or email to send regarding changing this rule, let me know. I'd be glad to help.

RPBrown wrote:First, welcome to the forum.

This forum is probably your best resource for information that is not learned in your CHL class. There is a wealth of knowledge and information here and some great folks that are always willing to help. When it comes to a CHL, the only stupid questions are (1) those not asked and (2) those that the same person keeps asking (my pet peeve is to have the same person ask me the same question sveral different times).

There are also several CHL instructors as well as a couple of people that has helped draft not only the original CHL law but a lot of the following years laws.

Thank you RPBrown.

healthinsp wrote:

ChrisJr wrote: d)while hunting on public lands for dove, duck, or whatever (not using a handgun to hunt with)
Chris Jr.

No. If the animal is not legal to hunt with a handgun, you may not have a handgun on your person. (Unless you have a CHL)

Ok. So once I get my CHL, I can carry concealed, as long as I'm not on COE property. Thank you healthinsp.

Oldgringo wrote:

SewTexas wrote:Hi Chris,

{Snippity doo dah}

.... Federal parks are a "NO"

Federal parks are a yes; EXCEPT, one can NOT carry in a building/structure where federal employees are present.

Question: Are Federal Parks the same as National Parks. Sorry if that's a dumb question. When I'm looking up places to go camping, I see State parks and National Parks.

Divided Attention wrote:Welcome! You didn't ask, but I "read between the lines a bit"
Kudos on the Basic Pistol Class!!! Might I suggest getting your wife involved in some ladies classes as well. In addition, You need to look at reliable, accessible home and vehicle storage. Kids are AMAZING little people that can figure out WAY more than we often give them credit for. I suggest looking into the Eddie Eagle program offered by the NRA - GREAT for kids and he is the perfect age. We teach Shooting Safety for 4-H and have younger siblings tag along often. They are AWESOME and very curious. Satisfy that as much as you can under strict supervision or they will attempt to satisfy it without you. I shot my first .22 at 7, and if Dad had his way it would have been before that, but Mom made me wait until then.

Again, welcome and JMPHO - apologize for being overzealous.

No apologies necessary Divided Attention.
I'll look into the ladies classes for my wife.
I would like to get a large gun safe that can hold handguns and shotguns and rifles and whatever else I need to throw in there. For now, I do have my handguns in safes (not "gun safes") and I have my shotgun taken apart with a trigger lock and put away (can't fit in my current safe). I don't carry in my vehicle yet. i will look into storage for my vehicles.
Trust me, I know about how smart kids are. If I had half the problem solving skills that my son has, I could probably demand more money at work, haha. I will be looking into the Eddie Eagle Program. Speakign of 4-H, just yesterday, i requested information about their Green Leaf Clover Kids for kids from kindergarten to 2nd grade and I intend on getting him into that. I'm still learning myself, so I don't want to rush into showing him until I fully understand everything, or at least have a little more experience. I've gotten late starts on many things I enjoy. I didn't start fishing until I was in high school. 2013 was the first time I dove hunted, and I haven't hunted anything else yet, but I'd like to. I got my first gun last December at the age of 30. I don't want that for my son. He started fishing with me when he was 3 and went with me on dove hunts this year at 5 (he didn't shoot, just watched). I got a little long winded there, but that's easy to do when I'm talking about my son.




Again, thank you all for your comments. I guess now I need to schedule a CHL class. So that brings me to another question. Does anyone have any suggestions for places to take my CHL class or any particular instructor? From what I've heard and read, some classes/instructors just get you through it and some are more informative and present the class better. I would like to get as much out of the class as possible.

yes, Federal - National Parks.

a recommendation, just because I have a son and have been around alot of boys...I would recommend not to do the whole "don't mess with and don't touch", etc, for too long...he'll start getting curious because Daddy is doing it and he wants to be like Daddy so he could just do it when Dad isn't looking. Show him when it's safe, and show him the damage it can do, then put them away.

when ours were young we would occasionally take melons out and let them shoot it....it would show them the damage a gun could cause, it was good for them, they still remember it. And they were never tempted to touch the guns without us.

"Again, thank you all for your comments. I guess now I need to schedule a CHL class. So that brings me to another question. Does anyone have any suggestions for places to take my CHL class or any particular instructor? From what I've heard and read, some classes/instructors just get you through it and some are more informative and present the class better. I would like to get as much out of the class as possible."

Since you asked and I see you live in Princeton, I took mine through Extreme Defensive in Royse City. Mine was back when the classes were longer, but was a great class in my opinion, plus they use their own range just down the road. There maybe some closer to you, but this was just based on my own experience. Welcome to the forum and hopefully the world of CHL.

Just as an FYI. The law is not black and white at all times. I learned it the hard way on a real estate purchase with easements. Deciding to carry is a decision that you must take seriously. For me I did decide to retain a lawyer for issues that may arise while I am carrying. It only costs something like 150.00 per year. I think if I am willing to put myself in a situation where I may need to use my weapon or find myself in a situation where I believe I am legal but the LEO doesn't, I want assistance from a lawyer. You will see the phrase "you may beat the wrap but not the ride" many times on this site. It can cost you a lot of money fighting the court battle even if you are legal.

We are all different and you will need to make the decision you are comfortable with.