Texas Knife Laws - New Info

[speedsix]

...not really, a 4" blade will do just fine

[Heartland Patriot]

Shortly before the Civil War started, something like 30% of the state population was made up of slaves, and that was before the advancing Union army started leading slave owners from neighboring states to bring them into Texas.

I'm curious to see some sort of census data or something to back up that 30% figure.

The Texas State Historical Association says that in 1850 Texas had 154,000 whites and 58,000 slaves, according to the US Census. It mentions that the 1860 Census had the population up to 600,000 but doesn't break down the race/free/slave status.

The US Census Bureau says 420,000 whites, 355 free black, 182,000 slaves, and 403 Indians. 30% slave is pretty close but I think the 403 Indians is probably a severe under count (using today's terminology).

EDIT: I have to admit not believing the 30% figure either and looking it up out of curiosity. I knew we had slaves enough to make Juneteenth a holiday, but I thought it was much lower than that also.

Interesting data. Thank you for posting the links. Now I'm wondering about ENFORCEMENT of gun laws back in those days, in as far as the part of the state in question. I'd imagine it might have been quite different for a vaquero in the Brush Country of South Texas than a farmer in the Piney Woods of East Texas. I could be wrong, but that is my best guess.

[koolaid]

I'm curious to see some sort of census data or something to back up that 30% figure. Not saying in the least that there weren't slaves in Texas, but I'm just curious as to the source for that figure. Do you have a link so I can go read up on it? I'm always willing to learn something new. Most of my old-time Texas history knowledge comes out of J. Frank Dobie books, I must admit.

It looks like someone beat me to it, but I think part of the reason that there is an impression that Texas was not a big slave state (9th in total slave population, I believe) is because there weren't a lot of slaves in Texas until post-independence. The Spanish and Mexicans prevented it from taking off like it had in the US.

Once Texas broke away (and then joined the US) that changed fairly rapidly as agriculture took off.

[Heartland Patriot]

I'm curious to see some sort of census data or something to back up that 30% figure. Not saying in the least that there weren't slaves in Texas, but I'm just curious as to the source for that figure. Do you have a link so I can go read up on it? I'm always willing to learn something new. Most of my old-time Texas history knowledge comes out of J. Frank Dobie books, I must admit.

It looks like someone beat me to it, but I think part of the reason that there is an impression that Texas was not a big slave state (9th in total slave population, I believe) is because there weren't a lot of slaves in Texas until post-independence. The Spanish and Mexicans prevented it from taking off like it had in the US.

Once Texas broke away (and then joined the US) that changed fairly rapidly as agriculture took off.

Well, I think that the fact that Texas is so large that SOME parts of the state had very high slave concentrations vs other parts where there were either very few or none. Depends on what part of Texas you are talking about.

[koolaid]

Well, I think that the fact that Texas is so large that SOME parts of the state had very high slave concentrations vs other parts where there were either very few or none. Depends on what part of Texas you are talking about.

That's true, but it is mostly because certain parts of the state are a lot better suited to the type of agriculture that heavily utilized slave labor.

[texanjoker]

Big thread going on another forum because a CHL holder was carrying a 6 plus inch knife to the capital a couple months ago while CHL and got arrested for carrying the illegal knife.

[Mike1951]

Big thread going on another forum because a CHL holder was carrying a 6 plus inch knife to the capital a couple months ago while CHL and got arrested for carrying the illegal knife.

I didn't read all 19 pages, but it could result in a precedent. Will be interesting to follow.

[Bitterclinger]

I just can't believe that Bowie knives are illegal in Texas. That's just wrong.

[matefrio]

A picture is worth a 1000 words. The outcome was a good one. This isn't over as now I get a chance to take the fight to them.

For those who can't see it:

To the honorable judge of said court:

NOW COMES the State of Texas by and though her Attorney, respectfully requests the Court to dismiss the above entitled and numbered criminal action in which the defendant is charged with the offence of Unlawfully Carrying A Weapon for the reason: In The Interest of Justice.

[ELB]

A picture is worth a 1000 words. The outcome was a good one. This isn't over as now I get a chance to take the fight to them.

OK, I looked back through the thread, and I am still confused. What is this about, 'zactly? Given the main topic of the thread, did you get picked up for UCW while carrying an "illegal" weapon while also carrying your CHL and handgun, or what?

[McKnife]

A picture is worth a 1000 words. The outcome was a good one. This isn't over as now I get a chance to take the fight to them.

For those who can't see it:

To the honorable judge of said court:

NOW COMES the State of Texas by and though her Attorney, respectfully requests the Court to dismiss the above entitled and numbered criminal action in which the defendant is charged with the offence of Unlawfully Carrying A Weapon for the reason: In The Interest of Justice.

[ Image ]

This put a huge smile on my face. Glad to see you win! Now it's time to expunge and sue sue sue!

[matefrio]

A picture is worth a 1000 words. The outcome was a good one. This isn't over as now I get a chance to take the fight to them.

For those who can't see it:

To the honorable judge of said court:

NOW COMES the State of Texas by and though her Attorney, respectfully requests the Court to dismiss the above entitled and numbered criminal action in which the defendant is charged with the offence of Unlawfully Carrying A Weapon for the reason: In The Interest of Justice.

[ Image ]

This put a huge smile on my face. Glad to see you win! Now it's time to expunge and sue sue sue!

This leaves the door wide open to pursue a case against the Department of Public Safety for wrongful arrest or for violating my 1st Amendment right to speak to the legislative committee.

If I get the arrest expunged now it'll be tampering with evidence, I've been advised.

[matefrio]

A picture is worth a 1000 words. The outcome was a good one. This isn't over as now I get a chance to take the fight to them.

OK, I looked back through the thread, and I am still confused. What is this about, 'zactly? Given the main topic of the thread, did you get picked up for UCW while carrying an "illegal" weapon while also carrying your CHL and handgun, or what?

Yes, March I knowingly and with the intent of clarifying this law, carried a 6.25 inch knife into the state capitol. The result was I got arrested, put in jail for the night and charged.

The Assistant DA threw out the charges, reason, I'd committed no crime.

[ELB]

Thanks. In the meantime, I went on Texas Gun Talk for the first time in months and happened to see your thread there.

Congrats on not getting convicted.

But as I noted over there, I think that's all you got out of this. I hope I am wrong, and I hope your lawyers have something to make this part of the law more clear to those who need clarification. But I certainly don't see this going anywhere else. The DA didn't say you were right he (or she) simply ducked the fight. Cops get latitude on making arrests in good faith even if they later turn out to be "false", and there are going to be a number of them (by your own count) plus their lawyers who will point out that they saw the law differently.

Good luck.

And it would be interesting to see what happens, when you get your CHL back, if you go back to the Capitol with your license, your gun, and your knife.

[matefrio]

Thanks. In the meantime, I went on Texas Gun Talk for the first time in months and happened to see your thread there.

Congrats on not getting convicted.

But as I noted over there, I think that's all you got out of this. I hope I am wrong, and I hope your lawyers have something to make this part of the law more clear to those who need clarification. But I certainly don't see this going anywhere else. The DA didn't say you were right he (or she) simply ducked the fight. Cops get latitude on making arrests in good faith even if they later turn out to be "false", and there are going to be a number of them (by your own count) plus their lawyers who will point out that they saw the law differently.

Good luck.

And it would be interesting to see what happens, when you get your CHL back, if you go back to the Capitol with your license, your gun, and your knife.

The ONLY defense I left myself was that my CHL and handgun exempted me from the whole of 46.02.

I had 8 DPS officers on the arrest statement saying they'd testify that I had a 6.25 inch bladed knife in the Texas State Capitol.

IF the ADA thought there was any decent chance that this law was not as my lawyer and I presented they'd have pressed charges and if proven it'd be a slam dunk case because I'd be on that stand saying under oath "Yes, I took a 6.25 inch blade into The Texas State Capitol."

We're talking about a slam dunk case in their pocket and they'd have been chomping at the bit to prove me wrong.

About going back with the knife, gun and CHL. IF I'd been proven right by a jury trial that'd be fun.

A sane person knows that trying the same tactics over again and expecting different results isn't going to work.

What will work now I believe is putting them on the defense a bit.