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Hey there everyone, my fiance' and I are going to East Beach on Galveston island this weekend for the Annual Sandcastle Event (our friends work for an architecture firm and they are participating) I won't be carrying since I'll be drinking some beers with a few friends but she's the "sober driver" so she won't have that baggage. She wants to take her pistol with her but we're both unsure whether or not the beach is posted. I know the parking lot is controlled access so the venue could also be posted (conceivably) and was just curious if anyone had any personal experience with the beach.

I did search the forums, Google and the TPC for any evidence of prohibition to no avail but, I also could find nothing affirmative to speak of. If she takes the pistol and the beach is posted the only thing we could legally do is turn around and go home, which we'd prefer not to do since we're about 65 miles from the beach. Even if the parking lot isn't posted but the beach is there's no way she'd feel comfortable leaving her (stolen from me) pistol in the car for a day of an event in Galveston for fear of theft or some other awry experience.

So, I bring my query to you fine folks and superior minds to "school" me on the legality of carry on the East Beach at Galveston.

I thank in advance for your time and consideration.

All Texas beaches seaward of the vegetation line are public property. East Beach is such a beach. It is operated by the Galveston Parks Board of Trustees, and cannot legally be posted off-limits to CHL holders.

East Beach has a parking fee collection booth. Otherwise it is not fenced or controlled. If you're not falling-down drunk or doing something else that is illegal, you will have no problems there except sunburn.

I hope you enjoy your visit.

- Jim

Jim, thank you very much for your prompt and reasoned response. You and all of the other contributors to this board are the reason I come here with my questions.

Thanks again.

My wife and I celebrated our 25th last year in Galveston. We didn't go into any bars, so my G19 stayed right with me during our stay. We were on the beach, and even went to the State Park. Never a problem. Even walked by a game warden at the park. No alarms went off and no black helicopters swooped in.

Enjoy Galveston.

Sorry to bring this post back to life.

However, I was down in Galveston today for the sand castle event on East Beach. I was carrying and noticed on their welcome sign that they said "No Firearms" (or something similar). Since I wasn't sure if it was a private beach or not, I decided to disarm and leave it in the car (even though it clearly wasn't a valid 30.06 sign).

Anyways, after reading this post, appears I wouldn't of had any problems had I kept carrying.

Carry on.

Signs like that only apply to people who do not hold a LTC.

So... STOP READING OTHER PEOPLE'S MAIL!!!

Pawpaw wrote:Signs like that only apply to people who do not hold a LTC.

So... STOP READING OTHER PEOPLE'S MAIL!!!

Pawpaw wrote:Signs like that only apply to people who do not hold a LTC.

So... STOP READING OTHER PEOPLE'S MAIL!!!

Pawpaw wrote:Signs like that only apply to people who do not hold a LTC.

So... STOP READING OTHER PEOPLE'S MAIL!!!

I love it, Pawpaw. I may have to steal that.

I went to that on Saturday and never saw any signage, and I was going to open carry, but I decided to get some sun and went swim trunks and shirtless. I did OC at Seawolf Park without issue though.