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This may be a stupid question, but I have never seen it asked so I will step out on a limb here. I only have one weapon, and it is my carry gun. I like to go to the range whenever possible to shoot. Up until this point I have always had my gun in a backpack along with my ammo, eye protection, ear muffs, etc. Is it unlawful to have your weapon concealed on your person until you walk onto the range, unconceal it, shoot for a bit, then reload and reconceal at the bay you are shooting in before leaving?

THE ENGINEER wrote:This may be a stupid question, but I have never seen it asked so I will step out on a limb here. I only have one weapon, and it is my carry gun. I like to go to the range whenever possible to shoot. Up until this point I have always had my gun in a backpack along with my ammo, eye protection, ear muffs, etc. Is it unlawful to have your weapon concealed on your person until you walk onto the range, unconceal it, shoot for a bit, then reload and reconceal at the bay you are shooting in before leaving?

I don't think its ilegal, but the range officers on some ranges might not like it to much.

Some ranges don't mind, some do.

Bass Pro shop for example requires that you lock up any gun that you are actually going to use. You can carry concealed, but if you do, it must stay concealed the whole time. If you are going to shoot it they put a trigger lock on your gun until you get to the range area. I have even seen them disarm off duty police officers. They also seem to prefer it unloaded before they get it.

Others don't care at all - best to ask and see.

buda222 wrote:I have even seen them disarm off duty police officers.

Aren't a lot of officers required to carry even while off duty? Can the range legally disarm law enforcement personnel while off duty?

T3hK1w1 wrote:Can the range legally disarm law enforcement personnel while off duty?

IMHO, a property owner can prohibit entry by armed LEOs unless they have a warrant or are otherwise performing their official duty.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:

T3hK1w1 wrote:Can the range legally disarm law enforcement personnel while off duty?

IMHO, a property owner can prohibit entry by armed LEOs unless they have a warrant or are otherwise performing their official duty.

- Jim

AAC thread all over again..

Legally disarm? No.

Charge with 30.05 trespass? No.

Prevent entry? Sure.

I asked my favorite range that question. The response was if I want to shoot the pistol I'm carrying, let them know when I check in. They will let me unholster and unload at the firing line then come back to the desk for the mandatory weapon and ammo check. When you are done target shooting, load and holster your carry pistol at the firing line then check out as normal.

T3hK1w1 wrote:

buda222 wrote:I have even seen them disarm off duty police officers.

Aren't a lot of officers required to carry even while off duty? Can the range legally disarm law enforcement personnel while off duty?

I don't know what the law says, but I saw it happen. I was in line behind a (slightly annoyed) cop and the guy said he had to disarm if he was using the range and not on duty. So I had to wait on him to unload his service weapon bug.

Am I missing something here? Why not just unholster your weapon when you get to the parking lot, empty it, and bring it in like you normally would--unloaded and open.

When you are finished, leave with your weapon empty and load it in the car before you leave.

buda222 wrote: I don't know what the law says, but I saw it happen. I was in line behind a (slightly annoyed) cop and the guy said he had to disarm if he was using the range and not on duty. So I had to wait on him to unload his service weapon bug.

I hope this particular LEO finds another range to shoot at...like perhaps his department's range...

Only one gun, that you carry, in a backpack???

Cool...

CHLSteve wrote:Am I missing something here? Why not just unholster your weapon when you get to the parking lot, empty it, and bring it in like you normally would--unloaded and open.

When you are finished, leave with your weapon empty and load it in the car before you leave.

I could see a problem with this. If someone catches you loading or unloading in the car, you are not concealed.

CHLSteve wrote:Am I missing something here? Why not just unholster your weapon when you get to the parking lot, empty it, and bring it in like you normally would--unloaded and open.

When you are finished, leave with your weapon empty and load it in the car before you leave.

I do the unload and load in the parking lot also. Before I leave the range I make sure to have a full magazine placed in my range bag and my slide retracted on my weapon. Once in the car it's magazine in, slide released, in my holster. Takes about 5 seconds and accomplished beneath the dash.

Bullet Trap in Plano requires all range weapons to be cased while entering and exiting.

Not sure how this applies to a second/third weapon being carried concealed and not used but in response to your question (one weapon in backpack), It must be "cased" and unloaded when entering and leaving their facility.

This is not a law. It is stated in their range rules that you must read before entering the range.