Question: Firearms in vehicle on college campus

[danpate]

Here is the scenario:

I have a pistol and rifle match to shoot in on Saturday. I will be leaving there to go straight to my daughter's college to drop off some of her things before school starts. My firearms from the match will be cased inside my vehicle (concealed). The vehicle will be in the parking lot on campus. I will disarm and secure my sidearm in the vehicle while I am on campus. While I am on campus my firearms will be concealed and inside my own vehicle at all times. I am not a student at the university.

Will I be in violation of any laws, rules, edicts, fatwas, or any other pinko crap?

[LarryH]

Short answer - no.

Parking lot is OK, as far as state law is concerned. If you have a Texas CHL and the college is in Texas, you're OK for federal law, too.

As long as nobody sees the gun(s), no problem, so the only way the "campus cops" or anyone else "in authority" would even know about them would be if you had to defend yourself or your daughter (IMHO).

I am not a lawyer.

[CC Italian]

I second that. As long as you stay in the parking lot area your fine. I carried and left my gun in the car all the time when I finished up college last year. Just make sure there is no posting when coming into a parking lot. I have heard that some private colleges or schools have them. I just thought I would mention it in case your child goes to a private school. As far as I know there are no state colleges with postings in the parking lot, but I could be wrong.

[Keith B]

If you have a Texas CHL and the college is in Texas, you're OK for federal law, too.

Actually, the Federal Gun Free School Zone Act only applies to primary and secondary (K - 12) schools and not for colleges/universities.

[Scott in Houston]

I was taught that you're also ok (with a CHL) to carry on the grounds as well assuming no postings otherwise. It's when you cross a threshold into a building that you'd be in violation.

[Keith B]

I was taught that you're also ok (with a CHL) to carry on the grounds as well assuming no postings otherwise. It's when you cross a threshold into a building that you'd be in violation.

And postings on a school grounds are not valid, even though some school districts do post. However, again, since there is no test case, the local authorities might arrest you and make you the test case if found carrying past a 30.06 sign on the school grounds.

[JJVP]

I was taught that you're also ok (with a CHL) to carry on the grounds as well assuming no postings otherwise. It's when you cross a threshold into a building that you'd be in violation.

And postings on a school grounds are not valid, even though some school districts do post. However, again, since there is no test case, the local authorities might arrest you and make you the test case if found carrying past a 30.06 sign on the school grounds.

Why do you say that postings on school grounds are not valid?

[bayouhazard]

30.06 signs on the grounds of public schools may not be valid, but private schools are another matter.

[JJVP]

30.06 signs on the grounds of public schools may not be valid, but private schools are another matter.

That's why questioned his comment. It was a general comment that does not apply to every circumstance (i.e private colleges)