Neighborhood Security Watch

[texasmr2]

Hello everyone it has been a longtime since I have been here. I became a peace officer (deputy sheriff) but left that position so I could return to Houston and be closer to my family but my license is still active although I am not recommisioned as of yet.

Ok here is my question and I hope it is in the right section and if not I apologize. My concern lies with my neighborhoods 'HPD Citizens Patrol'. My family has lived in our neighborhood since 1974 and we are in good standings but I digress. My concern is with the following:

"texasmr2 -- I am posting on a seperate thread the next upcoming training classes for our newly forming Citizens Patrol. It is a one hour training which I hope you will consider even though you will not be able to utilize your full peace officer skills in this capacity. They teach us that our full function is to OBSERVE and REPORT. From the training manual: "Volunteers may not be in possession of any type of weapon, either on his or her person or in the patrolling vehicle. This rule applies to volunteers licensed to carry a handgun in the state of Texas as well." We are organizing this team of volunteers to be extra sets of eyes and ears to aide our paid security service and to provide extra security visibility. You would not be able to use your peace officer credentials in this capacity as we are not allowed to approach or attempt to apprehend anyone, but your keen observational training could definitely be useful."

Can a neighborhood association or the local pd legally infringe upon my rights concerning carrying my firearm? I would really appreciate some assistance concerning this issue so I can present it at the next meeting.

Happy New Year to everyone and it is good to be back HOME!!

Gregg

[apostate]

If you don't like the rules, don't join the club. There's nothing stopping you from looking out for your neighbors unofficially. However, if you join the club and then break the rules, they can kick you out of the club.

[texasmr2]

If you don't like the rules, don't join the club. There's nothing stopping you from looking out for your neighbors unofficially. However, if you join the club and then break the rules, they can kick you out of the club.

I can see you did not fully understand my question so here it is again...can the association LEGALLY supercede the rights given to me by the state?

[jimlongley]

If you don't like the rules, don't join the club. There's nothing stopping you from looking out for your neighbors unofficially. However, if you join the club and then break the rules, they can kick you out of the club.

I can see you did not fully understand my question so here it is again...can the association LEGALLY supercede the rights given to me by the state?

Part of the reason I am not a member of my local "Citizens' Patrol" is their no guns policy. Consider it a private club, they can make whatever rules they want for membership, and to stay a member in good standing you must abide by them. They have made that clear, and I agree, if you don't like the rules, don't join the club, or join them and face getting caught and sue them for abrogating your rights.

You have no "right given to you by the state" what you have is a privilege.

[texasmr2]

You have no "right given to you by the state" what you have is a privilege.

Oh please enough of that nonsense. I am a state certified law enforcement officer not some idiot who passed the background check for a chl.

I thought I could come back and get a few mature and informed opinions but that still seem's to be just a dream.

[steveincowtown]

You have no "right given to you by the state" what you have is a privilege.

Oh please enough of that nonsense. I am a state certified law enforcement officer not some idiot who passed the background check for a chl.

I thought I could come back and get a few mature and informed opinions but that still seem's to be just a dream.

If you believe that why in the world would you come to a CHL board for advice? No offense, but if I spoke about LEO's this way I would expect my life on the board to be short lived.

[Middle Age Russ]

IMO, "Team of volunteers" = club. The club rules state that you cannot carry a firearm even if licensed to do so. I do not know, without further edification regarding this club and its ties to HPD, whether there is any legal recourse possible against you for not following the rules. Obviously they could certainly kick you out of the club.

As others have said, if you don't care for the rules don't join the club.

[RoyGBiv]

You have no "right given to you by the state" what you have is a privilege.

Oh please enough of that nonsense. I am a state certified law enforcement officer not some idiot who passed the background check for a chl.

I thought I could come back and get a few mature and informed opinions but that still seem's to be just a dream.

Wow.

[pbwalker]

I am a state certified law enforcement officer not some idiot who passed the background check for a chl.

Wow...I hope I am never pulled over by you...being that I am one of those "idiots".

[Keith B]

You have no "right given to you by the state" what you have is a privilege.

Oh please enough of that nonsense. I am a state certified law enforcement officer not some idiot who passed the background check for a chl.

I thought I could come back and get a few mature and informed opinions but that still seem's to be just a dream.

Excuse me? Attitudes like this are a problem. The holier than thou arrogance that tends to paint LEO's in a bad light. Hope you don't have that attitude when if you ever stop a CHL.

[speedsix]

...I wonder if LA'S hirin' these days...

[Charles L. Cotton]

You have no "right given to you by the state" what you have is a privilege.

Oh please enough of that nonsense. I am a state certified law enforcement officer not some idiot who passed the background check for a chl.

I thought I could come back and get a few mature and informed opinions but that still seem's to be just a dream.

You have two choices; apologize to everyone or leave for good.

Chas.

[74novaman]

Well I was going to give an answer about the law...

But since I'm just an idiot who passed a background check I'll leave looking up the relevant statutes to the highly trained and super friendly OP.

[JJVP]

If you don't like the rules, don't join the club. There's nothing stopping you from looking out for your neighbors unofficially. However, if you join the club and then break the rules, they can kick you out of the club.

I can see you did not fully understand my question so here it is again...can the association LEGALLY supercede the rights given to me by the state?

No they cannot legally supersede the privilege give to you by the state. However, they can have a no weapons policy for their volunteers performing the "duties" of the organization. It is the same if your employer has a policy against firearms in the workplace even thou they are not 30.06 posted. They cannot arrest you, but they can fire you. Most stores for example allow CHL carry by customers but have a no weapon policy for their employees. The neighborhood security watch has a no weapons policy. If you fail to comply, you can be "fired". They also have a "watch and report" only policy. So if you saw a crime in progress and tried to stop it, with or without a weapon, you will be "fired". Their club, their rules. Don't like them, don't join.

[longtooth]

Me too. Iddiot that passsed but also so stupid the DPS sertified me as an Instructor of idiots.

When I posted that I hit send & Charles had posted his above. I was not paying attention so I then poked the return arrow & lost it.

More evidence of idiocy I guess.

Hope he dont ever drive over 50 miles for a CHL class.