Bad plan: Carry under MPA, act as CHL, claim ignorance.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

A few Sunday nights ago, Tom Gresham's "Gun Talk" program took a call from a man in Texas,
city/town unspecified.

He said "Everyone down here in Texas is getting their CHL's. But Texans have the ability to carry firearms in their
car under MPA (Motorist Protection Act, which allows vehicle carry, but is not as robust as the CHL), so why bother to
get a CHL?"

Unfortunately at that point I had to leave the truck, and missed the scenario that the caller was laying out.
But he apparently painted a picture of how he could carry the gun in his vehicle under MPA, then stretch his carrying of
the gun outside the vehicle. Then if the LEO's showed up, he'd claim ignorance and try to ride the MPA train out of trouble town.

Did anyone hear this show? If so, please fill in the details.

Tom Gresham was dumbfounded, and told the guy that he should just get his CHL, and not play fast and loose with MPA.

Comments welcome.

SIA

[Dave2]

A few Sunday nights ago, Tom Gresham's "Gun Talk" program took a call from a man in Texas,
city/town unspecified.

He said "Everyone down here in Texas is getting their CHL's. But Texans have the ability to carry firearms in their
car under MPA (Motorist Protection Act, which allows vehicle carry, but is not as robust as the CHL), so why bother to
get a CHL?"

Unfortunately at that point I had to leave the truck, and missed the scenario that the caller was laying out.
But he apparently painted a picture of how he could carry the gun in his vehicle under MPA, then stretch his carrying of
the gun outside the vehicle. Then if the LEO's showed up, he'd claim ignorance and try to ride the MPA train out of trouble town.

Did anyone hear this show? If so, please fill in the details.

Tom Gresham was dumbfounded, and told the guy that he should just get his CHL, and not play fast and loose with MPA.

Comments welcome.

SIA

Dunno who Tom Gresham is, but he sounds like a smart guy.

[Keith B]

You can listen to the shows here " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Dave2:

Tom Gresham has a radio talk show. In Dallas, it's on every Sunday night from 10PM-Midnight, on 660 AM, KSKY.
Since you are in Plano, that would work for you. Other forum members, elsewheare in the Lone Star:
Check your local listings if you are interested.

He also runs Guntalk TV, which produces a wealth of firearms-related videos.

http://www.guntalktv.com/site.php

Tom is from Louisiana and his shows are seen/heard nationally. He's going to have the NRA's Wayne LaPierre (sp?) on soon.

Since I don't have the right cable channels to see a lot of gun ads, Tom's show is one of the few places I can hear
lots of "gun talk" on the radio, and some gun ads in between the jabber. Check it out.

SIA

[Dave2]

I found the segment in question in their archives (it starts at ~16:45). The caller's main argument is that if you don't take the CHL class, you can't get in trouble for breaking the laws that you would've learned about in your CHL class.


Needless to say, Mr. Gresham refuted the caller's argument.

[jdkinman]

But he apparently painted a picture of how he could carry the gun in his vehicle under MPA, then stretch his carrying of
the gun outside the vehicle. Then if the LEO's showed up, he'd claim ignorance and try to ride the MPA train out of trouble town.

Tom Gresham was dumbfounded, and told the guy that he should just get his CHL, and not play fast and loose with MPA.

SIA

This kind of "logic" is what makes me want to beat my head against a wall.

First off, it assumes any cop you run into under this premise is an idiot.

Two, it takes HUGE advantage of any lenience or understanding that the cop may have for you.

Three, it's very sloppy, very immature and makes us all look bad.

And finally, it coattails on those of us who are cognizant about doing THINGS RIGHT so as not to unnecessarily jeopardize things for all other gun-owners.

JD

[Dave2]

But he apparently painted a picture of how he could carry the gun in his vehicle under MPA, then stretch his carrying of
the gun outside the vehicle. Then if the LEO's showed up, he'd claim ignorance and try to ride the MPA train out of trouble town.

Tom Gresham was dumbfounded, and told the guy that he should just get his CHL, and not play fast and loose with MPA.

SIA

This kind of "logic" is what makes me want to beat my head against a wall.

First off, it assumes any cop you run into under this premise is an idiot.

Two, it takes HUGE advantage of any lenience or understanding that the cop may have for you.

Three, it's very sloppy, very immature and makes us all look bad.

And finally, it coattails on those of us who are cognizant about doing THINGS RIGHT so as not to unnecessarily jeopardize things for all other gun-owners.

JD

Yeah, that plus, "ignorance of the law is not a defense to prosecution" is what Tom Gresham said.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Thanks for finding the right show and furthering this discussion.

"You can't fix stupid."
Ron White, Fritch, Texas.

SIA

[The Mad Moderate]

Thanks for finding the right show and furthering this discussion.

"You can't fix stupid."
Ron White, Fritch, Texas.

SIA

You can, it's pretty cheap, but alas it's also a felony.

[r_gray]

I agree with Tom...get a CHL.

Hey, you can go to Tom's website and play back the whole show! I love Tom's show and sometimes I'm not available to listen. One of the posts above mine has the link, or you can just Google "gun talk Tom Gresham" and you'll find his site. Look around there..."archives" or something, you can play back his programs for a few months back!

I thought about this. Texas says your car is like your home. But hey...if you're car breaks down and you have to walk...you're not in "your car" any more! You're out, walking around, away from your car! I decided to get a CHL because of that! Besides, the class was fun and I now really possess my consitutinal right to carry a firearm. You have to admit...even though the constitution says we have a right to bear arms, there are felons, mentally handicapped, etc. people who really should not [sorry to the 'purists' out there]. So the CHL class, IMO, is OK for a requirement, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

[kjolly]

Whether you carry under the MPA or not, remember your car is still your best weapon. You can run away from trouble and in a last resort it has a lot more stopping power than a bullet.
Get your CHL and you don't have to worry about the distinctions and unlike a credit card its a proud piece of plastic to own.

[Purplehood]

Whether you carry under the MPA or not, remember your car is still your best weapon. You can run away from trouble and in a last resort it has a lot more stopping power than a bullet.
Get your CHL and you don't have to worry about the distinctions and unlike a credit card its a proud piece of plastic to own.

I would have to differ. My card is not "proud", it is concealed. Just like my weapon.

[Dave2]

Whether you carry under the MPA or not, remember your car is still your best weapon. You can run away from trouble and in a last resort it has a lot more stopping power than a bullet.
Get your CHL and you don't have to worry about the distinctions and unlike a credit card its a proud piece of plastic to own.

I would have to differ. My card is not "proud", it is concealed. Just like my weapon.

You conceal your car?

[Purplehood]

Whether you carry under the MPA or not, remember your car is still your best weapon. You can run away from trouble and in a last resort it has a lot more stopping power than a bullet.
Get your CHL and you don't have to worry about the distinctions and unlike a credit card its a proud piece of plastic to own.

I would have to differ. My card is not "proud", it is concealed. Just like my weapon.

You conceal your car?

Should I?

[Dave2]

Whether you carry under the MPA or not, remember your car is still your best weapon. You can run away from trouble and in a last resort it has a lot more stopping power than a bullet.
Get your CHL and you don't have to worry about the distinctions and unlike a credit card its a proud piece of plastic to own.

I would have to differ. My card is not "proud", it is concealed. Just like my weapon.

You conceal your car?

Should I?

Can you? I'm not sure they make pants that big.