Teacher with CHL, gun in the car?

[drummer0415]

The gun is useless in the car anyways. By the time I ran out to the car got my gun and ran back the campus police would be at the school if they weren't there already, at least in my school district. Response times are very fast and the campus police practice often.

Honestly, like I said before, neither one of us is really worried about needing to use the gun AT SCHOOL. The reason why I am asking about leaving it in her car, is so she can have it with her when she runs errands and does all of her other daily activities after work. Assuming she CANNOT keep it in her car, If she wants to go anywhere after work and have her carry weapon on her, she would have to go all the way home, get her gun, and then go about what ever it is she was doing. That is a major PITA and a huge inconvenience. If she could keep it in her car, she can go wherever immediately when she leaves work and just take the gun out of the console/glove box and put it in her purse.

The question is, is that convenience worth the possibility of her getting fired?

[CC Italian]

The question is, is that convenience worth the possibility of her getting fired?

Only you and your wife can answer that and I would also talk to an attorney about his/her interpretation of the policy. I have never seen one that calls out a CHL. Only weapons prohibited on premises and then they give an example or on all school district property like mine.

[kahrfreak]

The gun is useless in the car anyways.

Only if you and your car magically drop into the parking lot from above. I don't know about you, but I can't plan in advance when someone will try to do me some wrong while driving to/from school. Granted, the gun is useless in the car while I'm not in it, but the state forces me into that situation.

[TexasCajun]

The gun is useless in the car anyways. By the time I ran out to the car got my gun and ran back the campus police would be at the school if they weren't there already, at least in my school district. Response times are very fast and the campus police practice often.

Honestly, like I said before, neither one of us is really worried about needing to use the gun AT SCHOOL. The reason why I am asking about leaving it in her car, is so she can have it with her when she runs errands and does all of her other daily activities after work. Assuming she CANNOT keep it in her car, If she wants to go anywhere after work and have her carry weapon on her, she would have to go all the way home, get her gun, and then go about what ever it is she was doing. That is a major PITA and a huge inconvenience. If she could keep it in her car, she can go wherever immediately when she leaves work and just take the gun out of the console/glove box and put it in her purse.

The question is, is that convenience worth the possibility of her getting fired?

Are you sure about that? Unless the school has a very hardened security profile, and unless police are actually stationed on campus & patrolling; a Sandy Hook can happen in a matter of seconds. The best advice that's been given on this thread is to investigate all the possiblities and ramifications of keeping your weapons as close as you possibly can.

[Richard_B]

I heard a news report that Gov. Rick Perry intends to see something done to allow permissive carry of handguns by teacher CHL holders, if authorized by the school district. We'll see what actually happens once the news moves on to another subject.

[n5wd]

But doesn't MPA prohibit a concealed handgun within 1,000' of a school?
CHL, of course, is a different thing.

The original question was posed on behalf of someone who intends to get her CHL, on a forum devoted to CHL topics, therefore I'd think it safe to say that the federal GFSZ isn't germane to the answer.

But, for everyone else... Remember that the GFSZ is primarily a sentence enhancer, to increase the penalty of some found to have committed a federal crime near the school zone (like drug-related murder, etc.).

[CC Italian]

If I could carry in my car I would! I just don't like driving home without my firearm etc. like the OP described and honestly I can't afford to be fired. When I say it is useless in the car I am referring to a Sandy Hook like situation and not the OPs question(sorry). The officers on my campus would be there before I could even get to my car and I can run very fast . An elementary school would be different. Smaller parking lot and school. I could run back real fast. Under a minute easily! In a sprawling HS on the second floor I am at least a minute from my car at a flat out run one way! I am just lucky that my ISD has a dedicated police force of over 40 officers. 2 of which are in my HS at all times during regular school hours. Most ISDs that are out in the rural areas or that are smaller don't have a dedicated police force. They rely on local police or pay to have local police in their school. That changes everything imo!

As for the OPs original question. No it is not illegal for your wife to carry in her car if she has a CHL. That much I can tell you. As for carry in the parking lot it is always a good idea to contact an attorney to make sure his/her interpretation of the isd handbook regs. Just my 2 cents.

[jmra]

Assuming you have a CHL there are no legal issues with gun in the car. The problem most teachers face is somewhere in the employee hand book it's going to say no guns on the "property". If it uses the word "property" you have violated school policy and most likely subject to termination.

If it uses the word "Premises" then you should be good to go. In my case it uses the word "premises" in one section and the word "property" in another section so no gun in the car. Sadly I don't think the district actually knows the legal distinction between the two words. I my have to suggest they change "property" to "premises" in order to maintain consistency throughout the document.

[Mel]

But doesn't MPA prohibit a concealed handgun within 1,000' of a school?
CHL, of course, is a different thing.

The original question was posed on behalf of someone who intends to get her CHL, on a forum devoted to CHL topics, therefore I'd think it safe to say that the federal GFSZ isn't germane to the answer.

But, for everyone else... Remember that the GFSZ is primarily a sentence enhancer, to increase the penalty of some found to have committed a federal crime near the school zone (like drug-related murder, etc.).

My post was in reference to a previous post that was talking about MPA, Not CHL.

[Divided Attention]

JMPHO - NEVER discuss that you have your gun in your car at work. If possible - park across the street? Then you are not on school property.

[bkj]

But doesn't MPA prohibit a concealed handgun within 1,000' of a school?
CHL, of course, is a different thing.

The original question was posed on behalf of someone who intends to get her CHL, on a forum devoted to CHL topics, therefore I'd think it safe to say that the federal GFSZ isn't germane to the answer.

But, for everyone else... Remember that the GFSZ is primarily a sentence enhancer, to increase the penalty of some found to have committed a federal crime near the school zone (like drug-related murder, etc.).

Texas ‘gun free school zone’ is a enhancement statute. If a person is commits a crime with a weapon within 300 feet of a school, then the punishment for that crime is increased.

Federal "gun free school zone" law is found in 18 U.S.C. 44 §922(q)
States that it is a federal crime for a person to possess a firearm, on the grounds of or within 1000 feet of a public, parochial, or private school. Basically, possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle while driving past a school is a federal crime.

There is an exception to this law if you are licensed by the State.