SB321 didn't change anything in the Texas Penal Code; it just makes it unlawful to fire an employee for having a gun in their car. It's still legal to have a handgun in your car in a school parking lot, but teachers' jobs are not protected by SB321.captainkbt wrote:Cdhutson wrote:I teaching a class next week and wanted to talk about SB321 (Employer Parking Lot Carry). I know it takes effect on 1 September 2011 and that the current law applies until then but it seems like it should be ok to teach it now. Any reason not to?
What are you teaching? I havent given a course since July and I am having a conflict with the new law SB321 vs. Texas Penal Code 46.035.
TPC 46.035 (f)(3) says.....
(3) "Premises" means a building or a portion of a building. The term does not include any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area.
I have been teaching my students that they can store their weapon inside there vehicle according to TPC 46.035 (f)(3). I was under the assumption (from DPS attorney at instructors class) that even employees of a school district could store their weapon inside their locked vehicle unless the school district posted a 30.06 sign at the parking lot entrance. But even then it was not illegal since the parking lot is not defined as the "premises". She said that if a 30.06 sign was posted at the entrance to the parking lot it would be posted in error, again since the statute does not include the parking lot in the definition of "premises". She said she wouldnt advise going past the sign since it could cause you some headaches but it wasnt illegal.
Now the new statute says employees of school districts cant leave their weapon in their locked vehicle in the parking lot. Doesnt that conflict with TPC 46.035 (f)(3) which says they can?
Chas.