TexasCHLforum.com

frankie_the_yankee wrote:A coiuple of years ago, my wife helped out with a charity benefit. She was in charge of the food/beer concession. At the end of the night, she and her crew counted up the money and put it all in a box. All told, it was around a thousand dollars.

One of the guys, an off duty cop also working the event, asked if we wanted him to follow us home, just in case some BG got an idea to try to rob the receipts. My wife casually told him, "Thanks, but you don't need to. Frankie's carrying a gun."

That's a good story. One aspect is that the cop knew you, or knew your wife well enough to trust her word.

For most cops, the words "have/has a gun" are alarming. I don't blame them a bit, as they can become targets of criminals at any time.

Then there are the citizens who go ape over any sight or mention of a weapon. Years ago, all they could do was shriek. Now they can call 911 on their cell phones. "Man with a gun" calls get attention in some jurisdictions.

- Jim

frankie_the_yankee wrote:

seamusTX wrote: Depending upon circumstances and subjective factors, saying that you are armed could be considered a threat.

While technically true that this could be the case in SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, many people on this site do not seem to realize that those circumstances are VERY, VERY narrow.

Let's look at two scenarios:
1. You are leaving a restaurant with a friend when some mangy-looking characters start to look at you with interest. Your friend says, "Those guys make me nervous." You say, "I have a gun."
2. You walk up to the counter at a convenience store, plunk down your beef jerky and Dr. Pepper, and say, "I have a gun."

I think the difference between these two scenanios is entirely subjective, but it's obvious to everyone.

P.S.: I don't think I've said the words "I have a gun" since I quit playing cops and robbers.

- Jim

IMHO, it is not illegal to tell someone. I think it is a bad idea, unless that person can lay hands on you without asking your permission at the moment (for example, your spouse).

Depending upon circumstances and subjective factors, saying that you are armed could be considered a threat.

GC §411.171. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:...
(3) "Concealed handgun" means a handgun, the presence of which is not openly discernible to the ordinary observation of a reasonable person.

PC §46.035. UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF HANDGUN BY LICENSE HOLDER.
(a) A license holder commits an offense if the license holder carries a handgun on or about the license holder's person under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, and intentionally fails to conceal the handgun.

For anyone who thinks it is illegal to reveal your status verbally, what do you think of caps that say "CHL instructor," IDPA, or USPCA?

- Jim