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I've recently taken the CHL class but haven't received my plastic yet. This weekend I'm heading up to Austin and then San Antonio to visit UT, Seaworld, and the Riverwalk and will be staying at a couple hotels. So what would you do in this situation? I understand I won't be able to carry in public yet but do I take my handgun on the trip and and at least have it in the car when I'm driving? Is it a good idea to leave a handgun in a car parked in a hotel parking lot?

Why not take it into hotel with you at night? Walking from your car to the room should be legal (IANAL), but if you're really nervous about it then unload the firearm while in your car and store it unloaded inside your luggage while entering your hotel. Then load it back up when you're in your room (which is a "premises under your control").

Sec. 46.02. UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPONS. (a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a handgun, illegal knife, or club if the person is not:

(1) on the person's own premises or premises under the person's control; or

(2) inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle that is owned by the person or under the person's control.

I would not leave the gun in the car.

I've always done that on trips. It's always been legal to carry in the car when traveling and always been legal to have in your hotel room. That's not public, that's your home while you are staying there.

Thanks for all the replies. I also think leaving the gun in the car wouldn't be a good idea and that's pretty much what I would have to do for most of the trip. When I'm not in the hotel or driving I would need to leave the gun in the car in some public parking lot (e.g., Seaworld, etc.). Normally I don't worry about car break-ins but I would be more nervous if there was a gun and ammo in the glove compartment.

weef wrote:Thanks for all the replies. I also think leaving the gun in the car wouldn't be a good idea and that's pretty much what I would have to do for most of the trip. When I'm not in the hotel or driving I would need to leave the gun in the car in some public parking lot (e.g., Seaworld, etc.). Normally I don't worry about car break-ins but I would be more nervous if there was a gun and ammo in the glove compartment.

Put your gun in a lockbox and lock that inside the car trunk. Since you'll be in Austin/San Antonio area anyway, stop by Cabela's in Buda and pick up one of these http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... 20799&rid=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I drove all over California of all places last summer with a gun locked in one of these Cabelas lock boxes in the "trunk" of our minivan. Took it inside wherever we were staying for the night, then locked it back in the trunk the next day. Left it all day in the parking lot at Sea World, Disneyland etc. No problems ...

... except of course the MAJOR problem that I could not legally carry

I have one of these in each of my cars. I keep them chained under the seats just kin case I have to leave my gun in my car in a no carry area. My wife has two of them, one for her concealed on person gun, and the other for a full size Colt Police Positive that she keep in the center console. It remains unlocked when she is in the car and locked when she gets out.