TexasCHLforum.com

Any information on unintentional printing? I can only find, on page 70 of Texas Concealed Handgun Laws FAQ's, a section stating that the "weapon cannot be visible, and that its presence cannot be discernable through ordinary observation."

So, an unintended 'bulge' or 'print'=bad or no big deal if it's not blatant?

Thanks in advance, and
Take care
Dave

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/d ... /PE.46.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sec. 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.

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/D ... GV.411.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(3) "Concealed handgun" means a handgun, the presence of which is not openly discernible to the ordinary observation of a reasonable person.

So you have to intentionally make or allow it to be openly discernible to the ordinary observation of a reasonable person. IMO, minor printing, your shirt accidentally riding up, or someone running up to you and trying to rip your clothes off would not be violations. While I AM bored at work, I am not a lawyer or a DPS-certified instructor. Don't even think about doing any of this because I said it's okay in my opinion, pay for your own lawyer if you want that.

PS since you said "unintentional", it's by definition not a violation.

ExTxN wrote:Any information on unintentional printing? I can only find, on page 70 of Texas Concealed Handgun Laws FAQ's, a section stating that the "weapon cannot be visible, and that its presence cannot be discernable through ordinary observation."

So, an unintended 'bulge' or 'print'=bad or no big deal if it's not blatant?

Thanks in advance, and
Take care
Dave

Welcome to the forum ExTxN. This is a very common question on the forum. It is not illegal to have bulges, intended or unintended, under your clothes. Can a person tell just by looking that are carrying a gun? If not, then you are okay. IANAL.

jordanmills wrote:http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/d ... /PE.46.htm

Sec. 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.

That's what I was looking for, and what I thought the intent was. Thanks!
Dave

Unless you are trying to intentionally let the presence of your concealed sidearm be known.....
nobody is going to be paying any attention to you. If you're new to CC you will probably over
compensate with your attire and feel like everyone is staring at you. Just be reasonable in
your choice of clothes and carry method, unless you have some physical oddity, no one will
pay any attention to you. Minor printing will be noticed only by you (or maybe someone from
this forum ) I believe the key word in the law is "intentionally". Relax.

Edit: Dang it, you guys type fast!

gemini wrote:Unless you are trying to intentionally let the presence of your concealed sidearm be known.....
nobody is going to be paying any attention to you. If you're new to CC you will probably over
compensate with your attire and feel like everyone is staring at you. Just be reasonable in
your choice of clothes and carry method, unless you have some physical oddity, no one will
pay any attention to you. Minor printing will be noticed only by you (or maybe someone from
this forum ) I believe the key word in the law is "intentionally". Relax.

Edit: Dang it, you guys type fast!

This is true because-although I've been around firearms since I was about 12-I only recently acquired my PA LTCF. Open carry is legal here, but with a house full of kids and a desire to be low-profile about the fact that I'm armed, I conceal here. Printing is not an issue, but I had heard it was in my old home state. And yeah, a couple of times I've felt like eyes were on me, when really no one notices anything. Thanks for the tips, and BTW, this is not a physical oddity-it's my FACE.
Take care
Dave

gemini wrote:Edit: Dang it, you guys type fast!

My Junior High School touch-typing class sure paid off.

Being nervous about printing is normal when you first start carrying. I am still a bit more concerned with it than I probably should be. During my first night of carrying, I went into a pizza joint with my wife and I felt like every eye in the room was on me. I was carrying a colt commander in an IWB holster, with a 511 covert shirt AND a heavy leather jacket, and I still felt like I was printing! I have relaxed a little since then. Can't remember who said it, but someone here posted something about "when I started to realize that my clothes were not see through, I was fine". That's classic, and applies to most I of us I believe. I agree with the guys here. Most people are not paying any attention. Just use normal care. I was in the store the other day and there was a guy in front of me with a light tee shirt covering a 1911 5 inch. He was printing so badly, I could actually tell what he was carrying. I am not sure that would constitute normal care.

I now have a faded print the shape of an LCP in my right front pocket (although it is in a Desantis nemisis) and doesn't bother me, lol. Anybody asks, I'll just tell them I can't afford new jeans! Fact is, whether carrying or not, the faded print shape will be there.

Might have to hang up the spandex.

mctowalot wrote:Might have to hang up the spandex.

Drat , that means no more bicycle shorts for me.

USA1 wrote:

mctowalot wrote:Might have to hang up the spandex.

Drat , that means no more bicycle shorts for me.

Is that a gun or are you happy to see me?

USA1 wrote:

mctowalot wrote:Might have to hang up the spandex.

Drat , that means no more bicycle shorts for me.

Well, I suppose you could still do the spandex shorts - as long as the fanny pack doesn't clash!

Note: I'm not flaming (seriously I'm not) anybody thats sporting a fanny pack. I wear my G27 (+extra mags.) in a "camera pouch" - but it's black and goes with everything!

An ambitious prosecutor could make a case that printing is a crime. While PC 46.035 makes it a crime for a CHL to intentionally fail to conceal, Mr. Ambitious, Esq., could prosecute under 46.02 (UCW).

Here's how: PC 46.02 makes it a crime to carry a handgun, but a concealed handgun under the authority of Government Code 411 is one of the exceptions. GC 411.171(3) defines a "concealed handgun" as "...a handgun, the presence of which is not openly discernible to the ordinary observation of a reasonable person."

If someone is obviously printing, even though they're not intentionally failing to conceal, a prosecutor with an agenda could argue that if the handgun is "openly discernible to the ordinary observation of a reasonable person", then they're not carrying a concealed handgun, thus are are subject to the protection of having a CHL.

Likelihood of prosecution: just slightly more than gun store employees who OC. i.e., not bloody likely.