Can a Canadian carry a concealed firearm in Texas?

[pricedo]

I am a Canadian citizen wishing to visit Texas and have a valid Utah CFP (Concealed Firearm Permit), a valid Pennsylvania LTCF (License to Carry Firearms), a valid Maine Non-Residet Permit To Carry Concealed Firearms, a valid New Hampshire PRL (Pistol Revolver License).

I have valid Maine & New Hampshire hunting licenses.

Can I carry a concealed firearm while vacationing in Texas if I have a valid ATF Form 6 NIA for the handgun I'll be carrying?

I'm sure there are some Texas LEOs (Law Enforcement Officers) who could clarify this for me.

[KBCraig]

You're legal to possess a firearm in the U.S. because of the hunting licenses. Texas doesn't care about the Form 6; importation is between you and the ATF (in cooperation with the State Department).

Texas recognizes the Utah and Pennsylvania licenses, so you're perfectly legal to carry in Texas.

[anygunanywhere]

I am a Canadian citizen wishing to visit Texas.

Can I carry a concealed firearm while vacationing in Texas?

Welcome to Texas.

Why should we allow Canadians to carry concealed when Canada is so vehemently against me exercising my RKBA when I am in Canada?

Beacause it is the proper thing to do.

Now, when you return to Canada, remember this and work to get your country back on course. It appears as if our workload here might iincrease soon.

Anygunanywhere

[pricedo]

I am a Canadian citizen wishing to visit Texas.

Can I carry a concealed firearm while vacationing in Texas?

Welcome to Texas.

Why should we allow Canadians to carry concealed when Canada is so vehemently against me exercising my RKBA when I am in Canada?

Beacause it is the proper thing to do.

Now, when you return to Canada, remember this and work to get your country back on course. It appears as if our workload here might iincrease soon.

Anygunanywhere

You're preaching to the choir.

You don't know me or anything about me so don't make presumptions on my motivations or beliefs.

The antis love it (& win) when different froups of firearms owners fight against each other.

I don't agree with the draconian Canadian firearms laws.

I have spent a lifetime fighting this nonsense both in Canada & the USA.

As fellow 2A advocates we're going to have enough of a fight on our hands when Obama jumps into the driver's seat in the USA in January 2009 without taking pot shots at each other.

I hold lifetime memberships in the NRA & GOA as well as 3 Canadian pro firearms lobby organizations.

[anygunanywhere]

I am a Canadian citizen wishing to visit Texas.

Can I carry a concealed firearm while vacationing in Texas?

Welcome to Texas.

Why should we allow Canadians to carry concealed when Canada is so vehemently against me exercising my RKBA when I am in Canada?

Beacause it is the proper thing to do.

Now, when you return to Canada, remember this and work to get your country back on course. It appears as if our workload here might increase soon.

Anygunanywhere

You're preaching to the choir.

You don't know me or anything about me so don't make presumptions on my motivations or beliefs.

The antis love it (& win) when different froups of firearms owners fight against each other.

I don't agree with the draconian Canadian firearms laws.

I have spent a lifetime fighting this nonsense both in Canada & the USA.

As fellow 2A advocates we're going to have enough of a fight on our hands when Obama jumps into the driver's seat in the USA in January 2009 without taking pot shots at each other.

I hold lifetime memberships in the NRA & GOA as well as 3 Canadian pro firearms lobby organizations.

I did not make any presumptions on your motivations or beliefs.

I posted that allowing Canadians to carry in Texas is the right thing to do. Being of Canadian decent and having worked extensively in Ontario and Alberta I know many Canadians and consider them friends. I hold all individuals as having the right to keep and bear arms.

Again, welcome.

Anygunanywhere

[nemesis]

I am not opposed to law abiding Canadians carrying in America, in fact, I support it but I have and have had for some time serious concerns about the legality of it when using the ATF Form 6NIA. American law does allow Canadian citizens to temporarily import firearms into America but it is a limited privilege and not a carte blanche menu of doing what an American can do.

Take a look at the ATF Form 6 NIA. Questions 12 and 13 ask the following.............

12. Do you possess a valid hunting license or permit lawfully issued by a State of the United States? (See instructions 17 - 20)

If you answered Yes, attach a copy of the license or permit to the application and skip to question 14.
If you answered No, go to question 13

13. Do you possess an invitation and/or registration to attend an upcoming competitive target shooting event or sports or hunting trade show sponsored by a national, State or local organization devoted to the collection, competitive use or other sporting use of firearms? (See instructions 17 - 20)

If you answered Yes, attach a copy of any invitation and/or registration.
If you answered No, you likely are not in compliance with 18 USC 922(g)(5)(B) and therefore likely are prohibited from obtaining an approved ATF F 6NIA (5330.3D) temporary import permit. (call 304-616-4550 for additional information)

My humble opinion, which is of limited worth, is that the ATF is offering temporary importation of firearms for specific purposes and that does not appear to include concealed carry. I am presuming that the application offers importation for hunting purposes, collection purposes and sporting purposes but I am greatly concerned that a decent, law abiding Canadian citizen carrying a concealed weapon under the auspices of a Form 6NIA could find themselves in very serious legal consequences.

BATFE does not have a well established sense of humor and I would suspect that they expect firearms temporarily imported to be used for very limited and stated purposes. There is doubt in my mind that they would allow a handgun temporarily imported for a stated purpose to be used for a separate and unstated purpose. I, respectfully, suggest that the question be posed, completely and fully, to BATFE for their interpretation and any correspondence with or from them be saved for future reference.

[Beiruty]

I am a Canadian and Permanent Resident of TX, I have a TX CHL. Stop by any PDS office and ask any State Trooper.

[ghostrider]

>I am a Canadian and Permanent Resident of TX, I have a TX CHL. Stop by any PDS office and ask
>any State Trooper.

There's a difference between a non-citizen with permanent resident status (green card holder) and a non-citizen with non-immigrant status (either a visitor or a work-visa holder). While ATF rules indicate a non-citizen, non-immigrant may possess firearms and ammunition (with a US state hunting license) it becomes less clear how that applies to concealed carry. The last time I checked DPS rules, they basically said you had to be at least a green card holder, though that seems to conflict with ATF rules.

Be careful.

[anygunanywhere]

I am a Canadian citizen wishing to visit Texas and have a valid Utah CFP (Concealed Firearm Permit), a valid Pennsylvania LTCF (License to Carry Firearms)

I am curious. It is my understanding that to obtain a PA LTCF you must possess a permit from your home state. Since you are Canadian, how did you qualify for a PA LTCF? Do you have a Canadian concealed carry permit?

Anygunanywhere

[ghostrider]

They must do something different for people living in non-issue states:

>1. A photo copy of a license to carry a firearm (concealed carry permit) from your home state if that
> state has a concealed carry law.

In theory, Canada has a concealed carry permit system, but in practice its really almost a 'shall-not-issue, ever' place.

The application itself has the question worded this way:

>OTHER THAN PENNSYLVANIA, DO YOU POSSESS A CURRENT LICENSE, PERMIT,
>OR SIMILAR DOCUMENT TO CARRY A FIREARM ISSUED FROM ANOTHER STATE?
>IF YES, ATTACH A PHOTOCOPY OF THE DOCUMENT TO THIS FORM.

So the form question says "ANOTHER" state rather than "HOME" state. In theory, it could mean a non-resident license from NH, for example. I don't know what the statute actually requires.

[pricedo]

My understanding is that I can do anything that is legal with a gun imported into the United States with a Form 6 NIA ?

CCW is state jurisdiction & if a state issues me with their CCW permit it means that I can carry there.

What I don't rely on as an alien is reciprocity agreements. If I don't have a particular states non-resident permit I will not carry there unless I get the OK IN WRITING from the Attorney General of that state.

I take it as a red flag if a state does not of its own volition issue CCW permits to non resident aliens. Some Canadians feel it is appropriate to "get around" refusal of some states to issue non-resident CCW permits to aliens by carrying on the strength of a nominally reciprocal permit from another state. I am not as brave as these individuals and based on my experience as a LEO do want want to experience any penal system from the "client side" if you know what I mean.

In my opening post I was and still am soliciting opinions especially from Texas LEOs.

Pennsylvania will not issue a LTCF to an applicant whose home state issues resident CCW permits unless the applicant provides a copy of the permit from his/her home state. In cases of states that don't issue permits like Alaska, Vermont & Illinois the requirement is waived. Canadian law provides for ATCs (Authorizations To Carry) for "protection of life" but in reality the Provincial Chief Firearms Offices in Canada will not issue an ATC (Authorization To Carry) for personal protection even to a LEO.

The reason I applied for the CCW permits is that I pack a revolver in a shoulder or belt holster under my coat when I'm hunting in inclement weather to protect the gun from the elements and that is considered concealed by most jurisdictions. Packing a handgun "concealed" in this manner while handgun hunting would be covered by the "sporting purposes" wording of the federal legislation.

I am a LEO in Canada & professional courtesy might have been helpful in my being issued CCW permits by Utah, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Maine.

[FlynJay]

Here is the OK in writing from the Texas State AG:

Utah: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administra ... eement.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Pennsylvania: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administra ... rocity.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;