Gun Store

[G26ster]

OK, OK, we are getting into a contest I didn't intend. I just asked a simple question. I know that there is little chance of being arrested for taking a gun into a gun shop in a case or otherwise. There is, as has been pointed out to me, case law that says that's OK. But in the terms of the statute:

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.

Technically it's illegal. I'm not concerned, and I'm not over thinking. I just wanted to know if there was another statute I was not aware of that would allow me to un-conceal in a gun shop. That's all, no more. I think we should let this thread just fade away

[gwashorn]

I go into my firearm dealer with it unloaded and cased usually. If a SA Pistol, racked open and no mag. If revolver, open. I tell them, they look and go from there. Police are there at times and not a problem. I usually leave it with them at the desk and bring up what I want or have them go to the item with me. Up front, honest and ask how to proceed.

Gary

[quidni]

There's a store locally that I like that had a "dressing area" where you could take a holster and try it out in private. They remodeled, but they still have a "back room" where the gunsmith parks his workbench & they're usually cool about folks testing holsters there.

[OldCannon]

Seems obvious to me...buy a "blue gun replica" of the pistol you need to get "fitted" (http://www.botachtactical.com/blueguns.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). Use that at the store. Nobody panics, nobody takes the chance of violating a CHL law, and best of all, you get an inert gun to practice concealed drawing at home. All for $30-$40. Everybody wins.

As is my standard practice, I will not be charging for any awesome advice I give today

[ericlw]

When you buy your gun its in a gun box...thats not concealed!
Your over thinking it i believe...

Sure it is, unless the gun box is transparent. What's the difference between a gun box, a fanny pack, and a concealment purse? (No, that not the first line of a joke.)

Point is, if you can't see the gun, it's concealed. Doesn't matter if it's in a gun-shaped box with the words "DANGER -GUN" stenciled on the side -- it's still concealed.

well i went to the gun show today and they were having some eco challenge thing infront of the george r brown convention center and i walked right by about 20 HPD officers with a blue case that said "smith wesson" down the side.none of them even looked at me at all.i even stopped to watch a bit and no one even asked what i had.

tho i did have 2 people ask if i had my pistol for sale inside at the show itself.

[ScottDLS]

When you buy your gun its in a gun box...thats not concealed!
Your over thinking it i believe...

Sure it is, unless the gun box is transparent. What's the difference between a gun box, a fanny pack, and a concealment purse? (No, that not the first line of a joke.)

Point is, if you can't see the gun, it's concealed. Doesn't matter if it's in a gun-shaped box with the words "DANGER -GUN" stenciled on the side -- it's still concealed.

well i went to the gun show today and they were having some eco challenge thing infront of the george r brown convention center and i walked right by about 20 HPD officers with a blue case that said "smith wesson" down the side.none of them even looked at me at all.

Do you have a CHL? If so, not a problem.

[ericlw]

well i do but i just got approved and it hasnt been mailed.

[Kevinf2349]

well i do but i just got approved and it hasnt been mailed.

Then you don't actually have one.....yet. Please don't make the msitake of carrying until you actually have the licence.

[Johnny Polite]

At the Bullet Trap in Plano, they have a wide variety of rental guns. When I buying my Kahr, I asked if I could try their rental gun of the same model in a few holsters. He said "Sure. I don't see why not."

It might work for you too if you can find a place that rents your model and sells holsters.

[marksiwel]

When you buy your gun its in a gun box...thats not concealed!
Your over thinking it i believe...

Sure it is, unless the gun box is transparent. What's the difference between a gun box, a fanny pack, and a concealment purse? (No, that not the first line of a joke.)

Point is, if you can't see the gun, it's concealed. Doesn't matter if it's in a gun-shaped box with the words "DANGER -GUN" stenciled on the side -- it's still concealed.

So this is concealed?

[sjfcontrol]

I wouldn't want to test it, but I'd say "yes". After all, I couldn't even tell if there was a gun in it. Is it illegal to carry an empty holster? If not, what Probable Cause would a LEO have to see if there was a gun in it?

But suit yourself, Mark.

[Keith B]

I am going to say no. Reason being is the statute states 'not reasonably discernible by the average person'. If you have that hanging on your belt, it may NOT have a gun in it, but if John Q. Public sees it and determines you are carrying a gun and calls, then you will not have been properly concealing as they identified it as a gun, cause it looked like a holster, and you will have a VERY hard time explaining to the Judge that is was concealed properly since it looks like a gun holster.

[PUCKER]

Sounds like you had a better experience at Cabela's than I did....I posted this last year:

http://www.texaschlforum.com/viewtopic. ... 43#p248569" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"My Cabela's gripe - they lost business because of it:

My wife and I went to the Cabela's in Fort Worth (170 & I-35W) yesterday. We looked at a few guns for her, she wasn't impressed with the service - sure, they were busy, but other folks seemed to get preferential treatment...oh well.

My main reason for going there was to check out and purchase (if I liked it) an IWB holster for my Kimber. I don't currently own an IWB holster so I wanted to check a few out, do a test fit on me (with one of Cabela's guns), etc. Found one I liked, went up to the gun counter and asked the guy working it if I could see a Kimber 4" to test one of their holsters, which I had already put on. The employee told me I needed to hand the holster to him - which I did while asking "Why...?"

He proceeds to put the Kimber in the holster and says, "Yeah, it fits."

Me: "I'm not concerned about that, I want to make sure the holster and the gun comfortably fit me."

Him: "Sorry, you can't do that, it's store policy, my security people would freak out..."

Me: "Let me get this straight, don't take this as being argumentative, but you expect me to buy that without being able to try it on first - the way it is meant to be used? Would you buy a car without test driving it?"

Him: "Yeah, I buy all of my holsters on the internet."

Me: "No thanks, you can keep it."

Wife and I left - won't be doing any more shopping/business at Cabela's.

Oh, I should mention that I saw a customer who was looking at a gun put it in the small of his back to test it out...and the "freaking out security people" never appeared."

Depends on the store. It it's a small operation, simply asked, "Are you comfortable with me taking my carry weapon out to test this holster?" I did something similar when buying my UC9; I asked him if I could conceal it in an IWB holster that I brought with me and he let me walk around the store with it. He won't be a cop doing a sting operation, but don't do what I just said in front of a LEO.

At Cabela's or Academy you have to unload it and bring it to the front and they'll take it and walk you to the department. I find that process annoying because I'm licensed to carry the gun in the store, but this guy has to carry it to the department. And they never clear the gun, they always asked if it's unloaded. Another option is using their gun if they have one like yours.

Let's not get into the debate of how it's illegal to open carry to and from the store; I've seen enough of those threads and there is no resolution.

Embalmo

[marksiwel]

my main argument for not letting you stuff a holster down your pants, is, its down your pants. If I put something down my pants, and then handed it to you and told you to put it down yours, would you do it?

[PUCKER]

my main argument for not letting you stuff a holster down your pants, is, its down your pants. If I put something down my pants, and then handed it to you and told you to put it down yours, would you do it?

If you wore it at the noon or 6 positions, no!! no no!! If you wore it at 3 or 9 or thereabouts, sure thing. I tried on a buddy's Bullman before I ordered mine, it was VERY comfy. It's sitting on my desk, patiently awaiting my Kimber, picking it up from the "gun spa" today.