Army Corps of Engineers

[howdy]

So I have to ask the question. If I am driving along N Eldridge going through the Addicks Res. or driving along Westheimer Pkwy through George Bush Park, I am not allowed to carry my handgun? Both roads go through COE property. I have gone to the bark park several times and always carried. There is a shooting range in George Bush Park, but both roads are MAJOR routes and heavily traveled. The Houston PD patrol both roads quite heavily and stop many drivers. I have never heard of someone being arrested for carrying with a CHL on one of those roads.

[RPB]

So I have to ask the question. If I am driving along N Eldridge going through the Addicks Res. or driving along Westheimer Pkwy through George Bush Park, I am not allowed to carry my handgun? Both roads go through COE property. I have gone to the bark park several times and always carried. There is a shooting range in George Bush Park, but both roads are MAJOR routes and heavily traveled. The Houston PD patrol both roads quite heavily and stop many drivers. I have never heard of someone being arrested for carrying with a CHL on one of those roads.

I doubt HPD or County Sheriff or Constable would even know the USACE regs ... However, if a Federal park ranger guy pulled you over (unlikely, but Texas Game Wardens do pull people over sometimes, so I guess it's possible, though I doubt Texas Game Wardens try to enforce any Federal Regs, the USACE Rangers might, especially since they all got the Memo above ...)

There is a bridge in another state that is similar ... "TECHNICALLY" it seems that it is illegal to carry a loaded gun on that street while on their property.... "PRACTICALLY" they aren't going to set up gates and checkpoints and transfer your gun from one checkpoint to the other and return it to you farther down the road.

That street/bridge/highway on USACE property example is why I'm baffled at me needing to unload my gun while paddling down a river, before entering USCAE lake and reload it after leaving each USACE lake while on a journey down a river which goes through several of their lakes.
I guess that's why they made shoulders on the roads? For us to pull over, unload, go down the street/highway over USACE property, then pull over and reload on the other side. BUT, on river banks, it's private property upon which I'd be trespassing...

Actually you may have loaded guns AT the shooting range there, but they must be transported to and from there UNLOADED according to the Regs. The regs say unloaded on their property .... except when used at the range or hunting in areas set aside for hunting etc etc etc.

Thanks for pointing that location out

I ain't a lawyer, above is my layman's opinion based upon what I perceive to be common sense and observation.

[RPB]

I have an idea! Why doesn't Texas simply offer to "purchase" ALL COE property within the confines of the State? Or barring that, offer COE to deed the Texas property back to the State of Texas in lieu of maintaining/upgrading/improving said property that resides within the State of Texas? (another way of saying: "getting back what belongs to us?")

Wait .... that makes perfectly good sense ... indicating that you will never have a career in politics.

Good idea I wish they would. But alternatively, they could just amend all federal regs to comply with State Laws ... after all, any powers not given to the Feds were reserved to the States anyway ... leastways thats what the schoolmarm told me once.

Utah seems to be talking of doing that

Federal Land Seizures Urged by Utah Governor
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 22022.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Utah legislator proposing bill to receive ownership of federal lands within state
http://cowboybyte.com/3349/range-war-ah ... hin-state/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Utah House panel OKs bill to let cities seize fed land
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/5 ... s.html.csp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Utah Invokes Eminent Domain Against the Federal Government
http://abovethelaw.com/2010/03/utah-inv ... overnment/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept pays to stock lakes at USACE lakes and USACE benefits from tousism people visiting to fish/camp etc and pay entrance fees.

Texas needs to send USACE a bill, and take land in payment ... at least for these small city/county Parks where there's no Army Corps park ranger etc but there may be wild hogs/robbers/rapists, etc

[TrueFlog]

I haven't kept up with the news in this area. Have there been any updates regarding carry on CoE lands? I remember alot of talk about Congress removing the restriction, but I never heard of anything actually passing.

Also, if the prohibition is still in effect, is it a federal law - i.e. is it a criminal act that could result in jail time and loss of CHL? Or is it just a park rule - i.e. violators would simply be expelled from the park with no other consequences?

[RPB]

I haven't kept up with the news in this area. Have there been any updates regarding carry on CoE lands? I remember alot of talk about Congress removing the restriction, but I never heard of anything actually passing.

Also, if the prohibition is still in effect, is it a federal law - i.e. is it a criminal act that could result in jail time and loss of CHL? Or is it just a park rule - i.e. violators would simply be expelled from the park with no other consequences?

there's 2 versions- yes Federal regulation/rule
The US House and US Senate version, both are stuck "in committee" to fix the issue it
S. 1588 “The Recreational Lands Self-Defense Act” - Senate
H.R. 1865, The Recreational Lands Self-Defense Act - House
read more here; links there to go to govtrac to track progress on the two bills stuck in committee viewtopic.php?f=7&t=57887&p=711065&hili ... ct#p711065" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I do believe there may have been something passed to prevent funds allotted to their budget to not be used for the prosecution ... but that may have been deleted as Obama signed it... still illegal on usace land with or without a chl or in the car etc.

search I did to locate that link above keywords=recreational+lands+act
search.php?keywords=recreational+lands+act" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;