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While it hasn't been said in this post, there was another recent question on the CHL Instructors forum about a Drury Motel being a possible place to stay near the classroom during last week's CHL Instructor's course.

Surely not...? Say it ain't so....

We need new here.
No mint ON my pillow ?!? THEN, I get to keep tha' pistol UNDER it !!! Plain and simple.
(( Did they check out how nasty and dirty tha shower stall was ? ))

Mac

I'm actually a little surprised by Charles' information. I wouldn't even have thought one would be in possession of stolen property since it wasn't stolen, but lost.

BrianSW99 wrote:I think it disturbs me more that housekeeping obviously did not change the sheets and pillow cases after the last guest than someone accidentally leaving their gun under the pillow. That should have been found if the bed was actually changed.

Brian

Egads. They would have to compensate me pretty good for that unchanged bedding. No way a gun could be overlooked if the pillowcases had been changed. No wonder the family stay in that room wasn't a pleasant one.
Another thought: Wonder if they were all staring at it like it was going to go bang any minute. Like looking at a rattlesnake curled up in the grass. No body move! It's a gun!

Ad in Lost & Found section of newspaper: Found: Metal object under pillow at Drury Motel. Call 555-555-5555 give discription to claim. (after 90 days, it's mine )
I bet whoever left it there knows where it is by now. "aw shucks, so that's where that rascal got off to".

C-dub wrote:I'm actually a little surprised by Charles' information. I wouldn't even have thought one would be in possession of stolen property since it wasn't stolen, but lost.

Maybe I am not as surpised because there used to be a law (admittedly in England) about this, it was known as theft by finding. Maybe that applies in Texas too

This really is going to sound like a lawyer's answer, but I can't help it. When you find property that isn't yours and you exercise dominion over it, it's theft. If you take the property and take reasonable steps to find the owner, such as taking in a stray dog and advertising for the owner, then it's not theft. No, theft of ammo isn't a federal felony.

Chas.

surprise_i'm_armed wrote:Charles:

Your answer was what I expected to be the prevailing statute.

If you found a box of WWB with 100 rounds of .40's under the pillow,
would it also be a felony to keep that as well?

Does any "keeping" of a firearm-related object constitute a felony theft?

My assumption is "yes" and that all such items should be turned over
to LEO's at the earliest opportunity.

SIA

Charles,

Arent hotels a little different though?

Doesnt the Texas Innkeepers Law protect and release hotels from certain obligations?

“[t]he custom and usage of all hotels and boarding houses are well known, not to be responsible for valuables carried to the rooms by the boarders or guests, but to be responsible if the valuables are deposited with the owner or clerk of the boarding house

Texas' liability for guest items is limited to $50.00

Now, unless this is incorrect and/or there are state/fed laws regarding "lost" handguns, i dont think anyone would be in any trouble for keeping the handgun.

You should see the number of Lost/Found items we have in housekeeping. They are usually "given" to the housekeeper who found it after 3 months (hotel policy). With regard to electronic items which may contain personal info (laptops, smart phones), to remain PCI Compliant, it is policy to destroy them.

C-dub wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

MedicMan218 wrote:

BrianSW99 wrote:I think it disturbs me more that housekeeping obviously did not change the sheets and pillow cases after the last guest than someone accidentally leaving their gun under the pillow. That should have been found if the bed was actually changed.

Brian

+2

I know where I won't be staying! I don't want dirty sheets from someone else, even if they do put a pistol on my pillow instead of chocolate.

Chas.

+4

+(3.14159 * r^2); r = 1.261566

Sorry to be late to this party, but man, disgusting!

On the other hand, maybe the Housekeeping came in and saw such an expensive leave, and thought he was coming back, and just made the bed and left the gun where it was. Lord knows I wouldn't be leaving my Glock sitting under a pillow like that. I'd either leave it on the night stand, or in my overnight bag as to not forget it. I don't even forget my toothbrush.

Shoot, I was hoping the hotel industry was trying to attract gun enthusiasts by giving a free pistol with every room! I would hate to be the guy that has to go back and claim that one!
I dont keep guns under the pillow anyway, with my rotten luck I would shoot myself in my sleep, insurance would call it suicide and not pay the spouse and kids the 1mm due them!

BrianSW99 wrote:I think it disturbs me more that housekeeping obviously did not change the sheets and pillow cases after the last guest than someone accidentally leaving their gun under the pillow. That should have been found if the bed was actually changed.

Brian

I cannot conceive of any valid reason for putting a handgun under a pillow on a bed that you are NOT sleeping on.

My vote is that housekeeping is dismal. They looked at the bed, it looked good to them so they didn't bother messing with it. That is just gross.

Purplehood wrote:I cannot conceive of any valid reason for putting a handgun under a pillow on a bed that you are NOT sleeping on.

My vote is that housekeeping is dismal. They looked at the bed, it looked good to them so they didn't bother messing with it. That is just gross.

You think that is gross... use a black light on the bed spread. Now, THAT is gross!

longhorn_92 wrote:

Purplehood wrote:I cannot conceive of any valid reason for putting a handgun under a pillow on a bed that you are NOT sleeping on.

My vote is that housekeeping is dismal. They looked at the bed, it looked good to them so they didn't bother messing with it. That is just gross.

You think that is gross... use a black light on the bed spread. Now, THAT is gross!

Back when I ran our major crimes forensics team, I bought a cool new ultraviolet light scanner to help find crime scene stains from certain bodily fluids that are almost transparent when dry. My team asked a local motel owner to let them try it out in an unoccupied room to see if we could find anything, and she accompanied them out of curiosity.

Not only did the bedspread and headboard light up like some kind of rorschach test - so did the rug, the walls, the furniture, and even parts of the ceiling.

The motel owner was aghast, and even we were surprised.

I try not to think about that too much when I have to travel. It wouldn't help me sleep.

Not to re-hash what has already been said.

How do you forget/leave your pistol somewhere?

And that is just totally disgusting that the sheets were not changed between occupants!