college kid just applied!

[TexasComputerDude]

Hey Yall,

I just sent in my packet today and joined this forum. I was hoping yall could help me with a few questions just so I can keep my butt out of trouble. I currently attend Stephen F. Austin State University and I am about 6 credits shy of being a junior until the end of this semester. My instructor was awesome but I just want to clarify a few things.

[1] I heard it is legal for me to carry on campus as long as I don't go into any buildings, is this true? Also can I legally leave my gun locked in my car when parked on campus?

[2] What can happen to me if someone sees my gun printing and makes a fuss about it? Can I loose my license or go to jail?

[3] Can yall recommend a good budget holster for a large (fat) guy? I carry a glock 30 and fullsized 1911 and have a 58" waist. I will be slimming down dramatically as I'm having lap band surgery in a month or so but still, its hard to find a good safe holster that won't print too much. I just bought an infidel holster to try out. and don't laugh, you would have hated to line up against me in football lol.

[4] Do my spare magazines have to be concealed too?

[5] Is this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6bKVHcyroQ considered concealed? Even if hanging from my belt loops? I can build box holster lol.

Also any advice?

[getusumtx]

Well......From one college student to another...Welcome....and grab a comfy chair..as the wait is proving to be long.Let me see if i can shed some light on your questions

1.LEGALLY...You are allowed to carry on campus so long as you arent in a sporting event, a building..or some sort of school sponored event.(like Aggie Midnight yell). HOWEVER!!!Legally, the school cant stop you(press charges) but they cant kick you out. My guess is the school still has a no weapons policy on campus property(which proabbly includes the parking lot. I cant stress this enough,Just because it isnt illegal doesnt mean it isnt against school policy.

2.i like cross-breed holsters. I got mine when i was 5'7 185 pounds(kinda plump) and it fit great. They make great holsters and they are Life-time warntee.again welcome aboard!

[TexasComputerDude]

man the waits killing me, its been like, idk, an hour.

thanks for the advice, I want to carry on campus but I'll just wait for it to be 100% legal. I feel like my campus is actually really safe (relatively). Everywhere I look I always see a cop.

[getusumtx]

If we are lucky they might get the law changed in 2009...Im hopping DPS will have my CHL processed by then.

[melkor41]

[5] Is this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6bKVHcyroQ considered concealed? Even if hanging from my belt loops? I can build box holster lol.

Also any advice?

I think you sent the wrong link... thats the link to the REALLY COOL new magpull pistol... and no I wouldnt consider that magpull pistol concealed in the back pocket like the guy shows.

And as for advice from one formerly fat man to another.... go for the pancreas carry position... the curve of your belly will follow the lines from the grip of the handgun and no one will be able to tell the gun from your gut.

[seamusTX]

[1] I heard it is legal for me to carry on campus as long as I don't go into any buildings, is this true? Also can I legally leave my gun locked in my car when parked on campus?

Welcome to the forum.

You already got the correct answer on this. It's legal, but the school can kick you out. That would probably mean that you lose your tuition and any credit for courses you are currently taking.

[2] What can happen to me if someone sees my gun printing and makes a fuss about it? Can I loose my license or go to jail?

In the first place, being "made" is not the problem that many people imagine it to be. People just don't notice; or if they notice a bulge, they don't do anything about it.

If someone calls the police on you, and you are still there when they arrive, what happens is up to the officer. In the worst cases, people have been charged with UCW or unintentional failure to conceal. One of the forum members is currently in a stew because of that.

[4] Do my spare magazines have to be concealed too?

There is no legal requirement to conceal magazines. Tactically, IMHO, you should. They are a giveaway that you are also carrying a pistol.

- Jim

[Keith B]

There is no legal requirement to conceal magazines. Tactically, IMHO, you should. They are a giveaway that you are also carrying a pistol.

- Jim

I agree, walking around with copies of American Handgunner, Combat Handguns and Concealed Carry magazine pretty well outs you as packing.

Seriously, as Jim said, all of your pistol related equipment should be concealed when in public. Blending in is the name of the game IMO. I personally take it as a challenge to not even print to folks who know I may be packing.

Shortly after getting my CHL my wife and I were on a day long trip with the in-laws to do some shopping and go to a neat restaurant in Kentucky. Before we left, my mother-in-law and wife both patted my waist at 4 o'clock to see if I was carrying. Not that they had a problem with it, but just kidding since I was newly packing heat. I showed them there was nothing there.

After being with them all day in the vehicle, around stores and in the restaurant, we returned home. When I got there I opened the front of my shirt and showed them that I had been carrying in a Kangaroo band holster all day and they never even knew it! After that, they take it as a challenge to see if they can tell if I am armed or not. Most times they can't, even when I am. And for Christmas last year my Mother-In-Law bought me about 3 new t-shirt/cover shirt sets as part of my presents!

[seamusTX]

You have a very cool mother in law.

My wife also has to frisk me to determine my status.

- Jim

[Keith B]

You have a very cool mother in law.

My wife also has to frisk me to determine my status.

- Jim

I know all the hype about in-laws and the jokes, but mine are fantastic people. My FIL is an avid hunter and gun owner. He is always keeping an eye out for good FTF deals for me on long arms (since he is in another state.) My MIL was actually more at ease about me carrying than my wife was, even though I had been a reserve LEO when we met and got married and I carried then. My MIL carries OC (pepper spray) as she goes out to one of the local parks regularly to walk. I have tried to convince her to get a CCW endorsement (Missouri's version of CHL), but she isn't interested in a gun. My FIL has been thinking about it, but since Missouri has unlicensed car carry (since 2005) and is a legal open carry state, he really doesn't have any place he goes where he can't have a pistol in at least the truck, and he carries on his shop property and at home anyway. Maybe some day!

[Armed-Texan]

even though he may not need the license, i feel that it is a good thing for someone to do who supports the RKBA. if nothing else it is a statistic in our favor. another licensee and no more shootings you know. it is a political statement if you will. i will try to convince my wife to get one, even though she is very anti gun. just to get another number on our side. what do you all think about this view?


stephen f awfuls huh? j/k. my wife graduated from SHSU, and living in huntsville we always heard about the lumberjerks, nacanowhere, stephen f awfuls, etc...
lol, i kinda miss the piney woods.

[seamusTX]

even though he may not need the license, i feel that it is a good thing for someone to do who supports the RKBA. if nothing else it is a statistic in our favor.

I agree.

In addition, even if you feel perfectly safe not carrying routinely, you never know when you will get crosswise with some lunatic. You don't want to have to wait six weeks to get a license at that point.

- Jim

[TexasComputerDude]

stephen f awfuls huh? j/k. my wife graduated from SHSU, and living in huntsville we always heard about the lumberjerks, nacanowhere, stephen f awfuls, etc...
lol, i kinda miss the piney woods.

Actually you should see the campus now, its great. We have alot of new buildings and some great teachers. The only problem with sfa in my book is that it takes a half tank of gas a day to get there and it costs me 87$ to fill up lol. but really, its changed alot imo.

[TexasComputerDude]

And as for advice from one formerly fat man to another.... go for the pancreas carry position... the curve of your belly will follow the lines from the grip of the handgun and no one will be able to tell the gun from your gut.

I may try that with my 1911, but I don't want my glock anywhere near my "package." Hopefully i'll be a former fat man too by the end of the year.

[TexasComputerDude]

....
You already got the correct answer on this. It's legal, but the school can kick you out....

I may stop by the campus police and ask them what they think. Whats the worst that can happen lol.

[Armed-Texan]

actually i have never even been to SFA, i was just spouting off the stereotypical rival babble! as long as we are all from texas its all good

on the lap band thing, you will be a skinny man by the end of the year, if not sooner. my aunt had it done, looks like a whole new lady, diabetes is gone, no insulin nothing. my dad's buddy had it done, i didn't even recognize him at my grandfather's funeral. but he works out three hours a day, which includes jogging and he doesn't have the sagging skin and is looking healthy. i am not big enough to really justify getting a surgery but i am big enough to worry about it harming my health, i'm just lazy to be honest. after finals next week i plan on hitting the gym and the track though. good luck with it and good health to you!

i would really like to be able to carry on campus, when i get my license, but by the time the legislature gets around to it i will have graduated. i practice carrying my xd45 around the house in a comp-tac pro-undercover and wear it about 3:20ish, lol, and it covers well and is comfortable. if i remember you wrote you carry in an infidel? same holster as mine just different belt attachments. it can be done you just gotta find what works for you. i started buying the tall shirts to help when i lift my arms. i don't normally lift both arms at once but ya never know.