Legal to have AR-15 in my Truck?

[TexasComputerDude]

I'm pretty sure its legal but I was stopped the other night while leaving my office at 3:30am. I had just started
my truck and went back inside to carry my other stuff out and a police officer pulls up and starts shining his light
into my truck. He gets out and shines his light in my backseat and notices my AR-15 and then he knocks on the
door. He asked me a few questions about who I was and asked for some ID. I provided my drivers license and CHL.

Then he ask's "do you always carry an AR-15 around with you?"

I said "not usually, I'm taking it hunting in the morning" (the truth)

He says ok, and then as he's walking away he turns back and goes "you don't have any warrants do you." and I said "no,
and I have a chl as proof."


Well, a few nights ago around 1am I was driving home and stopped at the gas station for a snack and drive off. I had
to stop for a second to open my food as I was hungry and I pulled into the Brookshire Brothers to open it. All of a
sudden I get a shining white light into my cab and the officer sits behind me for a minute. I decide to roll down my
window and put my truck in park.

He gets out and shines his light in my backseat (like he was looking for the AR) and says "oh your the guy who had the m4.
and walks off."

My questions are:

[1] Is it legal for me to hide the AR under my seat?
[2] Can the police officer confiscate my AR?
[3] If he tries to confiscate it should I let him have it?
[4] How can I PROVE he confiscated it?

I work late at the office sometimes and don't always keep my AR with me, but sometimes I do bring it (mainly cause I show it to friends or
go hunting or plinking with it and don't have time to drive home and get it. and really I don't need a reason to bring it with me.)

[Bart]

If it's legal to possess in Texas, it's legal to conceal. (IANAL)

Fight cops in the courts, not on the street.

If he confiscates anything and doesn't give you a receipt, report it stolen. Especially guns.

[hheremtp]

remember the days of the shotgun in the rack in the back window of the pickup? I do not believe it is Illegal to have an unconcealed long gun in your vehicle.

I agree with bart, you fight the police in a court room, not in the street, there are more of them than there are of you. you will always loose, even if you win, you will still loose in the end.

[G.A. Heath]

[1] Its completely legal to hide your AR, or keep it in sight.
[2] In regards to can the police officer confiscate your AR, yes. Can he do so legally depends on the situation.
[3] If he tries to confiscate let him take it, don't resist. Demand a receipt for it as soon as he lets you know he is taking it.
[4] Odds are he has video and audio recording the encounter, the evidence you need will be there. But if he refuses to give you a receipt you need to call 911 and report a weapon being stolen, give them as much information on the officer(s) as you can.

Remember he has a gun, and a whole bunch of buddies who also have guns and will get there quickly to help him so DO NOT do anything that can lead to a gunfight.

[TexasComputerDude]

DO NOT do anything that can lead to a gunfight.

oh never, but I was thinking about quoting law to him. But I guess I'll just have to ask for a reciept.

I doubt he would confiscate or is doing anything but his job but I just want to be prepared if he stops me again an.

[hheremtp]

DO NOT do anything that can lead to a gunfight.

oh never, but I was thinking about quoting law to him. But I guess I'll just have to ask for a reciept.

I doubt he would confiscate or is doing anything but his job but I just want to be prepared if he stops me again an.

I would be cautious about starting to spout off the law to a cop, it would be like him trying to tell you how to network two machines together, you probably would not like it much.

[TexasComputerDude]

true, I'm always respectful to the police but I just feel like I should plan out my actions.

[flintknapper]

Yes, it is legal for you to have your AR (or any other legal long-gun) in your vehicle.

For that matter, you can legally carry it around (anywhere not prohibited by law) as long as you do so in a manner not calculated to incite alarm.

You can conceal it if you like....or put it right up on the dash. Naturally, you'll want to make certain the weapon is secure (in case you were in an accident).

Is this happening in Lufkin or Nac?

[AEA]

There is only one problem I can think of in regard to carrying your AR-15 in your truck or car, openly or concealed.

If you are away from you truck for any length of time, most likely the rifle will be stolen by the time you get back to it.

[TexasComputerDude]

Yes, it is legal for you to have your AR (or any other legal long-gun) in your vehicle.

For that matter, you can legally carry it around (anywhere not prohibited by law) as long as you do so in a manner not calculated to incite alarm.

You can conceal it if you like....or put it right up on the dash. Naturally, you'll want to make certain the weapon is secure (in case you were in an accident).

Is this happening in Lufkin or Nac?

in corrigan, I just want to be sure I plan out what to do just on the off chance something were to happen. I was just concerned.

[TexasComputerDude]

There is only one problem i can thing of in regard to carrying your AR-15 in your truck or car, openly or concealed.

If you are away from you truck for any length of time, most likely the rifle will be stolen by the time you get back to it.

oh I only take it out of the safe when I actually am going to use it and I don't leave it in the truck when I get out at the office. I hide it under my jacket and bring it inside and lock it up tight. I had just walked it out to my truck that night and went back for some more stuff and could see my truck the whole time.

[karder]

You are not doing anything wrong by carrying it openly, but why invite trouble? I would certainly cover it up. What other people don't know can't hurt you.

[TexasComputerDude]

You are not doing anything wrong by carrying it openly, but why invite trouble? I would certainly cover it up. What other people don't know can't hurt you.

well for some reason I've always thought that rifles had to be in the open and pistols concealed.

I'll be hiding my guns from now on.

[JJVP]

I'm pretty sure its legal but I was stopped the other night while leaving my office at 3:30am. I had just started
my truck and went back inside to carry my other stuff out and a police officer pulls up and starts shining his light
into my truck. He gets out and shines his light in my backseat and notices my AR-15 and then he knocks on the
door. He asked me a few questions about who I was and asked for some ID. I provided my drivers license and CHL.

Then he ask's "do you always carry an AR-15 around with you?"

I said "not usually, I'm taking it hunting in the morning" (the truth)

He says ok, and then as he's walking away he turns back and goes "you don't have any warrants do you." and I said "no,
and I have a chl as proof."


Well, a few nights ago around 1am I was driving home and stopped at the gas station for a snack and drive off. I had
to stop for a second to open my food as I was hungry and I pulled into the Brookshire Brothers to open it. All of a
sudden I get a shining white light into my cab and the officer sits behind me for a minute. I decide to roll down my
window and put my truck in park.

He gets out and shines his light in my backseat (like he was looking for the AR) and says "oh your the guy who had the m4.
and walks off."

My questions are:

[1] Is it legal for me to hide the AR under my seat?
[2] Can the police officer confiscate my AR?
[3] If he tries to confiscate it should I let him have it?
[4] How can I PROVE he confiscated it?

I work late at the office sometimes and don't always keep my AR with me, but sometimes I do bring it (mainly cause I show it to friends or
go hunting or plinking with it and don't have time to drive home and get it. and really I don't need a reason to bring it with me.)

Why are you concerned about the LEO wanting to confiscate your AR-15? I see nothing in your post that suggest that, I see just the opposite. In the first encounter he came to investigate a truck that was on and an individual going inside a business in the middle of the night carrying stuff out. Once he found out you were a GG and you were not up to nogood he moved on.

The second encounter again he saw a truck in the middle of the night on a business parking lot. He came to investigate and once he recognized you from the previous encounter he moved on. It is SOP to look around the vehicle as they are approaching to make sure there is no one hiding or out of view that could be a treat to them. Again I see no evidence that the LEO has any interest in confiscating your AR-15. Just my $0.02

[TexasComputerDude]

oh no, I saw it as far fetched, but he just didn't seem to like me having an AR with me. I was just curious, esp if ever went to a county that really didn't like guns.

The officer was going his job and I'm glad he checked it out, it just got me thinking.