TexasCHLforum.com

in response to JarHead:

"As long as the second amendment is observed, the rest of our rights are guaranteed." Baloney. Not all legal gun carriers are going to always be nice. Legal carry does not automatically an upstanding citizen make. So now should we trust Goforth with a gun? I wonder if he has ever even been in a National park.

JarHead, you sound like you don't know very much about the process necessary to obtaining a CHL, which is absolutely necessary to legal carry anywhere outside of your vehicle, home, or place of business. We pass all kinds of background checks that most citizens do not have to undergo. We owe nothing in back taxes, unpaid alimony, unpaid child support, or unpaid student loans. We are cleared by the FBI, including any Homeland Security interests. We are educated in the laws of concealed carry, are educated in conflict resolution and de-escalation, and pass a range qualification. Statistically, CHL holders are far less likely to be involved in crimes than the rest of the citizenry.

We can PROVE our trustworthiness. Can you say the same? If you don't meet all of the above qualifications, or even if you do but have no means to prove it, then your accusation rings hollow. As to whether or not GoForth has ever actually been in a national park, you've made a statement without regard for any actual knowledge of the man and his pastimes. As the sage once said, "better to be quiet and thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

in response to Stratman:

Geez. The letter writer makes a VERY valid point. However, if Texas laws are so great, why can't we carry in a state park? Big signs at the enterance say no firearms. Are CCW's excluded from this?

Stratman, we CAN carry in state parks. Please see: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/park ... ations/#5c" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In that FAQ, it says:

"(d) Arms and Firearms. It is an offense for any person to display or discharge an arm or firearm in a state park, unless:

1. the person is participating in a public hunting activity within the state park that has been authorized by written order of the director so long as the person is in compliance with the applicable public hunting rules and regulations; or
2. the person has been authorized by written order of the director."

Such written authorization was issued in 1998:

"Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Executive Director Order No. 98-001
Nothing in the Public Hunting Lands Proclamation or State Parks Proclamation prohibits a person from possessing a concealed handgun, loaded or unloaded, under the authority of a concealed handgun license issued by this state or any other state. Persons carrying concealed handguns must comply with all concealed handgun laws.

The Executive Director reserves the right to prohibit the carrying of all firearms during certain events or in certain locations on Departmental lands.

This order is issued pursuant to Title 31, Texas Administrative Code, Sections 59.134(0(1) and 65.199, and is effective immediately.

Signed this the 8th day of July, 1998.

Andrew Sansom
Executive Director
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department"

The one place where you may NOT carry your concealed weapon (or any centerfire rifle or pistol for that matter, concealed or not) is on land owned by the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE). However, the TWPD says that if ACOE owned land is leased to TWPD, then TWPD law applies, and you would then be able to carry your concealed weapon in that park.

I hope that clears things up for you a bit.

Rex B wrote:That site requires more info to register than I want to give.
Someone needs to respond to the comment that he can't carry in Texas State Parks.
It's been made very clear that CHLs are welcome in Texas State Parks.

The Annoyed Man wrote:It doesn't look like the newspaper's editorial department wants the truth about state park carry disseminated. Comments posted after mine are appearing, but mine are still not.