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My son plays a sport on the weekends (today) that is played at his school field. I know it is ok for me to have my firearm when I drop him off in the morning, but I am not allowed to go inside. Is it ok to carry on the field while I watch the game?

Before someone asks, there are no signs in the parking lot. Being new to the whole CHL thing, I just want to stay legal, but I also want to carry everwhere it is legal at all times. Is this a grey area or not?

UIL or any other school-sponsored activity? No - you can't carry.

Inside a building on the school property? No - you can't carry as that's the definition of "premises".

Outdoors, not a UIL or otherwise school-sponsored sporting event - carry away.

It was not UIL, and non school related. I did not carry today because I just wanted to make sure. I kind of thought it would be ok to carry but did not want to tempt fate being so new to CHL. Next week is a different story.

Just don't forget and step inside a building to use the restroom or something!

I was facing the same question today as my son will be playing in a charity sponsored baseball game on a school baseball field today. But it is non-UIL and we will not be entering inside any school buildings at the time - so sounds like I'm ok.

This forum has been a great resource!

Ok -- What's "UIL"?

University Interscholastic League - the governing body for public scholastic activites such as sports in Texas. There is another organization for private school called TAPPS - Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.

kragluver wrote:Just don't forget and step inside a building to use the restroom or something!

Interesting...
Schools, with sports complexes, occasionally have buildings comprised only of restrooms. They are buildings, they are school owned and they are on school property.

I guess that entry would, technically, be a violation.

Just one more example of how insane the law can become, when micromanaged.

THIS IS FOR DEVIL'S ADVOCATE PURPOSES ONLY!! USE IT AS YOU LIKE OR NOT.

My personal opinion and conduct agrees with what has been said. I have and do carry on lawns and sports fields when no school activity is taking place. However...

The following was brought up in a CHL Instructor renewal classe and is food for thought.

While the definition for premisis describes what IS in included...building or a portion of a building...it also says what it specifically EXCLUDES. This is the chink in the armor. The definition says:

'THE TERM DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE DRIVEWAY, STREET, SIDEWALK OR WALKWAY, PARKING LOT, PARKING GARAGE, OR OTHER PARKING AREA".

You will note that the exclusion does not include sports field or other landscaped area.

The arguement might be that an overzealous prosecutor might use the specific exclusions to get a CHL'er to court.

Now a lot of things would have to go WAY wrong before anyone got to this point, but sometimes things DO go way wrong.

There appears to be no case law on this specific topic because we CHL'ers are so dang law abiding s, as of yet, this specific point is undecided in court.

This situation results from the legislature trying to be so specific in the application of a law. They can never cover every contingency so these irregularities come up.

I share the Governor's stated opinion that a CHL'er should not be prohibited in going about anywhere except to truly private property and certain legally secured areas.

CWOOD wrote:THIS IS FOR DEVIL'S ADVOCATE PURPOSES ONLY!! USE IT AS YOU LIKE OR NOT.

My personal opinion and conduct agrees with what has been said. I have and do carry on lawns and sports fields when no school activity is taking place. However...

The following was brought up in a CHL Instructor renewal classe and is food for thought.

While the definition for premisis describes what IS in included...building or a portion of a building...it also says what it specifically EXCLUDES. This is the chink in the armor. The definition says:

'THE TERM DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE DRIVEWAY, STREET, SIDEWALK OR WALKWAY, PARKING LOT, PARKING GARAGE, OR OTHER PARKING AREA".

You will note that the exclusion does not include sports field or other landscaped area.

The arguement might be that an overzealous prosecutor might use the specific exclusions to get a CHL'er to court.

Now a lot of things would have to go WAY wrong before anyone got to this point, but sometimes things DO go way wrong.

There appears to be no case law on this specific topic because we CHL'ers are so dang law abiding s, as of yet, this specific point is undecided in court.

This situation results from the legislature trying to be so specific in the application of a law. They can never cover every contingency so these irregularities come up.

I share the Governor's stated opinion that a CHL'er should not be prohibited in going about anywhere except to truly private property and certain legally secured areas.

I agree with you..... AND the governor!

I really like texaschlforum for answers just like these. Thanks to everyone who responded.

Hmm..All very interesting,so another school field related question.
I run on my old high schools padded track and many times the track or the football field that the track surrounds has team practice going on.
By practice I mean these are students on the schools football or track or soccer team practicing on this field or running track.
Legal to carry then??

Edit to add...Schools grounds is the number one place I worry most about as a CHL holder.
You know very well the cries of "Save and protect the children and so on".

As A public School Teacher and a CHL I would tell you Don't carry when Students are present on the Field. It to me would open up a #10 can of worms.