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Took a group of students to the TX state capitol this weekend. It was through the YMCA on a chartered bus. I thought this was a pretty grey area reguarding carry, but it wasn't worth making an issue of. Used my CHL to get through the line in the Capitol.

Why would it have been a grey area? Was it a school sponsored trip? Were the chartered buses school buses?

Students paid their own way, chartered buses.

PC §46.03. PLACES WEAPONS PROHIBITED. (a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly possesses or goes with a firearm, illegal knife, club, or prohibited weapon listed in Section 46.05(a):
(1) on the physical premises of a school or educational institution, any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored by a school or educational institution is being conducted, or a passenger transportation vehicle of a school or educational institution, whether the school or educational institution is public or private, unless pursuant to written regulations or written authorization of the institution;

11-14 y.o. Students learn government procedure in a club at school based on a program designed by the YMCA. Teachers and Y personnel then escort students to Austin to enact mock legislation. So do you think I should have carried? I don't.

If you think you shouldnt have then theres your answer imo.

FWIW, I don't think I would have carried either. Not because it was illegal, because it wasn't, but because I don't think I would have wanted that many people or that crowd to know that I'm carrying. Entering the capital, while carrying, you would've had to go to the special entrance and that would have brought up too many questions if they couldn't figure it out on their own.

Now, if it were a bunch of folks that already knew I carried then I would have.

I still used the CHL entrance. 300 kids + their advisors going thru 1 metal detector took awhile. I walked up, Officer scanned my card, and I was in. Not a word was said by anyone.

Lupine wrote:Students paid their own way, chartered buses.

PC §46.03. PLACES WEAPONS PROHIBITED. (a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly possesses or goes with a firearm, illegal knife, club, or prohibited weapon listed in Section 46.05(a):
(1) on the physical premises of a school or educational institution, any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored by a school or educational institution is being conducted, or a passenger transportation vehicle of a school or educational institution, whether the school or educational institution is public or private, unless pursuant to written regulations or written authorization of the institution;

11-14 y.o. Students learn government procedure in a club at school based on a program designed by the YMCA. Teachers and Y personnel then escort students to Austin to enact mock legislation. So do you think I should have carried? I don't.

In this situation I wouldn't have. If this was a school sponsored club, with teachers as escorts, then the argument could be made that it was a school sponsored activity. Whether that argument was correct or not, I wouldn't want to be the test case.

I agree that this was a school activity and your participation in the club and trip is enough to keep you from carrying. A parent who traveled in their own vehicle would be fine to the point they began participating in the activity and then after they separated from the group. This is what I have done in the past to the point if they stop to eat I set away from the students table and neither enter or leave with them. Good call in my opinion. I think it is sad that we can't carry at schools and events with what happened in Ohio today.