Whre to get final good information on car conceal?

[dewayneward]

Hi, I have been lurking around the forum for a few weeks now. A lot of GREAT information and I have enjoyed all of the stories. I purchased my first handgun at the Ft Worth gunshow mid November. The events (wink wink) of early November showed me that I need to protect my 2nd amendment rights. An event (since you all like story and run in events, I'll tell mine, which happened ironically on the way to the gun show) also caused me to purchase a handgun as well as get my CHL.

First off, I am a 36 year old guy, married 14 years to the best lady ever and two wonderful children. I have a black belt in Tae Kwon do and a green belt in Karate. I have decided to get my CHL and start "pacjing heat" because I, even with my background, dont feel safe.

Anyway, I stopped of on the way to the gunshow to get gas that Sunday morning. As I am getting gas, I hear a "hey you" and am met by a large guy standing just on the verge of my UNcomfort zone (most people should know what that is). I dropped back into a quazi self defense stance (but not an obvious "bruce lee"...er Chuck Norris..I am in Texas now, LOL). The guy is boring a hole in me sizing me up (you know when you are being sized up). The guy gives me the 'ole I need gas money for my car "over there" and I need the gas to get me and my 18mo old daughter to Dallas. I notice that the guy has a spider tattoo on his neck and has that general "rode hard and put away wet" look. I dont have anything against tattoos, but he looked like the guys I watched on lockup on TV.

I told him that I cannot help him to which if he had laser beams in his eyes, I would be here. He started to advance towards me (thankfully the gas pump was between us) and I dropped back a bit more. He is just staring at me trying to process what I said. He then said "well, God bless you anyway" and offered his hand. I took it and he just kept staring at me just trying to figure out what to do next. Thankfully, he turned around and walked off.

Hmmm, I wonder what would have happened if I was an Asian female in houston....oh yea, I would be dead right now.

Anyway, that event sent me over the edge to do things to protect myself as well as my family. My wife began to protest me getting a gun and everything, but I told her that it wasnt up for debate. Any more arguments and I will take her down to the tattoo parlor to get "victim" put on her forehead (I didnt say this, but I really thought it )

Ok, now that I have my life story done, now on to my question. I am wanting to take a trip to Missouri via Oklahoma and I am wanting concrete info that no LEO can dispute (I plan on printing out the law if available) on car conceal and open carry through Texas, Oklahoma, and then Missouri.

From what I have read, I am good to conceal a loaded gun in Texas, but no open carry Or conceal walking around.

I have read OK's info from people but cant find the exact statutes and all that. It is all peoples' opinions. It sounds like at the border of OK, I need to unload the gun and stick it in its lockable case.

In Mo, I have heard that I can open carry and conceal in the car(loaded), but that it is based on the county and whatnot. I am going for my CHL this weekend and the definition of eternity will be between that time and the time I get my plastic (I already received my packet from the state) and I dont want ANYTHING to mess that up. I am nervous about getting busted by some whacky LEO. I am REAL nervous about going to Missouri(St Louis) because they are one of the top 5 most violent cities.

Any help besides a link to opencarry.org or "use the search function" will be greatly appreciated.

Also, my gear, I have a .25acp Titan and I just purchased a Hi-point 9mm. I am very happy with both as they both go bang when I pull the trigger and oddly enough they poke holes through the paper where I aim it

[flb_78]

No open carry or car carry in OK.

Car carry in MO, open carry in MO, but open carry laws are different from district to district and can be hard to get a hold of.

http://handgunlaw.us/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is a great site with links to most state's laws and what not.

[Bunkins]

Welcome to the forum's I'm new too, found this place after I bought my newest handgun, and right when I was seriously looking into getting a CHL.. Stick around, you'll learn a lot here, good folks too I took the CHL course Saturday ( the 29th ), I know what you mean about the time.. I don't have the training that you do in self defense, but I can take care of myself in most situations.. But like you always hear, you dont bring a knife to a gun fight. I'd rather be on equal terms, or have the upper hand..


I couldnt tell ya anything about your question, just wanted to say hi

[srothstein]

Dewayneward,

While I can easily show you the law in Texas that says you can carry a weapon in your car, I wanted to point out one flaw in what you asked for. There is no such thing sa proof that no LEO can argue with. While you might be able to explain to a cop what you thought the law was, and you might even be correct, that does not mean the cop will agree. Cops get their opinions formed, sometimes concretely, for them as often as they form it themselves.

The place to debate laws is in the courtroom. If you try to explain to the officer, he may accept it and he may see it sa arguing with him, even when you are polite and respectful. If you are seen as arguing, you will almost always end up in jail for the night.

Prepare the knowledge for your research,be ready, and hope that nothing does happen while on the trip. If it does, ASK the officer if you can explain your understanding of the law, and then talk with him as you do. If he says no or thinks you are arguing, then shut up and say nothing without a lawyer. My normal advice is to not talk with officers when you are accused of a crime, and I stand by it, but if you want to try, that is how to do it, IMHO.

[dewayneward]

Thanks for the replies. For Bunkins, what were your thoughts on the test. I am nervous about the whole thing (concerns about the unknown). I dont want to be "that guy". Especially after I have heard some of the remarks made about how easy it all is. I am hoping that it is straight forward common sense. If so, I should be just fine.

Like I mentioned, I have been lurking around here for awhile reading everything I can. LOL over some of the stories. Some of the stories have made me stand firm on getting my CHL. It shows that these things DO happen and you have to be ready....well, as best as you can. Any advice on the test would be greatly appreciated!!

Srothstein, thank you for your post. You are correct, if a LEO is bent on making up something then I am in for a world of hurt no matter what I say. I get that, my thing is that I want to be able to go to the actually law/statute that shows that statute xxxx says xxxxx. Like in texas it is 1845 and says blah blah blah. I want to do the same for OK and MO. the OK seems like a no brainer, I will pull over on the border, unload my gun and put it in its case out of reach. Since this upsets me, I will be filling my tank up (and emptying my personal tank, ha ha) in Texas and will simply drive through OK without spending any money until I get to Missouri.

In Missouri (and I need to get the exact laws for this), I can reload my gun and conceal it somewhere in the car. When I run into the gas station/restuarant, I can open carry on the outside of my person (depending on the jurisdiction and hope that I dont come across a LEO that has a bad day.

MO is a bit dicier because it is broken down into counties, which is very hard to deal with, but it looks like the law reads that I can travel through concealed.

Course, 99% of this becomes moot when I get my CHL, which will hopefully be within 60 days of sending in my paperwork. Aside from living in 2 different states over the last 5 years (I was born in a different state), I have a spotless record and no issues of any kind. So, I am hoping this wont take long.

[Keith B]

In Missouri (and I need to get the exact laws for this), I can reload my gun and conceal it somewhere in the car. When I run into the gas station/restuarant, I can open carry on the outside of my person (depending on the jurisdiction and hope that I dont come across a LEO that has a bad day.

MO is a bit dicier because it is broken down into counties, which is very hard to deal with, but it looks like the law reads that I can travel through concealed.

As someone from Missouri, I would be very leery about open carry. It can be outlawed from county or city levels. Even if it isn't where you are at, you will find that a 'Man with a gun' call will be more than likely made to the police if you carry in public, and they can hassle you about it. While it may not be against the law, it is just not practiced in populated areas.

Best bet is stay close to the car and watch your surroundings, make sure the coast is clear when heading inside to empty your tank, and be sure there are a lot of others around wherever you stop.

As for car carry, you should be OK either under that statute or the peaceable journey law.

[dewayneward]

Thanks for the replies. Did you read this http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,460725,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; yet? Is is a St Louis Official telling the folks to get armed. I almost want to print this out and show it to a LEO (while in St Louis) if they give me flack about carrying.

My problem is that I dont want to get in any trouble whatsoever between now and when I get my CHL (and I dont want to get into any trouble afterwards either) and I would hate to lose my rights by carrying "illegally".

Its just that broad daylight on a sunny Sunday morning incident has told me that I am not safe and I dont want to be "outgunned" again. I know that having a gun isnt an automatic get out of the coffin free card, but it certainly will help me protect my family if I was forced to use it.

I know that there are individual posts, but I would like to see a post dedicated to people putting some of their stories in about runins and whatnot. Stuff that will show people that this stuff is real and can happen. Take off the rose colored my little pony glasses and look at the way the world is.