A couple questions, moving to San Antonio from Illinois

[armueller2001]

What's up ya'll!

I will be moving to San Antonio in a couple weeks and I have a non-resident Florida permit. I have a couple questions about carrying in the great state of Texas..

1) After I get my TX Driver's license and become an official resident, do I need to get a TX CHL permit or can I use my Florida one until it expires?

2) I was staying at a hotel over the weekend while looking at apartments and saw a 30.06 sign on the door. Does this mean "no guns allowed, period" or can I bring my gun into the hotel unloaded, in a box as long as it's not "carried" in the hotel? I thought that a hotel counted as a temporary residence and they couldn't ban guns altogether, but could only ban concealed carry.

3) For the time being, I will be carrying a Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm fullsize, as it is the only pistol I have at the moment. Could you guys suggest any IWB holsters that would be up to the task and would be as comfortable as possible? I'm planning on heading up to LoneStar Handgun in Schertz to check out holsters next weekend.

Thanks!! And any other advice or tips to a newbie would be appreciated!

[Hoi Polloi]

Welcome!

There was a recent thread which went over the hotel issue in depth. IIRC, the consensus was that it wouldn't make sense to disallow CHL holders to have unholstered handguns where non-CHL holders could have them, meaning it was the common sense understanding that one could transport a firearm through the posted lobby under a non-30.06 code, meaning not on one's person. But the consensus was also that they didn't want to be the one to see if their thoughts on the matter would hold up in court.

We're having some DFW get togethers coming up that you're welcome to attend if you're up for a road trip. I'd love to try your M&P 9 if you do!
1) Pistols and socializing: DFW Get-Together - Come one, come all!
2) Long guns: Skeet Get-Together and Skeet Fundamentals Background Reading

[longtooth]

1st welcome to the great state of Texas & also to TexasCHLforum.
AS soon as you get your Texas DL & establish permanent residence there is no waiting period before you can get your Texas CHL. Since the address on your Florida CWP is not valid you will not be able to carry on it. You will need to get a Texas CHL.

2nd. Texas 30-06 statutes establish an offence of trespass by a license holder for carrying past the sign notification. It does not just prohibit conceal carry. Texas has no open carry statutes. Do not publicly open carry your handgun.
Your easiest fix is find another place to stay while looking.
One of our legal better informed will be along before the day is out to give a better answer here.

If it is a hotel that you enter past the 30-06 sign & all room doors are inside you cannot carry. Unloaded in a box should be OK.

3rd. great choice on your carry gun. Several M&Ps on the board here. Not familiar w/ the LoneStar Handgun for an immediate purchase but there is a good resourse on the board here.
About 3 good holster makers on the board here. Under our "Day To Day" section a "Holster Resource" That is a good resource. Several of the custom makers are as much as a yr lead time. Others are not so far behind. Especially if you like a Kydex holster. See something you like? Post it & ask who has one. You will get a lot of help. You will get a lot of suggestions on your question from this post.
Welcome to Texas & if we can help more, HOLLER LOUD, we will come runnin.
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viewtopic.php?f=13&t=24130" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
LT

[GeekwithaGun]

Welcome from a Michigan transplant - I also carry a M&P 9 full size IWB using a Comp-Tac Minatour - (slide for compact and full-size). I am very happy with the holster, very comfortable and I recently switched from my compact to carrying the full-size and did not find any difference in comfort or concealability. There are several other folks using the same setup and I'm sure you'll hear from them too.

[RHenriksen]

Congratulations on your move to a Free State Do get your Texas CHL - lots of good reasons, but I am pressed for time this a.m.

I carry a full size M&P in a Crossbreed Supertuck, and am very happy with the comfort, concealment, and retention. The lifetime warranty is very good, too. I've got a Comp-TAC minotaur spartan for my PPS, and am not as impressed with the retention, warranty, or customer service w. that company.

[ELB]

Welcome to the forum, and to the discussions.

Some are of the opinion that once you get a CHL, the CHL statutes completely encompasses all the holder's rights and privileges with a handgun. I think this is a nonsensical interpretation of the law.

If you did not have a CHL, and you went to that hotel displaying the 30.06 sign (but no other "no weapons" signs), you would be perfectly legal to take an unloaded handgun secured in a case to your hotel room. In that case you are legally carrying a handgun on the authority of parts of the law not included in the CHL statutes. I do not believe you lose this 'authority' simply because you have a CHL.

The CHL statute in question (the 30.06 part) states that if you carrying a handgun on the authority of your CHL license you may not enter private property marked with the 30.06 verbiage. But there are other "authorities" that permit you to have a handgun, the CHL statute is not all inclusive.

Otherwise, if the CHL statutes really did define everything that a CHL holder can or can't do, then any peace officer who also has a CHL would NOT be able to legally cross a 30.06 sign, or enter a 51% establishment, etc, etc. regardless of what the peace officer statutes say. Which of course is nonsense.

So read up and do what you think prudent.

Welcome again!

[The Annoyed Man]

Welcome to Texas. Pretty much what everyone else said about 30.06, particularly ELB's comments about secured, unloaded, in a box/case.

As to holsters, I carry a full sized M&P 45 in a Minotaur MTAC from Comp-Tac. It is quite comfortable for all day carry as far as IWB carry goes, and it conceals very well and is tuckable.

[ScottDLS]

1st welcome to the great state of Texas & also to TexasCHLforum.
AS soon as you get your Texas DL & establish permanent residence there is no waiting period before you can get your Texas CHL. Since the address on your Florida CWP is not valid you will not be able to carry on it. You will need to get a Texas CHL.

I don't think this is necessarily true. It is possible to make an address change request on a Florida CWP. While the request is pending, why wouldn't the CWP be valid? If you wanted to be really to be careful, you could keep your Illinois DL until the Florida CWP address change came back and then go to get a Texas DL and apply for a Texas CHL.

[jester]

You can even do the FL address change online. http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/license/changes.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[armueller2001]

Thanks for the advice and the warm welcome... i am planning on getting an updated Florida CHL with my Texas address on it and I will just use that for 2.5 years until it expires.. looking at crossbreed and MTAC Holsters now. Thanks again!

[ScottDLS]

Thanks for the advice and the warm welcome... i am planning on getting an updated Florida CHL with my Texas address on it and I will just use that for 2.5 years until it expires.. looking at crossbreed and MTAC Holsters now. Thanks again!

I would encourage you to get a Texas CHL too as soon as is practical/affordable for you. While you're perfectly OK to carry on your Florida CWP, the Texas CHL class is very informative and you'll be helping support CHL in your new state. It also allows you to get some non-res permits that you may not be able to get with another state's non-res license.

Lastly, under the BATF's current interpretation of the Federal Gun Free Safe School Zones Act you will be breaking Federal law by carrying a gun within 1000ft of a school. If you had a Texas license you would be exempt from this.

Welcome to Texas.

[81aggie]

Welcome to Texas from another Alamo City dweller. I will also agree that it would be best if you went ahead and got your TX CHL when you get your DL and establish a residence address. You could probably get by with the FL license after an address change but why not just get the TX permit and be done with it. If you are going to go by LoneStar Handgun, look into their classes. I took my class with them a year ago and had a good experience, they provided and walked you through all the paperwork and the electronic fingerprinting pretty much took the worry out of the "unacceptable fingerprint" possibility with DPS.

As for holsters, I alternate between a compact RIA 1911 and a Ruger SR9c in Crossbreed Supertucks, very comfortable and never had a problem with retention.

Welcome again, hope you enjoy San Antonio!

[artx]

Welcome to a (mostly) free state! Have you seen http://texas3006.com ? This is a great resource run by one of the members on here (Russell) that helps folks find (and avoid!) places that post 30.06 signs.

Check and see if your hotel is listed, and if not, add it! Many of us avoid places that restrict the right to carry - their right to post the sign, my right to find another business!

[rm9792]

If you are coming to Texas I am afraid you will need at least one 1911. Sorry but it is the law...

[81aggie]

If you are coming to Texas I am afraid you will need at least one 1911. Sorry but it is the law...

Remember back when times were good you would be issued one at the welcome center when you entered the state?