So, you can legally carry a hand gun exposed on your lawn?

[gregthehand]

Seems like it is one of those things where yes it's legal, but no generally speaking it is not a good idea. Seem the law says I can walk down I-45 with an AR on my back, but it's probably not a good idea.

[GSchretter]

Seems like it is one of those things where yes it's legal, but no generally speaking it is not a good idea. Seem the law says I can walk down I-45 with an AR on my back, but it's probably not a good idea.

I agree, some Texas state laws are so funny.

[dirkmanchest]

If one of your neighbors is from up North and gets scared, calls the deputy out and he/she has no idea what the law is.
You could get arrested but I you would beat the case in court if the DA was dim enough to bring it front of a jury.
I would think it all hangs on what a reasonable person would feel constitutes causing an alarm.
Just my opinion IANAL

I sorta doubt where the neigbor comes from makes much difference.
Just my opinion.

But I think it does matter.
That is where the whole reasonable man approach comes from.
If it is not acceptable in New Jersey or Mass to own a pistol much less wear one while mowing the yard then that person will be more likely to panic and call 911 for a "man with a gun".
And I think we will all be waiting a very long time for open carry in a public place to come to Texas.

[KBCraig]

I can walk down I-45 with an AR on my back

Nope. No pedestrians on the interstate!

Kevin

[seamusTX]

If it is not acceptable in New Jersey or Mass to own a pistol much less wear one while mowing the yard then that person will be more likely to panic and call 911 for a "man with a gun".

FWIW, I was born and raised in Chicago, and have lived in Texas most of eleven years.

I think people who were born and raised in large Northern cities are more likely to be ignorant and fearful of firearms than Southerners, but certainly not 100%.

I have also met people who have lived their entire life in Texas and are anti-RKBA, though that's a small minority.

- Jim

[Diode]

Guess it depends on where you are. I clean my guns with the garage open all the time and I have even carried around the yard and no one seems to even notice.

[kw5kw]

When I get home, I walk from the car to the house with my weapon in open view. When I leave in the mornings, my weapon is in open view.
No problems from any of my neighbors. Infact my next door neighbor saw my weapon and deceided he wanted to go to get his CHL.

I had this one guy come over once and he asked why I wore my weapon, I told him because I believe in the right to keep and bear arms. He left it alone. (Although, he did leave rather quickly after that.)

[Liberty]

But I think it does matter.
That is where the whole reasonable man approach comes from.
If it is not acceptable in New Jersey or Mass to own a pistol much less wear one while mowing the yard then that person will be more likely to panic and call 911 for a "man with a gun".
And I think we will all be waiting a very long time for open carry in a public place to come to Texas.

I moved down here not so long ago (18 years), I owned guns and didn't hide them. I even owned and had a permit for my handguns. I was allowed to carry long before it was legal here. Yeah the laws are different down here especially in these times, but one does realize pretty quickly that things are different down here. Most folks from stricter states understand that that they are from states with with very different laws. In fact I believe that most of them think that Texas has a open carrry law.

Most in Texas or those living in other stricter states if they see someone open carrying would assume that they are doing so legally.