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If you have a Texas CHL, and are driving through a state which does not honor nor has reciprocity with a Texas CHL, what are you required to do with your gun? Hide it in the trunk?

Is this a situation where you would be forced to check each states' laws before driving through?

Thanks for any input.

I drive through Illinois once or twice a year. I unload, put the gun in a case, lock it and put it in the back of my SUV. That should be sufficient.

Regardless of whether a state has reciprocity with Texas or not, you must check the laws for each state you'll be visiting, and conform to them. Reciprocity only means that your Texas CHL is valid in another state...You still must obey all of the other state's laws as they pertain to carrying a handgun or firearm.

BShook wrote: If you have a Texas CHL, and are driving through a state which does not honor nor has reciprocity with a Texas CHL, what are you required to do with your gun? Hide it in the trunk?

Actually, unload it and lock it up in the trunk is more accurate. If you are passing THROUGH the oppressive state, you are protected under federal law if the gun is unloaded and inaccessible.

But if you are intending to journey TO an oppressive state, you are bound by whatever the laws of the state are as to possession, transport, etc. In some cases, even possession of a locked up unloaded gun will be illegal without a state license of some sort. And you probably can't even get one.

BShook wrote: Is this a situation where you would be forced to check each states' laws before driving through?

Thanks for any input.

Absolutely check the state law whenever travelling through OR to a non-reciprocity state.

Also, note that even when covered under federal law, some oppressive states do not recognize the law and will attempt to prosecute you anyway. You will probably win out in the end, but it will take a lot of time and money.

There's another aspect to this: Some states allow everyone to carry openly or in a vehicle, without a license.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:There's another aspect to this: Some states allow everyone to carry openly or in a vehicle, without a license.

- Jim

1) The great majority of those have reciprocity with TX. So a CHL would make open carry unnecessary.

2) Regardless of what the law allows, it is good to be familiar with local customs before carrying openly, IMO. This will make it less likely that your "journey" will unexpectedly turn into a "crusade".

You don't want to be the only guy a local LEO has ever seen carrying openly.

Not had this issue yet. But, I generally avoid travel to blue states.