TexasCHLforum.com

I recently purchased my first rifle, and I'm headed out tomorrow to pick it up. My question is this - what is the law in Texas regarding the transportation of a rifle (specifically, transporting it in my car)? I know OC is (theoretically) legal for rifles, but how does that apply when in my vehicle? Am I permitted to carry the rifle in my trunk (i.e. concealed)? I did some searching, but the only results I could find were all related to handguns. Perhaps Texas simply has no legislation (and thus no restrictions) pertaining to long guns...

I also travel through Oklahoma and Arkansas frequently, so if anyone has any knowledge about the laws in those states, I'd appreciate some insight. Best I can tell OK requires that long guns be visible and unloaded. Although if the driver has a CHL, he may carry the gun concealed in a separate compartment (i.e. trunk, external lock box, etc.) I haven't found anything on Arkansas law.

TrueFlog wrote:I recently purchased my first rifle, and I'm headed out tomorrow to pick it up. My question is this - what is the law in Texas regarding the transportation of a rifle (specifically, transporting it in my car)? I know OC is (theoretically) legal for rifles, but how does that apply when in my vehicle? Am I permitted to carry the rifle in my trunk (i.e. concealed)? I did some searching, but the only results I could find were all related to handguns. Perhaps Texas simply has no legislation (and thus no restrictions) pertaining to long guns...

No real restrictions except possibly in the hunting rules. The trunk is a good place if you don't expect to need the rifle quickly.

Loaded or unloaded, concealed or visible, you should be fine. Just don't drive around a rural area at night with it loaded in the pass. seat with a spotlight next to it
Similarly, leaving it visible when you are not in the vehicle is a bad idea as it will get stolen .

IANAL, etc

I carry a rifle on a bike all the time going to the range, its not loaded and never had a problem. I've even carried a M44 from a gun show to the house thru about 5 different cities and wasn't stopped. I'm sure I'm just lucky for not being stopped, but even if I am the law is on my side, but I know that varies with whoever stops you. YMMV.

I was taking Defensive Driving when I was 17 in Austin. It was a class that was being taught by a former California HP officer who migrated (along with about 10 million other Yankees) to Texas in the 80's.

As part of the class, he aspounded as to the lax laws in Texas about carrying rifles and shotguns in gun racks. He said that he REALLY could not get over it when he foudn out the fact that most of them were kept loaded.

Texas has changed alot throught the 'Anti Bubba' laws that seem to get passed every session, but at least they have not touched that this one.

On a side note, a buddy of mine was driving out in Oak Hill (Austin) around 1989 and he was pulled over by 3 Sheriffs deputies. It seems that a Benjamin Air Rifle looks alot like a sawed off shotgun when it is in a gun rack. Short stop, no problem.

texasag

Fairly sure you can carry a rifle however you want in Texas - just look at how our state reps carry them in their truck AT THE STATE CAPITOL parking lot ...

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/m ... 4311070001" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

jump ahead to about the 0:48 mark in the video ...

austinrealtor wrote:Fairly sure you can carry a rifle however you want in Texas - just look at how our state reps carry them in their truck AT THE STATE CAPITOL parking lot ...

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/m ... 4311070001" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

jump ahead to about the 0:48 mark in the video ...

Notice how they spend a disproportionate amount of time on that particular vehicle compared to ALL the others?
As if to suggest that it requires 'further investigation', and that the viewer should be 'concerned' or 'shocked' at the fact there is a rifle in the front seat?
Can anyone look up the LP# and see who's truck that is? If not, I'll see about doing it tomorrow.

austinrealtor wrote:Fairly sure you can carry a rifle however you want in Texas - just look at how our state reps carry them in their truck AT THE STATE CAPITOL parking lot ...

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/m ... 4311070001" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

jump ahead to about the 0:48 mark in the video ...

I watched the whole video, and I think that's just awful. I am going to track down who has the state official license plates...and demand the rest of them explain why they don't have rifles....

elb

ELB wrote:

austinrealtor wrote:Fairly sure you can carry a rifle however you want in Texas - just look at how our state reps carry them in their truck AT THE STATE CAPITOL parking lot ...

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/m ... 4311070001" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

jump ahead to about the 0:48 mark in the video ...

I watched the whole video, and I think that's just awful. I am going to track down who has the state official license plates...and demand the rest of them explain why they don't have rifles....

elb

ELB wrote:

austinrealtor wrote:Fairly sure you can carry a rifle however you want in Texas - just look at how our state reps carry them in their truck AT THE STATE CAPITOL parking lot ...

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/m ... 4311070001" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

jump ahead to about the 0:48 mark in the video ...

I watched the whole video, and I think that's just awful. I am going to track down who has the state official license plates...and demand the rest of them explain why they don't have rifles....

elb

They do not want to get stopped for poaching

I hope that their pistols are just hidden, my pistols are.

My AR is under my back seat.

texasag