Checking on a Neighbor, Legal to Carry?

[AustinBoy]

Dropped my CHL papers off at the DPS office today so in a month or two this will be irrelevant, but......

Was driving down my street today on the way home and noticed a white van parked in our friends drive way. The van was backed in.

They are 4 houses down so I went on home, thought about grabbing my XD 40 sub, putting it in my pocket and going down the street to get a license plate number. I left the XD at home and walked down the street anyways.
I wasnt looking for any type of confrontation. I just wanted the license plate and see if I should call 911.

As I started down the street, the van pulled out and left before I could get close enough to get the plate.
Will be talking to the friends tonight when they get home.

If I had grabbed the XD and started walking down the street in my neighborhood concealing a gun in my pocket, that would be illegal right?

Thanks
Ty

[mikeintexas]

Yep, no CHL makes it illegal.

You could have dropped the XD in the car and drove down there to get the license plate.

[gemini]

grab your shotgun instead......

[joe817]

Yep, no CHL makes it illegal.

You could have dropped the XD in the car and drove down there to get the license plate.

With no CHL, illegal for you to carry, UNLESS you are on your property, or have your gun concealed in your car.

[AustinBoy]

Exactly what I thought.
Glad I did the right thing and everything turned out ok.

I guess if comes up again in the next two months, driving down to check it out is a great idea.

Thanks for the input.

Ty

As for the shotgun idea, someone would have called the cops on ME within 5 seconds in my neighborhood! I understand your point though.

[joe817]

Open carry for long guns....perfectly legal in Texas. The cops might have come but they certainly wouldn't arrest you!

BTW, welcome to the forum AustinBoy! Glad to have you with us.

[PappaGun]

Let us know what your neighbors say.
Was the guy legit?

[MadMonkey]

Open carry for long guns....perfectly legal in Texas.

Just out of curiosity... what about concealed long guns?

[marksiwel]

Legal and Right are different now aren't they?

You could have also, if you wanted to be legal, driven up to the van with your gun in the car.

[AustinBoy]

It was a delivery from Ikea. Everything was OK.

Lessons learned:
1. I should have stopped, backed up and got the license plate # immediately. (who cares what the guy from Ikea thinks)
2. Situational Awareness: I studied the van. I can tell you every detail about the van. 15 minutes later, I was questioning myself about which driveway it was in. Stop and take in the whole situation.
3. I should have IMMEDIATELY gone down and checked on my neighbor. 2 reasons:
A. If it was a BG she could have been hurt and needing assistance.
B. There would have been NO question as to which driveway the van was in.

I guess this is one of those time when you learn A LOT and are very greatful that everything turned out OK.


Thanks for your input and concern,
Ty

[joe817]

Open carry for long guns....perfectly legal in Texas.

Just out of curiosity... what about concealed long guns?

Who'd want to try to conceal a shotgun or a rifle???? That'd be downright uncomfortable! Unless you are trying to keep your 'baby' warm, and that's just plum silly.

[MadMonkey]

Open carry for long guns....perfectly legal in Texas.

Just out of curiosity... what about concealed long guns?

Who'd want to try to conceal a shotgun or a rifle???? That'd be downright uncomfortable! Unless you are trying to keep your 'baby' warm, and that's just plum silly.

SBR would be easy under a coat... I was just curious

[Oldgringo]

I thought everyone has a cell phone that takes pictures?

[gemini]

[quote="joe817"]Open carry for long guns....perfectly legal in Texas. The cops might have come but they certainly wouldn't arrest you!

.....exactly.......just a solution......

[rthillusa]

Two summers ago my neighbor had been out of town for over week on vacation. I was waxing my car in my driveway. Red pick up truck pulls up in front of his house. Two guys I've never before seen jumped out carrying furniture pads. They enter through the garage door and immediately pull it down behind them. I'm thinking this just doesn't look right. Should I or shouldn't I. I finally call the cops. Takes them for ever for to arrive (probably only about 5 minutes). Just as they come out with a TV, the cop pulls up. I'm thinking "Busted you, dude". One of the guys gets really indignant for a minute, then cools off.

About 5 minutes of questions and answers and it turns out the "burglars" are the neighbor's father-in-law and his brother-in-law.

When neighbor got back in town we had a good laugh. Every time I saw his father-in-law after that he would hold up his hands for me to handcuff him and then laugh. He said he was mad a first, then realized how it must have looked to the 'neighbor' (me) and was glad somebody was watching out for his son-in-law's property. Also turns out the neighbor works at the same place I do (big company, big building).


Many, many moons ago, when I was just back from Viet Nam I had my car stolen. A week later, about 2:00 AM I saw two kids in the front seat of a car in our apartment parking lot, looked like they were hot wiring the ignition. I go inside and get my shotgun and tell my wife to call the cops, I had caught the car thieves. I threw down on them and told them to hold it, the cops were on there way. We had a stand off for about 5 minutes waiting for the police. Finally one of the kids jumped out of the car and ran off. I leveled my gun at the center of his back, but just let him run. Turns out that one of the "boys" was a girl in an army field jacket. The other boy lived in the apartment around the corner with his mom. He and his girlfriend were just making out in the front seat. The Dallas cops called back about 10 minutes later and said they could not find our apartment. After that, every time I saw the boy he would call me the Cisco Kid.

Things are not always what they seem at first glance.

Robert