New to Texas and forum!

[Scire.Factor]

Hello all! I want to start off by letting you all know that I am knew to this forum and going to be new to Texas.

I am a Florida resident currently serving overseas in the armed forces and moving to TX in the near future. I have a concealed carry permit with the state of FL and I know TX honors it. I know a lot about the laws governing the state of FL, but know very little about the ones in TX. I was hopeing that someone on here knows the big differences between the two states in regards to concealed carrying, but most specifically on printing (is it legal/illegal), where you can/cannot carry, and if TX has the "no retreat" law equivalant to FL.

Thank you in advance!


-Rob

[s197winstang]

Welcome from a fellow newbie. Texas is a stand your ground State. There are a lot of helpful and knowledgeable folks on here who will help you and give you solid info. I have learned a lot on here in a short period of time-- and THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

[Keith B]

Welcome to the forum and thank you for your service!

Here is the best place to start for info http://www.handgunlaw.us" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Click on Texas and it will bring up the guidelines for the state, including prohibited places.

As for printing, no it is not illegal in Texas. For the 'no retreat' law, it is the Castle Doctrine and yes, we are a Castle Doctrine state also.

Enjoy the forum and hurry safely to Texas!!

[Tregs]

Scire.factor,

Welcome to the forum and thank you for your service. It's an honor to have you with us.

I'm new to the forum as well, but I enjoy hainging out here. It's like sitting in my living room with 100 friends that I can't see.
I think you'll learn a lot here. Welcome.

[karl]

I'll echo the other posts, welcome and thank you!

Lots of information to be found here as others have said. Texas CHL Handbook PDF

[RHenriksen]

Welcome as well.

Usually, if you officially/legally change your residence to a new state, your FL *resident* CHL would have to be replaced by a TX resident CHL. If you're still active military, perhaps you have an exemption from that rule? I believe you don't have to change the car license plates & driver's license if the military is shuttling you hither & yon across the country, perhaps that applies to CHLs as well?

I *am* sure that if you get a Texas CHL, you get a 50% discount on the fee to the state. Taking the Texas CHL class is a great way to get a complete briefing on the laws here on concealed carry as well.

[Scire.Factor]

Welcome as well.

Usually, if you officially/legally change your residence to a new state, your FL *resident* CHL would have to be replaced by a TX resident CHL. If you're still active military, perhaps you have an exemption from that rule? I believe you don't have to change the car license plates & driver's license if the military is shuttling you hither & yon across the country, perhaps that applies to CHLs as well?

I *am* sure that if you get a Texas CHL, you get a 50% discount on the fee to the state. Taking the Texas CHL class is a great way to get a complete briefing on the laws here on concealed carry as well.

My residence is going to stay as FL since I am active duty military (not required to change liscenses or plates, etc.). I will probably get my TX CCW just to have it and I really look forward to taking the TX CHL class that way I can get the complete briefing that you mentioned.

Thank you all for your input and support!

[carlson1]

As everyone else has said WELCOME!

Thank you for your service.

[5thGenTexan]

Welcome to Texas, I haven't had the pleasure of a trip to your home state since my son left Hurlburt Field. Beautiful place but welcome to Gods country.

The best resource in the state for handgun rules and opinions is this board, plus the humor is as good as any comedy club.

[C-dub]

Welcome to the Forum Scire.Factor.

If you're not going to change your residency to Texas I don't think there would be any benefit to getting a Texas CHL. I mean, I think you will have to get a non-resident version, which still doesn't give you the school parking lot exemption. I'm pretty sure that is only for Texas resident CHL's. However, your resident FL license could also give you that privilege.

Would I be correct in assuming that you will be coming to our Great State because you will be stationed here?

[Keith B]

Welcome to the Forum Scire.Factor.

If you're not going to change your residency to Texas I don't think there would be any benefit to getting a Texas CHL. I mean, I think you will have to get a non-resident version, which still doesn't give you the school parking lot exemption. I'm pretty sure that is only for Texas resident CHL's. However, your resident FL license could also give you that privilege.

Would I be correct in assuming that you will be coming to our Great State because you will be stationed here?

Just a note: A resident license is only valid to bypass the Federal Gun Free School Zone Act in the state it is issued in, so even if you have the resident license from Florida, you would not get the school ground carry privileges. The only way you could gain those would be to set yourself up with a Texas residence and get a Texas resident CHL.

[Scire.Factor]

Welcome to the Forum Scire.Factor.

If you're not going to change your residency to Texas I don't think there would be any benefit to getting a Texas CHL. I mean, I think you will have to get a non-resident version, which still doesn't give you the school parking lot exemption. I'm pretty sure that is only for Texas resident CHL's. However, your resident FL license could also give you that privilege.

Would I be correct in assuming that you will be coming to our Great State because you will be stationed here?

Well it is good to know about the school parking lot law. That is a weird law though that you have to be a resident and have a resident permit in order to go to a school parking lot - but then again most gun restriction laws dont make much sense.

Yeah I am going to be stationed in TX and I am really excited. I am happy to leave Italy to go back to America where I actually have constitutional rights!

[seamusTX]

Just a note: A resident license is only valid to bypass the Federal Gun Free School Zone Act in the state it is issued in, so even if you have the resident license from Florida, you would not get the school ground carry privileges. The only way you could gain those would be to set yourself up with a Texas residence and get a Texas resident CHL.

I don't think this is the case.

18 USC 922(q)(2)(A) It shall be unlawful for any individual knowingly to possess a firearm that has moved in or that otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a school zone.
(B) Subparagraph (A) does not apply to the possession of a firearm—
...
(ii) if the individual possessing the firearm is licensed to do so by the State in which the school zone is located or a political subdivision of the State, and the law of the State or political subdivision requires that, before an individual obtains such a license, the law enforcement authorities of the State or political subdivision verify that the individual is qualified under law to receive the license;

The license must be issued by the state in which the school is located, but it is not required to be a resident license.

This law is never enforced by itself. It is prosecuted only when the actor has committed another crime in a school zone.

BTW, one aspect of the ridiculousness of this law is that a school zone can extend into another state, for example, in a place like Texarkana.

Welcome to the forum and to Texas, Scire.Factor, and thank you for your service.

- Jim

[bizarrenormality]

A big Texas welcome to Rob.

Usually, if you officially/legally change your residence to a new state, your FL *resident* CHL would have to be replaced by a TX resident CHL.

I can't find that in the law. Can you help me out?

[Keith B]

Ah, I stand corrected. A Texas non-resident license would get you the privilege. Thanks SeamusTX!