TexasCHLforum.com

Here is a strange question. I am still a week or two away from getting my plastic, but I do carry in my car, and in my home. I also have a spare mag. The question is this, do I have to leave my spare magazine in the car the way I leave my gun in the car when I go into a store, etc? Is there any law against carrying a mag full of bullets, and no gun, when you do not have your CHL?

Any help is appreciated.

RJ

Dems have not gone that far .......yet.......

There is no requirement in Texas to conceal magazines, loaded or not.

But there are places where explosive devices (rounds) are prohibited. Usually the same places where we are prohibited to carry our pistols (Courts, etc.....).

There is no penalty that I know of from carrying a full mag exposed with no gun and no CHL. CHL means Concealed Handgun License and says nothing about concealing magazines.

johnson0317 wrote:Here is a strange question. I am still a week or two away from getting my plastic, but I do carry in my car, and in my home. I also have a spare mag. The question is this, do I have to leave my spare magazine in the car the way I leave my gun in the car when I go into a store, etc? Is there any law against carrying a mag full of bullets, and no gun, when you do not have your CHL?

Any help is appreciated.

RJ

The magazine not, by itself a firearm so concealed carry laws don't apply. You might want to leave it in the car if you have to go into a courtroom or a place that you might get searched.

Thanks! That was the common sense answer I was expecting, but there is so much uncommon sense these days that it just seemed safer to ask.

The only place I'd worry about the spare magazines is anywhere that might have a metal detector or xray machine (like a courthouse). They probably consider the ammo contraband, and I'd avoid taking them there.

Yeah, I'd avoid courthouses with metal detectors, like jamisjockey said. And they're not going to let you into the secured are of airports.

But there's noting illegal about carrying around a gun belt, empty holster, and mag puches with loaded mags. I've done that. When I worked in New Mexico, and open carried there, but lived in Texas, I frequently stopped at the convenience store in Denver City, Texas for something to eat or drink on my drive to work.
1. I could wait until I got to work to put on my gun and holster and all that.
1a. I could put that stuff on in my pickup outside the store where I worked. Awkward.
1b. I could carry the gun, belt, and other accoutrements with me and put them on once I'm in the store. But I was frequently standing out front for several minutes waiting for someone to arrive with a key. So do I put on my belt and holster and gun and all while standing out on the sidewalk in downtown Hobbs? Or do I stand there and hold this stuff with guns and mags and holsters and such stuffed in pockets wherever I can. (No license was needed for open carry, but concealed carry did require a license, which I did not have. So If I stuffed a gun in my pocket, I might be illegally concealing it.) I guess I could have carried a range bag to work with all my junk in it.
2. I could gear up with everything but the actual gun and go into the convenience store in Texas wearing holster and mags but no pistol. Looks strange, but that's what I often did. Unless it was already hot, I'd cover it with a jacket, since there's no law against carrying concealed ammo either. I was a bit nervous a couple times when I went in there and there were police officers inside. But I walked right by them and they looked me over curiously but did not say a word to me as they continued their conversation with each other.

Unless it is a courthouse or similar place where I'll be searched, I carry all my mags - including the one in my firearm. I also un-chamber the round and take it with me. I did this yesterday at a hospital that is properly posted. If my vehicle is broken into and bg gets the gun, it can't be used on me or anyone else immediately.

Ron

mgood wrote:So do I put on my belt and holster and gun and all while standing out on the sidewalk in downtown Hobbs?

Oh, Lord. I spent a week going through there one night. There was, in all fairness, a really good steakhouse that we ate at.

RJ