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Concealed carry in TPWD state parks?
Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 11:38 am
by Mike from Texas
Taking a short family vacation to Lake Livingston State Park and wondering if CHL is legal there? I plan on doing some bank fishing with the kids and don't care to run up on any snakes without any protection.
Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 11:45 am
by NguyenVanDon
Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 12:54 pm
by TIN BENDER
None of my business but I looked
at packin'.org and it appears that
they do not acknowledge current changes in Tex. law.
such as carrying at church.
what else have they missed.
Just my 2 cents.
Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 1:10 pm
by Mike from Texas
I sent a question to TPWD so I can get the answer straight from the source.
Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 1:58 pm
by seamusTX
TIN BENDER wrote:... I looked at packin'.org and it appears that they do not acknowledge current changes in Tex. law. such as carrying at church.
This is what packing.org says:
# *on the premises of a church, synagogue, or other established place of religious worship.
# *On the premises of a Hospital licensed under the Health and Safety Code
# *On the premises of a nursing home licensed under the Health and Safety Code
# *Amusement parks. ...
# Items above marked * Do not apply if the actor was not given effective notice under Section 30.06.
It's easy to miss the asterisks.
- Jim
Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 2:08 pm
by TIN BENDER
seamus, Thank you. You are correct.
iT IS EASY TO OVERLOOK.
Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 2:21 pm
by seamusTX
BTW, it is not against state law to carry in state parks. However, there are some state parks that include federal land where weapons may be banned. It seems you have to find out on a case-by-case basis.
- Jim
Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 4:04 pm
by RKirby
Here's a copy of the original letter from (former) TP&W Director Andrew Sansom regarding concealed carry in Texas State Parks:
As has been mentioned, this may not be applicable to the various parks that are on property leased from the Army Corps of Engineers such as Lake Whitney State Park.
ETA: Mike from Texas...it probably wouldn't be a real good idea to shoot snakes (or anything else, for that matter) within the boundaries of a State Park, CHL or not.

It
will result in a very unpleasant encounter with a Park Ranger or Game Warden.
Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 6:19 pm
by seamusTX
RKirby wrote:...it probably wouldn't be a real good idea to shoot snakes (or anything else, for that matter) within the boundaries of a State Park
You know, we talk a lot about Chapter 9 of the Penal Code; but the laws regarding killing animals are more complicated.
The only one I know for sure is that you can kill a dog or coyote that is threatening humans or livestock. It is a felony to kill domestic or wild animals in some circumstances.
- Jim
Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 8:21 pm
by John
seamusTX wrote:RKirby wrote:...it probably wouldn't be a real good idea to shoot snakes (or anything else, for that matter) within the boundaries of a State Park
You know, we talk a lot about Chapter 9 of the Penal Code; but the laws regarding killing animals are more complicated.
The only one I know for sure is that you can kill a dog or coyote that is threatening humans or livestock. It is a felony to kill domestic or wild animals in some circumstances.
- Jim
The coyote only needs to exist to be legal to shoot.
Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 8:56 pm
by seamusTX
John wrote:The coyote only needs to exist to be legal to shoot.
What if it is someone else's fenced yard?
- Jim
Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 9:34 pm
by John
seamusTX wrote:John wrote:The coyote only needs to exist to be legal to shoot.
What if it is someone else's fenced yard?
- Jim
quite right, there are exceptions

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 1:52 pm
by Charles L. Cotton
SB535 just passed in the House on the Local & Consent Calendar, so it is clear that CHL's can carry in LCRA property.
Chas.
State Parks
Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 4:38 pm
by BoneDigger
I am an employee of Texas State Parks so I can comment on this. It is indeed legal to carry on State owned parks. Parks leased from the Corps are bound by federal regulations, so you would have to check into that. Livingston is not a COE park, so CC is permitted.
DO NOT SHOOT SNAKES OR ANY OTHER ANIMALS ON A STATE PARK!!!!! Aside from scheduled hunts, parks are game preserves, and that includes coyotes and snakes. In fact, it's illegal to even pick wildflowers on state parks.
Todd
Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 11:28 pm
by Mike from Texas
Hmmm, didn't think about them being preserves. Thanks Todd.