Gun Laws in your state

[BACONATOR]

I think the word "quietly" is a damn understatement in this article! This is the first I've heard of this law passing. We got neat little booklets about all the seatbelt, cell phone usage in school zones, etc. law changes but not this. I'm going to pass around this info at the department because I can guarantee this is not common knowledge here. In my opinion I disagree with it due to an officer safety standpoint but i'm not a lawmaker. I've never met a Texas officer that was in a shootout with a CHL holder but I have met officers in other states that have had one or more shootouts with CHL holders in their states. Even if you are unarmed I appreciate it more that you showed me your concealed handgun license with your drivers license because it makes it much more less likely that i'm dealing with a crazy felon on the run. And in my playing field it equals more warnings instead of tickets.

I've never been pulled over while carrying, so I never tossed in my CHL with the license, but I generally agree with you about showing it to lay all the cards on the table. Generally, I wouldn't toss my military ID out there either. If I was carrying, I'd probably throw all 3 out, just to give you my life-story. Most cops definitely took a metaphorical step back when they found out I was military (they asked) and being a CHL carrier I feel would probably have a similar effect. However, if my CHL became "grounds" for some flat-foot to have "probable cause" to search or something, then that's when the above arguments come into play.

 

[insanebikerboy]

That's why they fixed it.

Texas is a gun friendly state. The "Traveler's Exemption" made it legal for gun owners to legally carry firearms in their vehicle without having to get a CCW permit. Say your wife has a job that requires her to do a lot of driving... sales for example. She does not want to carry a gun with her into sales calls (that would require a CCW), but would like to have some protection with her so if she breaks down she is not at the mercy of the first person to pass by. That is what that this law was for.

The CCW laws were seperate, and had some requirements that were different than those for who were carrying IAW laws that apply to permit holders. The new law streamlines the process.

It all positive IMHO.

Well, that's the way I read the article too, which I think is only appropriate. It's be interesting to hear rare's opinion.

 

[rare21]

A military ID doesnt mean you arent some gangbanger from Dallas that just joined the army for the money. Look around at some of the folks in the military and you'll see what I mean. My first struggle was with an active duty Army guy. When I ask for a drivers license I really dont want a military ID with it, its not what I asked for and i'll just give it back to you. I'll find out you're in the military soon enough.

A CHL at least tells me you arent some hardened felon and most likely obey the law. I'll find out soon enough either way when their name is run through dispatch (locals, NCIC, TCIC).

If i find a gun and I didnt see a CHL on initial contact at the least i'm going to run the serial number to see if its stolen. If i'm shown the CHL then they're on their way.

A gun or weapon that is introduced on a contact that is not attached to my hip is going to make me nervous CHL or not. There is always one gun introduced to the scenario whenever I make contact with someone.

I know an officer that pulled over a truck that had at least 20 different guns in the vehicle. All were in the vehicle legally and he took the time to run each weapon to see if it was stolen. Then he found a collapsable baton under the driver's seat and the driver was arrested for prohibited weapon. Go figure...

As an edit: I have not read the actual wording of the new law yet, but before it was a defense to prosecution to travel with a weapon if you were going over two counties in length. I dont know if this has been changed or if it has stayed the same. And it being a defense to prosecution is just that, you can be arrested and you can use that in court but it will be up to the judge to determine if its going to help you or not.

 

[FlyBoyd]

A military ID doesnt mean you arent some gangbanger from Dallas that just joined the army for the money. Look around at some of the folks in the military and you'll see what I mean.

Point taken but I was really thinking about the following as it would apply to most on this board.

Say the driver hands you their DL and a military ID that shows them as a senior E or an O of any level..

and/or

you find out their a pilot/SNA...

How does this effect your comfort level/willingness to give a warning?

I drive South Texas highways but don't speed much anymore so don't look for me

 

[rare21]

FlyBoyd, thats going to come down to the individual officer I guess. I have yet to stop a Naval Aviator or SNA but if I did (and I didnt get attitude) we'd probably start chit chatting about the service, stations, flight school, etc. and you'd be on your way without any piece of paper that you ever met me. I do that with most military folks. But like i said thats just me. We have an ex federal agent cop in my department that doesnt have a problem with giving tickets to other cops. He's not very well liked... so it comes down to personal discretion of the officer, as an example, if i made a traffic stop and saw Medal of Honor plates on a vehicle and the "winner" was in the driver's seat I'd shake his hand, thank him for his valued service and he'd be on his way. Then again you might get that Virginia State Trooper that wrote up a Medal of Honor winner not too long ago that caused a big stink in the law enforcement community.

Just know that in south Texas most of us LEOs have a soft spot for military folks that arent trying to get a free pass. In my dept we have at least 10 former military folks and some are still in the reserves. One just got back from a tour in Iraq, one is currently serving a year in Iraq and wont be back until next year, and one is preparing to head over there in October. I continue to be the butt of Top Gun jokes even though I flew helicopters and half the guys think I was in the Air Force!

 

[OSUbeaver]

Supreme Court fighting Chicago's handgun ban

Looks like some changes will be coming along soon on the national level, in what direction remains to be seen: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090930/ap_on_go_su_co/us_supreme_court_guns

 

[A4sForever]

This is a potential GREAT deal to bust the plethora of nickel-dime gun control laws around the nation at the statewide level ... as many states create a patchwork of restrictive laws which, in effect, make you a 'temporary' felon if you cross their boundaries while abiding to the less restricive letter of the law on a statewide basis ... and if you choose to abide by the local, trumped up restrictions -- it effectively disarms you -- which is the intent from the get-go.

Some states have strong 'preemption laws' which prevent more restrictive laws on the local level, but -- as seen recently in Seattle -- the local leftist-socialist politico's will STILL attempt to circumvent the state preemption laws by gun-ban fiat.

I strongly suspect they do so in an attempt to provide a test case for the preemption law at the state supreme court level(s) ...

 

[Random8145]

Hoping for the best, but I am not getting excited until they rule it's an individual right.

 

[Bevo16]

If you are in, or going to California...

Buy plenty of ammo now, because it's about to get harder to come by.

Is there anyone that we could just sell California to and be done with it? This is clearly nothing but a useless law designed to harass firearms sellers and discourage their business.

 

[TheBubba]

We can give it back to Mexico.

 

[eddie]

We can give it back to Mexico.

Like if they don't take it first?

 

[BACONATOR]

I LOVE california, but absolutely hate the government here and the hippies.

 

[eddie]

I LOVE california, but absolutely hate the government here and the hippies.

You're in good company...

 

[scoolbubba]

Why do criminals even bother operating elsewhere? With all the bleeding hearts, protected by nothing but hope and rainbows and code pink, why wouldn't you go to CA if you were a low life? Plus, it's got nice weather and lots of fake boobs. Sounds like the pickings are far from slim in cali.

 

[CAMike]

Yes I too love KALIfornia.

Points of clarification shared with me by my local gun dealer, I assume he's more up to speed on this than I:

1. Handgun ammunition only- not long rifle ammo.

2. Finger print only. No live internet or database check of any kind. The gangbangers will still buy all the ammo they want. If they Kommit a Krime with a handgun theoretically the state has a paper trail now on them.

3. All handgun ammo purchases after this law takes affect will likely incur a $2 to $5 surcharge per transaction for time spent on thumb printing and documentation. Bottom line TBD- even the dealers are not sure what exactly what this will really do...yet.

4. Ban on internet sales AND reloading components for "handgun" ammunition to California once the law takes effect. (So long ammoman.com.) At least Arnold purged the 50 round per month limit that was in the bill's original form.

Ahhhnold really skrewed the pooch on this bill. I swear the dems must have something on him. Arnold killed this bill previously and now he's apparently complicit with the liberals. Excellent start though on the future illegal ammunition trade in CA. Sheesh. Now the gangbangers have a new revenue stream in addition to their drug trade.

My FFL dealer was equally dissapointed. According to him, the only thing this process accomplishes is adding addititional gov't paperwork to the purchase of handgun ammo. With no live check- anyone can still purchase the pistol ammunition.

Example-
Dealer: Excuse me sir- Are you a felon or criminal prohibited from purchasing handgun ammunition in CA?
Perp: Why no, I'm not.
Dealer: OK- Right thumb please.

Or are the CA dems just trying to create a revenue generator for a new segment of the legal system that wasn't broke to begin with? Think about it. After a criminal illegally makes an ammo pruchase and commits a crime- anyone can file against the selling ammo dealer. WOW. A new strategy in killing off all legal handgun ammo sales in CA- who'd of thought?

Speaking of thought: Do you think the AK/AR California compliant rigs(with bullet buttons) will go up in demand and price again?

Or you can do what I'm doing and load up on reloading components to last the the next millenium or two.

VERY dissapointed in Arnold on this one.