Legal Transport Question

[Gilgondorin]

So I had a question about legally carrying a firearm in a vehicle. I was told that unless you're a CHL carrier, you can't have any firearm in the vehicle unless it's locked in a hard-sided container and not readily accessible/reachable.

The great sages instead advised all other guns be locked in the trunk until you arrive at your destination, for simplicity/legality's sake. I don't remember what the caveat for transporting them to a gun range is, and/or how you would even prove you're going where you say you're going to a police officer (and let's face it: there are nice ones out there, and there are some who are complete butt holes/ego maniacs).

My question is how do you transport guns inside a car that doesn't have a trunk like an SUV, van, sub-compact, etc? Furthermore, even if you WERE going shooting... What can you do/say if the place you're going to shoot at is your buddy's ranch and not a true licensed gun range?

The question has been bugging the daylights out of me because even though we rarely shoot, we take almost everything we've got when we do. Stop and think about that one for a second: This is Texas, and Texans are gun fanatics. If they were to pop any one of the cars in our convoy (our range trips are group activities), there's at least 2 separate collections worth of hardware in any one vehicle, plus ammunition besides.

How does one explain honest intentions to a suddenly paranoid DPS trooper demanding to know which cartel we were going to sell out to?

[Adam]

Whoever told you that you couldn't have a gun accessible in your car (without a CHL) is wrong. The Motorist Protection Act (MPA) in 2009 gave you the ability to carry a concealed loaded weapon in your car, readily accessible without a CHL (with some obvious limitations).

Ryan has some info on his blog here:
http://texasgunblog.com/archives/861

[alexrex20]

Yep, you're even allowed to conceal carry a handgun to/from your vehicle.

[Ron M.]

Just remember all the above answers ONLY apply in Texas, most other states the firearm must be secured away from the driver or any passenger's reach and/or in a locked container.



Ron M.

[Ceejmo]

You can carry a handgun in your vehicle as long as it is not visible. You can have it in the seat covered as long as no one can tell it's a handgun. On the other hand, rifles and shotguns (long guns) do not have to be concealed.
Check out the second item in the list at http://www.txchia.org/txcarry.htm.

A handgun carried in a personal motor vehicle or boat must not be in plain view

[Jeb_66]

Looks like they answered the question sufficiently.