Texas-Book-Gun Law Armed And Educated - Flipbook - Page 318
the building or structure where the event is taking place, and not the
parking lots, sidewalks, fairways, or other similar areas, a person
would only be prohibited from carrying in the arena. Be careful,
however: at many rodeos, high school students from the local FFA
or 4H club may have booths or exhibits set up in areas outside of
the arena. At those locations, it would be unlawful for a person
to carry a firearm since those areas are hosting “interscholastic”
events, which are also prohibited by this statute. It can get legally
murky.
3. Private golf tournaments, sporting events, or rodeos
What about the scenario where a person decides to “host” a rodeo,
golf tournament, or other sporting event on his or her private
property? Is such an event prohibited to handgun carriers under
the statute? It depends on the manner in which the event takes
place. If the hosted rodeo, golf tournament, or other sporting event
is one of an amateur nature (and not interscholastic), rather than
of a professional nature, then the event likely falls outside the
definition of Texas Penal Code Section 46.03. On the other hand,
if participants are persons who regularly compete in professional
competitions, if there is a significant prize or purse associated with
the rodeo, or if the event is sponsored completely or in part by
outside organizations and companies, then the event begins to look
a lot more like a professional sporting event—even though it may
not take place at a prominent public venue. It is worth pointing out
that there is no case law on this subject, and it falls squarely within
some of the legal “gray area” we see all too often in firearms law.
As a general reminder, keep in mind that the statutory definition
of the word “premises” makes carrying a weapon in parking lots,
sidewalks, and similar areas permissible under the law. This would
Law Of Handgun Carry: Part III 307
