Texas-Book-Gun Law Armed And Educated - Flipbook - Page 372
IX. LAW CONCERNING LONG GUNS
A. May be carried openly in public
Texas law does not require a person to have a permit to carry a long
gun, nor does the law require that a long gun be concealed when in
public. Texas Penal Code Section 46.02 only addresses handguns.
There is no statute that addresses the manner in which a long gun
may be carried other than that it may not be displayed in a public
place in a manner calculated to alarm.
B. Manner in which long guns may not be displayed in public
A person may legally display a long gun in public but not
intentionally or knowingly in a “manner calculated to alarm,” in
violation of the Texas disorderly conduct statute.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
TEX. PENAL CODE § 42.01(a)(8)
A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly
displays a firearm or other deadly weapon in a public place in a
manner calculated to alarm.
The intention of this statute is to prevent individuals from displaying
firearms in a way which would cause some type of panic or scare
to others. However, the statute also requires that the person who
displays the firearm publicly, do so intentionally or knowingly in
a manner calculated to alarm in order to be charged with a crime.
EXAMPLE:
Tim has a store in a shopping mall that sells firearm accessories
but not firearms. However, Tim takes his rifle to his store every day
Law Of Handgun Carry: Part III 361
