Another *Never, never ever*

[JD]

We spent the weekend in San Antonio. I normally take my S&W with us on the road. Keep it in the car or the room but don't pack it around (an M&P .40 doesn't conceal well in summer clothes.

We decided to do the missions tour on yesterday (Sunday) morning. There are 6 missions, including the Alamo, and 5 are south of town. We visited 4 and there were a good number of people at each. We went to finish visiting #5 (Conception) around 11:30.

We got out of the car and I started toward a wooded area to get a frontal picture of the mission church when someone called for me to stop and come back. It was an unarmed female park ranger with a family of 3 standing about 20 yards away (they and we were obviously the only ones at the mission site). The family had just been robbed at gunpoint and guess who was the only one in this group of 6 who had a gun? Yep. And guess where the gun was? Yep, in the car over where the dude took off toward the woods.

Well, I walked over to the car, looking as much like a dumb tourist as I could, and armed myself. We hung loose with the other folks waiting for the cavalry to arrive. Shortly, the heavy duty park police and several San Antonio police cars pulled in and we decided to bid adieu.

Lessons learned: The artillery won't do you a bit of good if it isn't on you and never assume you'll never have a need for it (if we had gotten there 10 minutes earlier it might have been us that were robbed). And if you do need it, it won't do a darn bit of good while it's in the car.

Will start to look for something that will conceal even in light summer garb.... :cool: Perhaps the new open carry will happen soon.

638

[PK]

one thing... just gotta think first about 'carrying' on Federal land if the missions are such... .. not sure if that's a no-no or not...

I haven't carried since I retired 20 years ago... geez thinking about it.. this July 30th will be '2-oh'

[Jack Hexter]

As of Feb 2010, you can carry in a National Park.

"On May 22, 2009, President Barack Obama signed H.R. 627, the "Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009," into law. The bill contained an amendment introduced by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) that prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from enacting or enforcing any regulations that restrict possession of firearms in National Parks or Wildlife Refuges, as long as the person complies with laws of the state in which the unit is found. As of February 2010 concealed handguns are for the first time legal in all but 3 of the nation's 391 national parks and wildlife refuges so long as all applicable federal, state, and local regulations are adhered to. Previously firearms were allowed into parks non-concealed and unloaded."

I, like Ray, have not carried since I retired, but unlike Ray, I pulled the pin only 5 years ago.

[JD]

Ray - Yes, the missions are in the NPS system. If you're licensed in the state (licensing) domain that the National Park is in (e.g. Texas) you can carry concealed with the exception of the buildings that house NPS employees (unless there are other prohibitions - check it out first).

As well, a caution to casual readers here - if you carry, don't pull it out unless you're prepared to use it and expect to spend a lot of time in court if you actually fire and hit someone.

[PK]

As of Feb 2010, you can carry in a National Park.

"On May 22, 2009, President Barack Obama signed H.R. 627, the "Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009," into law. The bill contained an amendment introduced by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) that prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from enacting or enforcing any regulations that restrict possession of firearms in National Parks or Wildlife Refuges, as long as the person complies with laws of the state in which the unit is found. As of February 2010 concealed handguns are for the first time legal in all but 3 of the nation's 391 national parks and wildlife refuges so long as all applicable federal, state, and local regulations are adhered to. Previously firearms were allowed into parks non-concealed and unloaded."

I, like Ray, have not carried since I retired, but unlike Ray, I pulled the pin only 5 years ago.

thanx Jack.. I knew you would know about that Fed stuff...

...and on the 'same July 30th' if I remember correctly

[Jack Hexter]

Actually retired on the 29th, Birthday is the 30th but it was on a Saturday that year and I had to retire on or before my birthday. Hung on until teh last day possible.

[SpeckTackler]

What a shame that this occurred at a church as well. My wife and I have often talked about touring the missions. I'm glad to hear you and your wife were not hurt. I was born and raised in San Antonio. Sadly, the crime rate is high in the mission areas, but I guess that is typical of all big cities. That's why I live out in the hill country:) .

[JD]

Rusty - The tour is nice. I'd recommend it and go again. Conception, however, is the one that is near-in and the neighborhood does not look inviting. The signs to the site are either missing or incorrect. Soooooo, tourist beware.

Like anyplace, if you live there you know where not to go. Same up here. Stay out of east and south Dallas.

When we moved to Rockwall it was a small quiet town and it's still a toll call to Dallas. But, Rockwall County has boomed and with it the problems. I30 is a major drug route up from Mexico.

[Jesse]

I would never have thought that you would need to be armed to visit the mission, at least not since Jim Bowie.

I visited it back in 1970 and it felt like hallowed ground.

[JD]

Jesse - this was Mission Conception, not the Alamo. It's south of town in a rather questionable area. There are 4 more missions further down the river also. There were more tourists at those, it was Sunday and they all are active parishes holding services.

Dan

[Jesse]

Tks for the info.

I wasn't aware of that one.