I have a question regarding the carrying of less lethal weapons (e.g., knife or club) while also carrying a legally concealed handgun. The only discussion of this topic I could find online dated from 2004 and did not comprehend the latest changes to the Texas law.
Section 46.02 of the Texas Government Code covers the carrying of illegal weapons such as a “handgun, illegal knife or club.” It’s the section you would be prosecuted under if you were caught “carrying a concealed weapon”.
Section 46.15 (and this changed in 2007) states in part:
What that says to me is that if I have a CHL good for an automatic, and am carrying said auto, I can also legally carry a club and/or a knife with a blade over 5.5 inches. I cannot be prosecuted under 46.02 since it “does not apply”.
While I do carry a folding knife, the blade is nowhere near 5.5 inches so that’s not an issue. I do however sometimes also carry a collapsible baton and I consider it a useful force multiplier in situations where using a handgun would be excessive. I would think that most LEO’s would consider the availability of less lethal alternatives to be a “good” thing; but I could be wrong!
Section 46.02 of the Texas Government Code covers the carrying of illegal weapons such as a “handgun, illegal knife or club.” It’s the section you would be prosecuted under if you were caught “carrying a concealed weapon”.
Section 46.15 (and this changed in 2007) states in part:
"(b) Section 46.02 does not apply to a person who: (5) is carrying a concealed handgun and a valid license issued under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code to carry a concealed handgun of the same category as the handgun the person is carrying."
What that says to me is that if I have a CHL good for an automatic, and am carrying said auto, I can also legally carry a club and/or a knife with a blade over 5.5 inches. I cannot be prosecuted under 46.02 since it “does not apply”.
While I do carry a folding knife, the blade is nowhere near 5.5 inches so that’s not an issue. I do however sometimes also carry a collapsible baton and I consider it a useful force multiplier in situations where using a handgun would be excessive. I would think that most LEO’s would consider the availability of less lethal alternatives to be a “good” thing; but I could be wrong!