Texas Hospital No Gun Sign

T

TexasJustice7

New member
Well today I took someone to a regional hospital early in the morning through a regular hospital door. Having reviewed the allowed places to carry, I saw that unless a hospital has a 30.06 sign a CWP holder is allowed to carry. So I had two handguns concealed and when I got to the door I read a sign which said "No Gun" with the symbol with Gun marked through
and said State Law. Now I know this sign does not meet the requirements of
the law passed in 2005, since it does not have the 30.06 wording, nor does it reference 30.06. But being a bit hesitant about carrying because of the
sign, I secured my guns in the vehicle. I am checking back with them regarding the sign. So just wondered who would have ignored the sign?
:eek:
 
Hospitals may fall into a protected category when it comes to signage/policy.

Mostly due to the ER and people/gunshot victims having people continueing the fire fight in the hospital.
 
Well the text I have of SB 501 says that the following places are restricted if the 30.06 sign is ponsted in which case it is a class A misdemanor offense. On the premises of a hospital nursing home. This law was effective in Texas in SB 501. I think SB 501 removed the right of any city, or county from placing a 30.06 sign on any building owned or leased, therefore not restricting the carrying of a handgun by CWP Holder. Federal property is
different. It may be that the sign only applies to non permit holders, which it is a misdemeanor to carry without a license. But in general I will respect a
no gun sign which does not meet the laws requirements, but won't go back.
There could of course be newer legislation out too!
 
IANAL, but it was explained to me this way:

The applicable law is Texas Penal Code section 30.06 and the sign must contain the following in letters at least 1" in height and in both English and Spanish:

"PURSUANT TO SECTION 30.06, PENAL CODE (TRESPASS BY HOLDER OF A LICENSE TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN) A PERSON LICENSED UNDER SUBCHAPTER H, CHAPTER 411, GOVERNMENT CODE (CONCEALED HANDGUN LAW), MAY NOT ENTER THIS PROPERTY WITH A CONCEALED HANDGUN."

"CONFORME A LA SECCIÓN 30.06 DEL CÔDIGO PENAL (TRASPASAR PORTANDO ARMAS DE FUEGO) PERSONAS CON LICENCIA BAJO DEL SUB-CAPITULO H, CAPITULO 411, CODIGO DE GOBIERNO (LEY DE PORTAR ARMAS), NO DEBEN ENTRAR A ESTA PROPIEDAD PORTANDO UN ARMA DE FUEGO."

Any other sign may or may not represent the true desires of the building's owners/operators (some merchants put up some kind of "no guns" sign to reassure their uninformed customers while knowing that it does not carry the force of law).

I stand ready to be corrected, if necessary, and learn better.

Best,

Will
 
As has already been mentioned, hospitals are no different than any other public place of business in Texas regarding signage. If they wish to restrict CHL holders from carrying, they must post the full text shown in the post above in both English and Spanish in letters 1" high on a contrasting background at all public entrances. Failure to do so is failure of proper notification.

Note that if you carry into the hospital because of an invalid sign and are given verbal notice (which does not have to have that specific wording) you are obliged to leave immediately and secure your firearm outside the premises before returning.
 
Note that if you carry into the hospital because of an invalid sign and are given verbal notice (which does not have to have that specific wording) you are obliged to leave immediately and secure your firearm outside the premises before returning.
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That is true, and I knew that. I went the additional step of complying with the sign even if not enforceable and tried to check on it. After awhile a local police officer showed up asking me about my questions at the hospital and I was on the phone with someone when he showed up. I guess when you mention 30.06 some people think that is a rifle instead of a regulation. I should have an answer by tomorrow, as to their intent of the sign, whether it is intended for everyone or non-permit holders. I do wish they would put
up the legally correct signs though if it is meant for permit holders too. But because I ask some questions I guess that makes them nervous. At least the officer who came knows me, knows my brother to in law enforcement.
 
Mostly due to the ER and people/gunshot victims having people continueing the fire fight in the hospital.
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*sighs*

....because we all know that criminals intending to commit murder will be stopped by a sign that says "you can't do that here", right?
 
GM1967


ohen cepel
Mostly due to the ER and people/gunshot victims having people continueing the fire fight in the hospital.
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*sighs*

....because we all know that criminals intending to commit murder will be stopped by a sign that says "you can't do that here", right?
GM1967 is offline Report Post
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No one ever violates those "Gun Free" zones, anywhere, ever. No firearm has ever been used illegally in one since they were created. Those "Gun Free" zones are the solution to all crime. Schools, government buildings and all those other "Gun Free" zones are safe too. Amazing what laws and signs can do!

Yeah Right!!!
 
No one ever violates those "Gun Free" zones, anywhere, ever. No firearm has ever been used illegally in one since they were created. Those "Gun Free" zones are the solution to all crime. Schools, government buildings and all those other "Gun Free" zones are safe too. Amazing what laws and signs can do!
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That is a great point. I will remember this quote. I think once they decide whether they are going to put up Texas 30.06 signs then I will decide whether I need to black list doctors located in that facility which I will never use. This one was for a family member, and is a good doctor, but I can find
another one if I have to. Since someone there apparently was concerned
about me asking about the sign, and I got a visit from a police officer, regarding me asking about the sign, I guess I will just make sure none of
my medicare business goes to this facility depending upon what the intent
of their sign is, or if they put up the 30.06 sign.

But I think that there is something in the SB 501 that prohibits a government building in Texas, unless it is a court, from having a 30.06 sign
and I am thinking this is the reason there is not a legal sign posted at each entrance. I guess I need to read the entire Senate Bill 501, and determine if their facility is defined as a state government building since it is funded by the State. I will read that entire bill tonight. :D
 
I always figured it was to stop people from killing their ill loved ones.
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After researching this, and thinking it over last night I have decided on
my course of action. If they tell me the sign applies to everyone, then I
will respect that, but I will also identify the hospital and let everyone with
a CWP know about their policy. But I won't be intimidated into not asking the intent of their sign. If they do not put up 30.06 sign, I am going to
inform their representative that next time I will disregard the sign because it is not legal notice. If I subsequently carry while this sign is up, and I am
questioned and detained because of the sign, which does not meet legal
requirements, then I will file a lawsuit over it. Either way, I am ready to look
for another doctor and stand ready to let others know their policy whatever
it is when I find out. I guess having the police officer, and being treated like
I have leprousy for having a gun permit and questioning their sign, has hardened my attitude over it.
:mad:
 
Look around. I thought one hospital I was visiting didn't have the sign until I saw it. They'd used a clear decal on one of the front windows. The letters were big enough and black. But without the contrasting white background it was difficult to see.
 
No one ever violates those "Gun Free" zones, anywhere, ever. No firearm has ever been used illegally in one since they were created. Those "Gun Free" zones are the solution to all crime. Schools, government buildings and all those other "Gun Free" zones are safe too. Amazing what laws and signs can do!
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Yeah, great quote. Now this: Police response vehicle Thursday at Virginia Tech. Some guy didn't know how to read.
1208_VATech_full_380.jpg
 
Sport45: Look around. I thought one hospital I was visiting didn't have the sign until I saw it. They'd used a clear decal on one of the front windows. The letters were big enough and black. But without the contrasting white background it was difficult to see.
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I did look around. The sign clearly does not meet the requirements of Texas Law 30.06, which requires the specific sign, with a certain size lettering, in both Spainish and English as someone else pointed out. If that is their intent, they should go ahead and post the legal sign, and allow me and other permit holders to go see medical providers at other facilities. I have other doctors in another towns, civilian that do not have any such sign. I feel like
I bent over backwards, to respect their sign even though it was not legal.
The least they can do is inform me that they do not want anyone to carry,
as I suspect is the case. If so, then I can look elsewhere for a medical doctor
and inform the one my family member uses why his services are no longer required. Instead, it appears to me, they chose to attempt intimidation by
having a police officer come visit me. My greatest objection would be to be
detained with them using a non legal sign as their basis for detainment. That
would result in a lawsuit. It has already left a bad taste in my mouth for
when I was attempting to find out what their intent is. I also do not think
they like me pointing out that I do not think they have adequate security, if say Major Hasaan had picked their facility instead of Ft. Hood. They are well within their rights to stop CWP persons from carrying, but not to use a non
legal sign as the basis for any detainment.

:mad:
 
TexasJustice7 said:
But I won't be intimidated into not asking the intent of their sign. If they do not put up 30.06 sign, I am going to
inform their representative that next time I will disregard the sign because it is not legal notice. If I subsequently carry while this sign is up, and I am
questioned and detained because of the sign, which does not meet legal
requirements, then I will file a lawsuit over it.
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This is a bad idea. The law provides that if you have notice that carrying a concealed handgun is prohibited by the property owner, you may not carry a concealed handgun. There are two ways you may receive this notice. One is through oral communication. One is through written communication.

If you are a CHL, the law is very specific on what written communication is required to give a CHL notice. However, oral communication is still notice and no specific oral communication is required by law.

So if you call and ask them whether CHLs are prohibited, and they say "Yes, they are prohibited" (oral communication) and you then carry into the hospital anyway because the sign (written communication) doesn't meet the 30.06 requirements, you will still be breaking the law because you have notice via oral communication that such behavior is prohibited. You will not only have no grounds for a lawsuit, you'll be committing a Class A misdemeanor that, at a minimum, will get your CHL suspended for 5 years.
 
A local hospital (TMC of Denison) is posted with a very visible "gunbuster" sign but not a 30.06 sign. My understanding from my CHL class is that they must be properly posted with a 30.06 sign, so I carried my .45 in when I went to go visit my grandmother after her heart surgery. It would have been preferable that you hadn't contacted the hosptial about their sign, next time you probably will find a legal 30.06 sign posted. I prefer not to educate places about non-legal signs. I hope this wasn't TMC you've riled things up at.
 
Maybe I am reading this wrong, but it looks to me like you are looking for a battle where there is really not one. Keep it concealed and you are okay. I see the "No Gun" signs in a lot of places in TX, but they do not fill the requiriments of 30.06 so I disregard them. One of my banks has a 8.5x11" sign in a bulletin board by the entrance that I noticed the other day that specifically mentioned concealed permit holders, but is not regulation wording or size. I think hospitals are considered "safe" zones so when you started asking about the sign you probably made some non-gun person nervous, hence the police visit. I have considered carrying a printout of Texas Penal Code 30.06 on me to show people who might question me. I figure though that as long as I don't make an issue of it I won't have a problem as long as I keep it concealed. Don't expect to be welcomed with open arms if you are a cc permit holder and don't go challanging non-gun people. They can push back and put up the legal signs and actually prohibit us from carrying there instead of only suggesting we don't.
 
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*On the premises of a Hospital licensed under the Health and Safety Code
*On the premises of a nursing home licensed under the Health and Safety Code
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This is from the Hangunlaw web sight. From what I see and how I interpret the laws the sign in this case is a moot point. reading the above quote.

Items above marked * Do not apply if the actor was not given effective notice under Section 30.06.
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The sign in my opinion is effective notice
 
"The sign in my opinion is effective notice."

30.06 specifically states the sign must meet certain requirements. A generic "gunbuster" sign does not qualify.
 
"The sign in my opinion is effective notice."

30.06 specifically states the sign must meet certain requirements. A generic "gunbuster" sign does not qualify.
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The quote at the top of my post pertaining to the hospital caught my attention.
 
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