TerranAce007
New member
Below is a copy of the e-mail I sent to the TSRA regarding a bad experience I had with a Travis County (Austin, TX) Park Ranger while camping this weekend at Pace Bend. I've only been there a few times, but seem to get hasseled by this guy for something everytime. He's even yelled at me for parking on the grass at a campsite. Has anyone else experienced something like this? Is anyone aware of any other legal prohibitons against open carry here?
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TSRA,
I am a CHL holder and was camping with some friends at Pace Bend Park this weekend and had a concerning interaction with a Park Ranger there. He pulled us over to warn us about our speed on the park road and when he asked for my driver's license, I handed him my CHL as well.
He took it and asked if I had a handgun in my car and I said yes. Then he asked me if I saw the sign at the front gate and told me that weapons are not allowed in LCRA parks. Later upon our exit, we didn't see any signs related to firearms.
After running my license, he came back to my window with an attitude and said that "some people think they can come out here and do whatever they want." He cautioned about driving too fast on the park roads because we might hit an animal, then went back to lecturing me about firearms and said that "some people think they can come out here and shoot at beer cans or animals."
I told him I have my CHL and my handgun for protection and wasn't there to cause any trouble, so he told me "just make sure it doesn't leave the vehicle." At that point, my friend told him he didn't see any 30.06 signs and the officer and his backup that had arrived argued with my friend for a few minutes. Eventually they told use they generally don't bother people about guns unless they're doing something wrong and let us go.
I've researched Pace Bend Park and it looks like it falls under Travis County jurisdiction, while the river is managed by LCRA. The LCRA website specifically allows CHLs in their regulations, but the Travis County Parks website says this:
"Weapons, Firearms, and Fireworks - No person shall possess or discharge weapons, firearms, or fireworks in any county park."
https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/about/rules-safety
My concern is that the Travis Country Park Rangers are either misinformed about state firearms laws, or they are intentionally harassing gun owners. The officer I dealt with was Joseph Delahoussaye (emp# 3196). I would appreciate any guidance you can provide on this situation.
Thanks,
--------------------------------------------
TSRA,
I am a CHL holder and was camping with some friends at Pace Bend Park this weekend and had a concerning interaction with a Park Ranger there. He pulled us over to warn us about our speed on the park road and when he asked for my driver's license, I handed him my CHL as well.
He took it and asked if I had a handgun in my car and I said yes. Then he asked me if I saw the sign at the front gate and told me that weapons are not allowed in LCRA parks. Later upon our exit, we didn't see any signs related to firearms.
After running my license, he came back to my window with an attitude and said that "some people think they can come out here and do whatever they want." He cautioned about driving too fast on the park roads because we might hit an animal, then went back to lecturing me about firearms and said that "some people think they can come out here and shoot at beer cans or animals."
I told him I have my CHL and my handgun for protection and wasn't there to cause any trouble, so he told me "just make sure it doesn't leave the vehicle." At that point, my friend told him he didn't see any 30.06 signs and the officer and his backup that had arrived argued with my friend for a few minutes. Eventually they told use they generally don't bother people about guns unless they're doing something wrong and let us go.
I've researched Pace Bend Park and it looks like it falls under Travis County jurisdiction, while the river is managed by LCRA. The LCRA website specifically allows CHLs in their regulations, but the Travis County Parks website says this:
"Weapons, Firearms, and Fireworks - No person shall possess or discharge weapons, firearms, or fireworks in any county park."
https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/about/rules-safety
My concern is that the Travis Country Park Rangers are either misinformed about state firearms laws, or they are intentionally harassing gun owners. The officer I dealt with was Joseph Delahoussaye (emp# 3196). I would appreciate any guidance you can provide on this situation.
Thanks,
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