So we went camping yesterday at millers creek and they have a sign that just says no firearms. I'm very positive that the sign is not valid. I was thinking it may just be an old sign before 30.06 was required. Anyway I want to be able to protect my family and friends. I heard about some places called COE lakes but don't know what bodies of water are considered that. Thanks in advance

COE = Corp Of Engineers

US Army Corps of Engineers facilities are subject to federal law rather than state law. Your LTC is not valid on COE property.

You need to determine who actually owns and controls the property where you were camping to know whether the sign was legitimate.

I just Googled it, and it appears that the lake is not a USACOE facility. I would check with the managing authority, whose contact data is provided on the lake's website.

Well I found this...
"CHL permittees may carry concealed while in a federal park or wildlife preserve contained wholly or partially within the borders of the State of Texas. However, Army Corps of Engineers properties (including all reservoir lakes and included park areas) are still off-limits."

millers creek is a reservoir.. or am I still reading this wrong..

The Army Corps of Engineers lakes are pretty serious about it. Get caught by one of their wardens, and you are in trouble.

Well I checked the website and millers creek is not part of it. I would also think you would have to have signs stating you are entering a COE property.

The controlling authority is a municipal water authority. You should be good unless there is a 30.06 sign.

Correct. I fish there some as well, always carrying.

Thanks guys!

Glad you posted this. I honestly had no idea you couldn't carry on COE lakes. I carry all the time so thank you for this. I did see there have been bills introduced to allow carry on COE properties but doesn't look like any have passed.

The feds are pretty adamant about it. At the SSA office in Conroe, uniformed, on-duty police officers are required to surrender their weapons unless they are actually responding to a call in the building. Their administration believes that banning weapons on the premises will prevent some nutcase from shooting the place up.......

According to the article below with the passage of H.R. 2028, the right to carry has been expanded to match the State law in which the COE land is contained.

https://www.nraila.org/articles/20150501...-land-provision

The article only addresses the House version. The Senate would also have to pass it in order for it to become law.

Most COE properties have signs at the common vehicular entry points. But since the laws are federal rather than state, the state laws regarding signage do NOT apply. If you get caught with a firearm in an Army COE property, the arresting officer and the federal courts will not care a bit whether you claim to have not seen the sign.