HonorableHaaer Garrison,Jr., Mreotor Deprtment of Publio Safety CemP=bQ &xitin, Texas
Dear sin opinionHO. -145 ~. Rer lkuld'a countycommissioner, by viitue of the faat that at times he might skre as a magi&rate, be allowedto carrytipistol?
Responding to your opinion request of recent &ate on the ques- tion a8 statedabove,we have oarei'ully investigatedthe authorities.
The pertinentstatutoryprovisionsare containedin Chapter4 of Title 9 of the Texas Penal Code, Articles493 and 494, under the gen- eral headinguUnlamfullyCarrying&rms.-~~, Ue quote __- said articlesa
*4rt. 463. 476, 339, 310 Unlkully oarryingarms
"Shoevetshall awry on or about his person,saddle,or in his,saddlebags any pistol,dir&, dagger,alung-shot, sword cane, spear or knuoklesmade of any metal or any hard mbSta?me, bolrie lolife,or aqy other knife manufaoturedor sold for the purposeof offense cr defense,shall be pun- ished byfdne not less than#lOO.OO nor more than #600.00 or by oonfinementin jail for not less than one month-nor more than one year. Aots 1897, p. 6; 4ots 1906, p. 66; bat.91916, p. 194a
'b-t. 4040 476, 339, 319 Hot applioable
"The precedingarticle shall not-applyto a person in actual serviceas a militiaman,nor to ang peaoe offioer in the actual disohargeof his officialduty,nor to the oarryingof wms on one's own premisesor plaoe of busi- ness, nor to personstrpcreling,nor to any deputy oonsta- ble, or specialpolioemanwho receivescompensationof Hoa. Homer Garrison,Jr., Director,Page 2
forty dollarsor more per monty for his services as suoh offiosr,and who is appointed in wmfonn- ity with the statutesauthorizingsuoh appointmentJ nor to any deputy,whsn in the aotualdischargeof his dutiesas suoh,nor to any game wardan,or lo- oal deputyGeme, Fish end Oyster Commissionerwhen in the actual disohargeof his dutiesin the county of his residenos,nor shall it apply to any game warden or deputyGems, Fish and Oyster Cummissioner who aotuallyrsoeivesfrormthe State fees or oompsn- sationfor his servioes. bats 1871, p. 25, Acta 1918, p. 194..
Article 6, Seotion12 of the Constitutionof Texas contains this statements "All judgesof oourts of this State,by virtue of their office,be oonservatorsof the peaoe throughoutthe State."
Smtion 1 of said Artiole 6 reads in part:
"The judioislpower of this State shall be vested in ow SupreneCourt, in Courts of Civil Appeals,in a Court of Cr5min~lAppeals,in DistriotCourts,in Chnty Coufts;(b Coliimibsibnera~Couit~~ in thurts~ of Justioesof~thsPeaoe)' other oourta~&s'may be providedby law." (&~phasisours).
Rhile Camnissioners'Courtsare Courtsof 1imLtedjurisdis- tion, th sre nevertheless"Courts.' Hill CountyV. Esmilton(Tex. 7 278 S.11,2921 Bradfordv..%ssley (Tex. C~II& App.) 226 6.W. Civ. &pp. 171, revsrsing(Tsx. Civ. App.) 190 S.U. 824. .~ 1. Artiole SK &our Code of CriminalProoedurr provides:
"Art.'S3.' (41) (42) Rho are magistrates
"Esoh of the f&lowing officersis a %mgistrstelwithinthe meaning of this Coder The judgesof the.SupremsCourt,the judgesof the Court of CriminalAppeals,the judgesof the dis- t&t court,the county judge,sny oountyoonrmissioner, tk justicesof the peace, the mayor or recorderof en inoorpor- &ed oity or to%.* (Dnphasihours). Hon. Homer Garrison,Jr., Page S
Article 54 of.the tide of CriminalProoedureprescribes the duty of magistratesaa follows*
"Art. S4e (42) (43) Duty of magistrates
"It is the duty of every magistrateto preserve the peacewithin his jurisdictionby the use of all lawfulmeans8 to issue all prooassintendedto aid in preventingand supressingOr-J to