HOUSTON—Harris County’s ban on legally concealed handguns in parks exceeds state law, the county’s lawyer said.

County Attorney Mike Stafford said the county cannot restrict licensed handgun carriers from bringing their guns into parks and must take down signs announcing the ban.

His office planned to advise county commissioners about the matter on Tuesday.

Stafford’s office reviewed the county’s policy after a resident complained about seeing one of the signs while using a county park.

“He was a concealed handgun carrier. He wasn’t arrested,” Stafford said. “His complaint eventually went up the line to us.”

Harris County banned concealed handguns on its lands and buildings after the state Legislature passed a law in 1995 authorizing concealed handgun licenses.

The state law allowed public entities and all property owners to ban handguns from their properties.

But the Legislature amended the law in 2003.

The revision prohibited governments from banning licensed concealed handgun owners from carrying guns on most public properties.

AP

Harris county lawyer said it is legal to take licensed handguns to parks

Stafford said Harris County no longer had the authority to ban legally concealed handguns in parks after the 2003 revision.

The county can still ban legally concealed handguns from its parks when high school, college or professional sports events are held there.

Concealed handgun licensees are still restricted from bringing guns to a courthouse, justice of the peace court, school or the location of a governmental meeting.