Should Texas law continue to prohibit open carry?
Texas, despite its independence and frontier reputation, is one of only six states where handguns cannot — in some form — legally be worn in plain view.
“Cowboys and Indians, and the Alamo — and many just assumed that Texas was an open-carry state,” wrote Gary Williams, one of many Texans advocating for gun law change. “Clearly, there are some changes that need to be made.”
Gun safety advocates aren’t so sure.
“What are they trying to do? Go back to Texas gunslinger days?” asked Richard Leal, a board member of the Houston-based Texans for Gun Safety. “Things are bad enough as it is, with people 18 and older being authorized to carry guns.”
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37 Responses to “Texans and Open Carry”Search
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Richard Leal should be more concerned with those not “authorized” to carry guns.
Stogus - But don’t you understand, crime will go away when everyday people won’t be able to defend themselves.
I think Texans are as trustworthy with firearms as Virginians are, don’t you? Why would open carry be a problem?
I am actually more concerned with a requirement for a license for concealed carry. I know it may be considered by some to be paranoid, but if everyone who is licensed and/or registered as owning a gun is available in a database, cannot we be singled out for confiscation? It happened in New Orleans. I saw it in Red Dawn. You know if it happened in a movie it’s possible (tongue slightly in cheek).
Not that I think these on-line petitions do any good.. Politicians only listen to cash in their re-election campaigns..
I’ll go ahead and throw some kindling on the fire anyway:
http://www.petitiononline.com/texasoc/petition.html
semperloco, all my guns were stolen, I just have not gotten around to reporting to the police yet.
I reported a break in two years ago - is it too late to go back and add my guns to the list
What’s the purpose of open carry?
One benefit to registration is possible recovery, but that benefit is also available by recording the serial numbers and insuring them, is it not? #5 and #6, I can imagine no reason guns should not be reported in the same way jewelry is reported.
#7, the purpose for open carry may vary as much as the individual. In my case, I wouldn’t. In a situation where a criminal is seeking to eliminate threats, he would likely target those with open carry. Of course, the open carry may be a deterrent in the first place, but that would be situational. Either way, I hope/plan/expect to never need to point a weapon at anyone. I just don’t want the government to say I cannot be armed and protect myself.
BTW, the Constitution doesn’t give us the right to keep and bear arms. It prohibits the government from infringing on that right that we have already to keep and bear (carry) arms.
#8 - My comment was in response to your “confiscation” comment. Whatever guns the gov. comes looking for were “stolen” (wink, wink) a long time ago….Understand?
Wait a minute…
I remember during the 1992 Republican convention, there was this black protest group marching around outside, and a bunch of the guys in that group were openly carrying around loaded shotguns. IIRC, it was said that this was perfectly legal for them to do because it was open carry.
And, of course, nothing happened, or at least those guys never fired those shotguns during their protests, and they didn’t cause more of a ruckus than usual.
Open carry of long guns — rifles and shotguns — is legal.
With a few exceptions (cops, some security guards, etc.) open carry of handguns is illegal.
Carry of handguns may only be concealed, and only with a concealed handgun permit.
#10 Astro
Souns like Mr. theTenth & his bunch of nutwads.
I’ve open carried in some states that allow it before and would love to see this addition to Texas law. Virginia is one of the best. They adopted a state law preempting local regulations on open carry a few years ago. I’ve since carried there in broad daylight without any problems or weird looks - not even in the liberal suburbia around DC.
The only people who ever seemed to have any problem with it were the stupid cops in Arlington County. Shortly after the law passed they had several incidents where they illegally arrested people for open carry then had egg all over their face when they learned about the new law. It hit the news several times at first.
The most famous incident involved a group of about a dozen open carriers who had a picnic in a local park. Somebody saw them with guns, called the Arlington PD, and within minutes the place was encircled with a SWAT team and police helicopters. They too went home with egg on their faces.
#10 - That happened at the state republican convention as well about a decade ago. Quannel the Tenth showed up with a bunch of his shotgun-carrying thugs. Shortly after they arrived one of them got into a shoving match with a delegate on the sidewalk in front of the George R. Brown, not far from where the “Discovery Green” is now.
HPD was all over the place. I was manning the door across from where it happened, personally witnessed several of officers watching the whole thing take place, and heard them talking about it over the RPT walkie-talkies, which were in communication with the police via the sergeant at arms. They even had HPD stationed on the building roof because Laura Bush was inside about to give a speech.
But when the victim tried to file charges they claimed none of their officers saw it happen.
We had to put the convention doors on lockdown for about a half hour after it. The law permitted them to open carry with long guns, but one of them committed a clear act of criminal assault. Chief Bradford’s Finest were instructed to remain silent about it though, so nothing ever happened and the charges were dropped.
What’s the benefit of open carry for handguns?
In some states, open carry is permitted in a few of the places where concealed carry is not. For example, some states don’t allowed concealed carry permit holders to carry in restaurants but they do allow open carry there.
Ideally, i’d like laws that permit both open and concealed carry for legally qualified people just about everywhere except for bars.
I pretty much agree, Phil.
Though there might be unintended consequences to moving from concealed to open carry. With concealed carry, you have a mild deterrent effect across the whole population. Crooks know that anyone could be armed, so they’re somewhat less likely to attack anyone (in theory, anyway).
With open carry, that broad deterrent effect could be minimized. People intending to maximize their own deterrent effect would wear their guns openly. I would guess that few would conceal.
That broad deterrent effect would then become a narrow one, as bad guys would know that an apparently unarmed person is probably, in fact, unarmed.
Basically, it moves the deterrent effect from a collective one to an individualized one, which I suppose is fine with me. All told, I’m in favor of open carry. Just something to think about.
A cop’s job is hard enough. Now to deal with a bunch of John Wayne types slinging their pistols in open view, displayed from their custom-made leather shoulder holsters ( with additional magazines I might add ). Unreal.
I just don’t see the benefit of open carry for handguns. It’s tough enough keeping the gun ownership rights we have without giving opponents a visible reminder of what they hate every time they see some yahoo at a mall or restaurant with a holster.
Just seems like a way for people to draw attention to themselves.
Oh yeah, Quanell X; I think it was his group that I’m thinking of.
I’m glad to be rid of that guy from my local TV newscasts, though we still see Barkley’s ugly mug all the time, though. He’s nationwide.
Ok, so we keep handguns in secret because some liberals don’t like to see them? How does this solve the problem that they are actively seeking to take away our rights?
It’s like how we cannot pray before a football game anymore because we’re afraid somebody might not like God and get offended.
It’s the tyranny of the minority imposing its will on the majority. The people of this country are so afraid of offending people that they will give up their rights to keep the peace. Just like those who don’t want us to worship God or own guns want us to do.
End this political correct nonsense and bring back common sense.
How is carrying a handgun on your hip ending political correctness?
This isn’t about God.
Texas also produces more beautiful women than any other state in the Union!
I rather carry them on my hip than a piece of metal endagering other lives.
No, it isn’t about God, but the arguement is similar. Allow me to explain.
Political correctness is about silencing people and censorship. The wrong person says the wrong thing and his or her job is lost. One person claims offense at the mention of God and no one can pray in public anymore.
Have you ever noticed how it generally only happens to a certain segment of the population? PC is about consoring white people, particularly white men.
I’m sorry, what was the PC term for white people? I never hear it. I hope I didn’t offend anybody.
Now, how does this pertain to gun rights? Gun rights opponents use the same tactic. Gun rights opponents always claim that it will be the return of the wild, wild west if people start carrying guns. They claim that they are afraid of citizens with guns.
For example, look at carbon-credit’s post.
In the effort to make the limb wrists feel comfortable, the guns are removed from the citizenry. This will continue as long as we allow the minority to keep us frightened of offending anyone.
That’s why I took issue with your statement on wearing guns. It’s so freaking PC. Who cares if it offends the pantywaists of our society? It’s our right to own and bear guns, even in public.
For people to regain their God given rights of free speech and gun ownership, PC must be defeated.
Now now Noodles, I can’t let you get away with that.
Sure, that hunk of metal can endanger other lives in the hands of a crimnal.
You forgot to mention a gun’s other purpose, to protect responsible citizens and their families.
Astrosmith - It was Quanell X who first got me interested in gun ownership. I’ve never thanked him for that, however…
I care because I care about gun rights. Democracy in this country is a constant negotiation among the citizens. If enough people are convinced of something, it becomes law. I don’t support flaunting the fact that you’re carrying a weapon when there is the heavy downside risk of that starting a trend towards taking away the rights we already have.
Rahman - the piece of metal does not endanger anyone’s life. The metal is inert and cannot do anything on its own. The owner of the metal is the one that will either (a) prevent a crime or (b) perpetrate a crime. Either way it is a person, not an object that would be committing the act.
I think it would be a good idea. But I would like to have the CHL also
I think if enacted it should be enacted as follows:
1 A more stringent training program
2 A more intensive proficiency training
3 Self defense training on how to prevent the loss of weapon in close quarters
4 basic regulation on type of holster used.
These are good starting points.
I actually do both at different times when I’m in Virginia, as do most of my CCL holding friends. I suspect most others like us do the same thing. So far, there hasn’t been much in the way of one type of carry inadvertently augmenting or undermining the other. Criminals simply know that there are a lot of people carrying guns, some visibly and some not so visibly.
Nonsense. Dozens of states already have open carry laws and there’s nothing of the sort going on there. I spend a lot of time in some of those states and frequently open carry myself. It happens without incident in states all over the country every day and it works. Get out and see the world a bit before making ignorant comments like yours.
Matt, I don’t see a problem with dual carry, so to speak.
If the law is modified to allow open carry where concealed carry is illegal, all you have to do is pull up your shirt, and tuck it behind your pistol rig. TA-DA! Open carry, everyone is happy. When you walk to the door and are about to leave, simply re-drape your shirt or jacket, and you are back to concealed.
A firearm is a tool, nothing more, nothing less. It becomes good or evil from the intent of the hand that wields it. I wouldn’t have a second thought about entering a bar or restaurant with 30 people packing. I’d make 31, and rest assured everyone would be polite. And if that’s what it takes, I’m all for it.
Besides, it’d be great to be able to strap on a drop holster when I’m on my motorcycle. Bet everyone would be polite then, too.
I did exactly that a couple weeks ago for that exact reason at a Fuddruckers in an open carry state.
#7 & #15,
Open carry can be much more comfortable on a blazing hot Texas summer day. I know on some summer days I would prefer to not have to wear an addtional cover garment, or carry a much smaller gun.
Now,
The real question that should be asked before restricting an freedom is, what is the problem with open carry? What problems has open carry caused in VA, AZ, NM, VT, AK, MT, WY, and all of the MANY other states where open carry is practiced routinely?
My question is, why do YOU want to restrict the freedoms of Texans to openly carry their personal firearms?
#32…doubt you will see my response since the thread is dying…you spend 27 years in a patrol car in Houston and 1.5 years in a patrol car in NYC then I’ll heed your observation…until then it’s totally meaningless to me…you nedd to “see the world” rather than comment about it…
Does anyone know when Texas did away with the open carry law originally? I am kind of curious to know when we became “civilized”?