TexasCHLforum.com

You may be right. There are some who can't wait to open carry (the open carry fanatics that stirred up so much with their rifles comes to mind) just to make the point and I hope that doesn't reflect poorly on the rest of us.

That's true...hanging two big signs may be a bit much for some companies.

tex

oljames3 wrote:

skychief12 wrote:I'm wondering how the new open carry (assuming final passage) could effect conceal carry rules. For example, I thinking about an optional switch from an officer size 1911 to a full size government model if it becomes final. That leads me to thinking about issues around peeking that I don't have now with the shorter gripped officer and IWB holster. Using the IWB and government the bottom of the longer grip will bulge out the back of my untucker T-shirt when sitting. If I went with an OWB the tip of the barrel will peek out below the untucker t-shirt in some situations.

If the end result is that the law states clearly "fully exposed" or "fully concealed", I'm sure some will dance in the above mentioned gray areas (as they do today). But that would clear it up for me and I'd just stay with my officer rig.

Thought?

As I understand it from reading the bills and watching the sausage being made, concealed still means the same thing it always has. The only real change for me is I don't have to concentrate on covering when I leave my house.

I'll probably just tuck my shirt behind my in waist band holster for a while so I can wear my larger jeans a while longer. That will also give me a chance to ascertain the signage at my usual haunts. I'll use the paddle holster unless I know I'm going somewhere requiring concealment. For the first few months of 2016, for instance, I'll wear my suit coat over my IWB in church. After that, its suit coat over paddle holster.

The new law will mean that CHL holders wont have to be concerned at all about whether his gun is concealed or not concealed except for any portion of the law that specifies a distinction. Otherwise, let it be concealed or let it become exposed. It won't matter to a license holder. Carry it partially exposed if you'd like. What will matter is that it is holstered in a belt or shoulder holster.

tex

I suspect that this is what will happen.

As more people carry open more businesses will gasp at the change of events in Texas law, especially those who are not friendly to guns. For most of these types they have not been aware that the concealed carry's have been frequenting their stores.

These will want open carry stopped so they will put up a 30.07. That's when they will realize that there is such a thing as a 30.06 sign and want to put one of those up also...anything they can do to stop the uncontrolled and vile practice of carrying a weapon.

The beauty of concealment is that it doesn't draw attention to yourself and create interest where it is to your advantage to not create interest. So, sometimes keeping something under wraps is the better part of valor. I don't envision there being many 30.07 signs where there isn't also a 30.06.

The kind of owner who would only put up a 30.07 is one who knows about concealed carry and doesn't object but does object to open probably because of his other customer's alarm.

In the end what good will it do us to win open carry if, by exercising that right, we loose a substantial number of locations where we can carry openly. Especially when the other alternative serves our purpose nicely...protection and the exercise of 2nd amendment rights.

What I worry about is that starting on January first, there will be a suddenly increased number of open guns being seen by everyone. Most of those people will be caught off guard and wonder what has happened. They will complain profusely and it will draw attention to the perceived idea that all of this open carry stuff was ill-thought out. Legislators will scramble to make modifications to ease the tension. Luckily for us, the legislature only meets every two years.

Hopefully, by then, everything will settle down and people will be more accepting of the idea.

I will still go to Walmart at least once just because I can.

tex