TexasCHLforum.com

I did some reading the other night on a website devoted to open carry in Oklahoma. I was curious what they were discussing there since OC was recently adopted. I saw posts that were complaining members didn't often see people actually carrying openly and it was frustrating to them. They seemed to think anyone who was not carrying openly in businesses was somehow throwing away the right to do so after all the work that had gone into getting the law passed. I think they had imagined there were huge numbers of people who were eager to OC. I suspect it would be the same way here. If it were passed, relatively few people would OC daily besides the ones who are passionate about it. Such zealots are not our best representatives to a public weary of gun-related pressures. If it were legal here, I would not carry openly other than perhaps a few exceptions in rural settings. Biggest advantage might be the removal of issues if my gun is uncovered without my realizing it. I see no reason to give up the tactical advantage of concealment in most situations.

Charles has his finger on the pulse of gun-related politics in Texas as few others do. That carries quite a bit of weight.

I would certainly like to be able to open carry in rural settings such as camping, horseback riding, hiking, etc. . But open carry in congested areas of businesses and parks, playgrounds, etc., will not set well with many people in our large cities. Like it or not, Texas is not like every other state. We do have a huge influx of people here who came from states with stronger anti-gun politics. The less they are offended with in-the-face tactics, the better.

I am concerned those groups and individuals, who have been obnoxious with open carry behavior, will not be satisfied with carrying a handgun in a subdued manner. After achieving their current goal, what are the chances they will continue to carry handguns in an attention-getting manner and places that continue to push buttons on voters? Is it fair that one person's behavior at a particular business or event gets all of us banned from carrying there? This is precisely why 30.06 should not be connected with open carry at all. If it is passed, OC should have it's own sign. While I think most who would OC would be reasonable about it. It only takes a few idiots to cause a headache for everybody. For at least some (certainly not all) it is more about being the center of attention and thinking they are winning at forcing others to accept guns in their environment who do not like them.

If we are to have a goal of increasing gun rights in Texas, I am far more interested in getting concealed campus carry and the same carry rights locations as LEO before open carry.

I am concerned OC would stimulate a lot more 30.06 signs on businesses in our large cities where business owners will not want the fall out from customers. I would rather be able to carry in concealed and not have the right to OC than to have OC only to lose the permission to carry into many businesses at all. A friend who lives in Oklahoma told me the signs keeping guns out of businesses there sprang up overnight when OC was passed. Would like to see some kind of statistics on it.