TexasCHLforum.com

This may be a perfect example of people Open Carrying their rifles in the stores to make a statement causes 30.06 signs in Texas.

Recently, however, we’ve seen the “open carry” debate become increasingly uncivil and, in some cases, even threatening.

Wow, very eloquent.. I'm impressed with the open letter.

Starbucks was just the location for the demonstration. I continue to have mixed feelings on it. It's pretty clear to me that we've lost the right in Texas to openly carry long guns - or any type of firearm for that matter. I know that some of you are OK with this. I guess what bugs me about it is that we can't call the kettle black.. We go on saying that we've still got those rights when we don't.

I'd like one of two things to happen:
1) Texas drafts legislation prohibiting openly carrying all firearms. This seems to be the defacto situation in most areas, so let's at least call it what it is. Yep, I know that such legislation probably won't pass and is probably a constitutional overstep, but at least we'd have alignment with law. If that's what the majority of people want and makes the sheep feel "safe" - lets give it to them.

2) Texas drafts legislation indicating that the charge of "disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace" cannot apply to peaceful display of long guns. Other states have legislation protecting citizens from the most common forms of arrest - and essentially a functional prohibition on the open carry of long guns in this state. I can provide cites if necessary. Draft this legislation and I'd feel a lot less sympathetic to the guys going out attempting to exercise a right that we really don't have in Texas.

This effectively serves as a 30.06 notice to all Texas CHL holders.

There's a huge problem with the wording he is using. He is classifying "open carry" as simply carrying a handgun whether concealed or not. He uses "open carry" as the definition of carrying "in public." This is incorrect, so I'm not sure if he is requesting no "open carry" or requesting "no guns - period." He also said it was "a request" not an outright "ban." How does that square with PC30.06? Very confusing info.

To me it's a written request to not carry. Period!

Good enough for me to not go there again.

ummmm....no it doesnt

(A) a card or other document on which is written language
identical to the following: “Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code
(trespass by holder of license to carry a concealed handgun), a person
licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code
(concealed handgun law), may not enter this property with a concealed
handgun”;

i am still torn on how i feel about this

The verbiage is inclusive of all firearms without distinguishing and that is unfortunate. It's not a legal 30.06, obviously.
I guess allowing concealed firearms isn't something that he can stand on a public forum and do, especially if he's going to deny open carry in areas where it is legal.

cprems wrote:This effectively serves as a 30.06 notice to all Texas CHL holders.

How so? It's not 30.06 language, and perhaps more to the point he says it's not a ban. Also, he says he's talking about openly carrying.

And Starbucks owns the next closest shop to me, settles best...awesome

The CEO just said NO GUNS. Which part of that are you failing to understand?

Regardless of the what the law states, he has said NO GUNS. That is effective warning and its enough for me. I'll spend my money elsewhere!

Hmmmm

Picking nits.. I think he means that it's an effective warning (to him). An effective warning in the legal sense isn't really what is being debated, if I understand correctly.

And I agree.. If a private business doesn't want to do business citizens that are legally carrying firearms, then that is their right as a private business. I'd no more expect you to come over to my home and refuse to take off your shoes, if that's what I wanted. Legally, we can ignore the notice. Effectively many of us will respect the notice and not carry or choose not to patronize that business... Some of us may choose to ignore the will of that private business management as there is no requirement to do so under Texas law the way it's been posted today.

If I see a valid 30.06 sign at the store, I will obey it and not enter. If a manager verbally tells me he/she does not want any guns in the store, I will leave. Otherwise, I see no problem carrying concealed. Even if Texas ever allowed open carry, I would still go concealed except when in rural areas, camping, etc. Places where most would not be alarmed.

The verbiage of the letter is an earnest plea to please stop making Starbucks any public part of the gun argument--and especially pertaining to visible guns. Some in the open carry crowd just will not stop pushing all of their fellow citizens to become completely accepting of strangers to stand next to them and their children with a visible gun. As a gun enthusiast, I totally understand how gun owners feel, but before I was who I am now, I was for many years a woman who would have thrown a fit over some guy openly carrying a gun near me or my kids. I would have had no idea why or if he was some nut that was a threat or just simply negligent. These days with mass shootings being played up endlessly by the anti's we are simply not going to win this by being insensitive to those who are truly fearful and ignorant of guns. It WILL backfire.