TexasCHLforum.com

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

gmckinl wrote:My point is, that in all my time in VA I've seen... wait for it... NO ONE open carrying. Not one single person other than uniformed LEOs. Yes I've heard all the blather (web postings) about OC get togethers at restaurant xyz. BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT EVEN ONCE.

That mirrors my experience in eight years of going to Virginia at least 6 to 8 times a year. I go to Arlington and Fairfax primarily, but have been to other cities/towns on rare occasions. In fact, this mirrors my experience in traveling all over the country for over 30 years.

Then doesn't your own experience, and that of gmckinl, negate your oft-stated worry that open carry in Texas would scare the sheeple into posting 30.06 everywhere?

Your argument against OC that it's not such a big deal, is actually an argument in favor.

camjr wrote:After reading the posts, paying particular attention to several members' posts, I'm not opposed to it as long as it has no impact on my ability to carry concealed. I will continue to carry concealed (I even carry concealed on my own property--I don't want anyone to know I'm armed except my wife). It's nobody's business how I choose to protect myself, my family, and my property. If given the option, I don't think I would change.

I absolutely respect your position. The part I highlighted is something both sides of this debate believe in. No one wants to take away your ability to carry concealed -- we're just asking for free choice for everyone.

I've never been one to push my opinions on people, and I keep thinking that the open carry effort has a certain amount of that to it (that's why I loved the codpiece analogy in the earlier post)...

The codpiece analogy was offensive, and everyone who has debated an anti-gunner should understand why: their favorite accusation is that we only like guns to make up for a deficient manhood. To hear fellow carry advocates make the same accusation towards someone who wants the option to carry openly instead of concealed is not just an insult, it's a betrayal.

The Texas ad campaign for OCDO has brought a lot of new members to the site. Many are curious, and ask honest questions that are answered politely. Many others are trolls who show up to tell open carry advocates how wrong they are. One recent example (from Texas) signed up with the user name of "Youguysaremorons" and proceeded to declare that anyone wanted to carry openly must be a tiny, insecure little man, but because he's 6'4" and "in great shape", he doesn't need to "show off" his gun by OCing. Totally missed the point, and issued a blanket ad hominem attack in one fell swoop.

I enjoy the comity of this forum, but sometimes trolls just really deserve to be nuked in place. They get that on OCDO.

Cowtown Cop has a good article today about open carry from his perspective.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

KBCraig wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote:OpenCarry.org, a Virginia-based organization....

I didn't realize that Virginia-based organizations were unwelcome in Texas. Don't you happen to sit on the Board of Directors of a Virginia-based organization?

My point is that "organizations" based in other states that are not knowledgeable in the procedural rules and customs in Texas are at a disadvantage when trying to draft legislation and in deciding how to get it introduced. ... And "my" Virginia-based organization has expertise in every state, as well as on the federal level.

Ah, this is timely!

From my inbox today, from NRA-ILA:

Pro-Gun Bill Introduced in the Lone Star State!

Please Contact Your State Legislators Today!

The pre-filing of bills for the 2009 legislative session has begun.

State Representative Dennis Bonnen (R-Angleton) has introducedHouse Bill 267, which would allow Texans to purchase rifles and shotgun in non-contiguous states. Currently, federal law allows the interstate sales of such firearms, but a conflicting Texas law only allows residents to buy long guns in the neighboring states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico. This state law has prevented the FBI and BATFE from approving sales of rifles and shotguns in 45 other states to Texas residents.

That is hardly expert analysis, and completely misstates both the law and the problem.

As discussed elsewhere here recently, Texas law does not prohibit residents from purchasing long guns in non-contiguous states. It only says that residents may purchase long guns in contiguous states, but places no restrictions at all.

There is no conflict with federal law as claimed by NRA-ILA.

Some have reported that FBI or ATF have misread the statute, but that's what it is: a misreading. And it does need to eliminated, so that there's nothing to misread. There's no need for the state to bring statutes into line with federal law, so Texans should be able to buy guns anywhere as far as the State of Texas is concerned.

So, I welcome this bill, but it doesn't do what NRA-ILA claims.

Sorry for the hijack, I just found the timing too funny. Maybe they should stick to Virginia law.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:OpenCarry.org, a Virginia-based organization....

I didn't realize that Virginia-based organizations were unwelcome in Texas. Don't you happen to sit on the Board of Directors of a Virginia-based organization?

OpenCarry.org is no more an "organization" than TexasCHLforum.com is. I wouldn't even call it "Virginia-based", although that's where the founders live. It's an online, grassroots, community of gun rights activists, with volunteer researchers and advocates for almost every state. There are clashing opinions and clashing personalities, and no 10 year old daughter rule. It's not the same as this forum, but every community has its own norm.

You mentioned that people who disagree are treated viciously over there. There have been plenty of trolls there who deserve to be treated with scorn. Why would anyone join a position advocacy forum just to tell them how wrong and crazy they are? Would you welcome someone who came here and on the first post started telling us we're wrong and crazy for carrying guns? How "inappropriate" it is? How dangerous it is for us to be around children while we're carrying? And wouldn't it be a hundred times more irritating if this person claimed to be a gun owner who supports the Second, just "not like that"?

There's a new thread like that almost weekly on OCDO, where a concealed carry advocate joins up and denigrates open carry, because "they'll snatch your gun!" or "they'll take you out first!" or "you're ruining it for the rest of us!"; such people get the "welcome" they deserve.

On the other hand, the concealed carry advocates there don't criticize anyone for preferring concealed carry. They support choice in the manner of carry.

Every civil rights movement needs its agitators who will keep pushing the boundaries.

nils wrote:As long as they continue to have some sort of training/education/certification/test in order to carry legally, and then grandfather current CHLers, I guess that I would be OK with OC....

Sir, it looks like your internet registration is out of date. May I see your political commentary license, please?