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I was in renewal class Saturday afternoon so I missed the Gun Bill Saturday. I did pass the written and shooting portions, the paperwork is on it's way to Austin. My instructor did mention some possible changes in the law this session, but as we all know, open carry is dead. I would say Campus Carry is on serious life support, the only likely change is the Campus Parking Lot bill. Maybe a licensed open carry bill in 2017?

So, as I take my first renewal class, my next renewal five years from now may be a bit shorter, or even eliminated. Fine. Maybe in those years, and two more legislative sessions, the citizens of this great state will remove the barriers to advancements to our rights. In the twenty years since Texans were "allowed" to carry concealed firearms, the statistics speak for themselves. There are no shoot outs on the streets, no rivers of blood, the percentage of CHL's losing their licenses for infractions of the law are so small, that alone should guarantee an open or campus carry law. Instead, the ruling class, or rather a few members of that class, have decided there is no reason to act. I have personally written and placed phone calls to all my reps, they all say "we are against an infringement of our second amendment rights". Great. And then what are you prepared to do? We were fooled. Again. Somebody please, point to where I'm wrong.

Ok, it's been a couple of months since this thread started, and it looks like (to me anyway) we may not get open or campus carry this time around. So, tell me, what did we gain this session?

I'm just asking a simple question in this thread, If there is a well crafted open carry bill introduced, passed, and made law, will more people be impacted by open carry all over the state, or if Campus Carry makes it this session? IANAL, and I don't have a college degree, but logic tells me, higher numbers of CHLs will be impacted by a good, OC bill. I'm assuming an OC bill will be written saying only CHL holders would be allowed to open carry. I've read the replies by you parents and campus employees, and I agree, a CC bill is needed, but I'm talking sheer numbers. I'm NOT saying which is more important, they are equally needed, in my opinion, especially now. The OC v CHL fight is silly. I appreciate Mr. Cotten putting in his .02, with this forum, we can discuss this with dignity, and civility. Sheer numbers now, can someone demonstrate to me the higher numbers of campus carriers?

Great replies everybody. The wife was out of town and I had to pick her up at DFW. While waiting for her, I read the posts here, good points, but I have a question. If you had a choice this session, and only one bill could get passed, which would you choose? Respectfully, I still view Campus Carry as a low priority mission. Many more people would be positively affected by a well crafted Open Carry bill. Campus Carry can wait. I do think the legal framework should be a CHL has the option, no CHL, no open carry. Ok, let me have it!

I've been lurking a bit, reading the posts about the recent legislative session. Educate me: if one of the current OC bills pass, and become law, then will CHLs be threatened by new signage that bans all carry, without the specific 30.06 rules that is current law now? Additionally, campus carry could be threatened for the same reason? So, Side A says, lets get campus concealed carry, relax some of the places where CHL's are now prohibited, and work on OC later. Side B says, the sign issue is bogus, 30.06 doesn't pertain to open carriers, the sign law will be the same, lets get licensed open carry passed. Do I have the arguments even close?? My .02 - campus carry should be a low priority. Campus crime is a concern, but I honestly don't think there is much demand for it. Besides, honestly, in my case, I wasn't responsible enough to carry, open or concealed in my college days. I never got in trouble, but came close a few times. The option to Open Carry on a hot day is tempting. I carry all the time, but those brutal August days we all know are tough. So what's wrong with a licensed open carry? Law enforcement will know open carriers have had background checks, training, and the good history that CHLs have had since '95. Like I said, educate me.