TexasCHLforum.com

locke_n_load wrote:So, is there a hard requirement to hand over CHL if the only thing you are doing is OCing and minding your own business? I will give up the license for the first half year or so, but after that, I might ask the officer what cause they had to stop me from my business around town.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:Understandably, there has been a lot of discussion about the potential response, or harassment some claim, of law enforcement to people carrying openly. It will probably be much like it was in the early days of concealed-carry when the concept was new. It was very common for drivers to be disarmed when the LEO was advised that the driver has a CHL. Over a short time period, CHL quickly became a non-issue and disarming of CHLs as a general practice faded away.

I suspect we'll see pretty much the same pattern, unless the bomb-throwing open-carry guys decide to bate LEOs so they can get video of the interaction. Most CHLs and LEOs are good people and they are going to get along well. Another factor that comes into play that wasn't an issue for concealed-carry is the inevitable "man with a gun" calls that LEOs are going to be getting. It's imperative that people carrying openly respond respectfully to LEOs answering those calls! Understand the position that MWAG calls put a LEO in and don't threat him or her like they are looking for an excuse to harass you simply because you are carrying openly. Be ready also to be swatted and that puts you and the LEO in a very dangerous scenario. Again, respond respectfully and the LEO will get to the bottom of the problem.

Will there be some LEOs who are jerks and just want to harass people carrying openly? Yes, of course there will, just like there will be open-carriers who will be jerks to the officer. Luckily, both bad apples will likely be few in number. If one walks out of their home spoiling for a fight, they will likely find one. But if you adopt the Golden Rule approach, you will go a long way toward making open-carry a non-issue.

Chas.