TexasCHLforum.com

jordanmills wrote:

canvasbck wrote:

Abraham wrote:The simple repeal of 46.035 sounds like a great idea...........but why have none of the LEGITIMATE gun advocate groups (NRA, TSRA) done anything to attempt repeal of 46.035? I would much rather have these experienced lobby groups pushing for it than amatures like we see from LonestarCDL and the OCDO crowd.

I think you need to reconsider your concept of "legitimate". The LSCDL started because the TSRA refused to take significant action for years, and as an alternative to their well publicized (if publicly denied) hostility to open carry. So, want to talk about legitimate, look to the group that was associated with actual legislation in key areas.

By legitimate, I meant organizations that have successfully gotten legislation introduced, hleped it through committee, and secured the votes needed for passage. Getting a bill introduced is the easy step, you need only to convince one congressman that it's a good idea. Getting out of committee isn't too hard either, you need only convince a handfull of congressmen to vote favorably in committee especially when committee members know that the bill will never see the light of day. As a poker player, I have seen lots of bills make it out of committee only to die in calendars. TSRA and NRA have experience pushing bills that eventually become law because they understand how it's done, they are on the inside. LonestarCDL does not have the experience in Austin to successfully drive legislation.

My earlier statement was not meant to discredit LSCDL, just to point out the fact that they do not have the experience nor are they willing to bend enough to get a bill through. I too am frustrated with the NRA and TSRA at their attitudes towards open carry, but it is a political fact in this state that you are not going to pass gun related bills while holding a certain finger up at those two organizations. I don't like it, but it is the landscape that we find ourselves in.

Abraham wrote:I'm ambivalent regarding open carry. I'm content with my CHL and wouldn't open carry publicly if I legally could, but that's me. If it does become legal and you want to - have at it.

I wonder though, what percentage (I assume a small one) simply want an ego boost were open carry allowed...?

Perhaps, even ride a white horse like Hopalong Cassidy, wear a western costume, and oh yeah, a fine two gun set of big ole revolvers complete with fine leather tooled holsters and a cartridge belt filled to capacity with gleaming rounds.

Then, if you can carry a tune, wherever you roam in Texas you could sing, "I've got spurs that jingle, jangle, jingle...

Am I mocking? Yes, a little.

Many OC fans seem wound a bit tight - so a bit of levity.

I know that your post was tounge in cheek, but one of the reasons that I would use open carry (a selfish reason, but a reason nontheless) is the fact that one of my hobbies is trailriding.

Under current laws, I either have to go with IWB, which is pretty uncomfortable in a saddle for hours at a time, or I have to wear extra layers (vest) which is pretty unbearable in the summer. Even using the vest option, I ride an 18hh Percheron and I am short and fat, so more often than not my clothes are not in the same place after I have climbed up the side of my horse while mounting as they were when I was on the ground. On more than a few occasions, my carry weapon has been exposed during this particular circus act. Since the exposure was not intentional, it was not illegal. However, I am concerned that eventually an uninformed bystander will call in a MWAG or an uninformed LEO will take some sort of action. If that ever happens, I will probably beat the rap, but won't beat the ride.

Why do I, a law abiding citizen, have to jump through these flaming hoops just to make sure that a peice of cloth remains over a legally posessed tool? Is this a magical peice of cloth that somehow keeps everyone safe from my gun? Is it the peice of cloth that keeps the gun from jumping out of the holster all by itself and slaughtering every inoccent bystander within 100 yards? I support open carry because, frankly, the requirement to remain concealed is just stupid. "you can have it as long as we can't tell that you have it" makes no sense whatsoever. It makes about as much sense as don't ask don't tell did in the military, you can be gay in the military as long as we don't know your gay.

The simple repeal of 46.035 sounds like a great idea...........but why have none of the LEGITIMATE gun advocate groups (NRA, TSRA) done anything to attempt repeal of 46.035? I would much rather have these experienced lobby groups pushing for it than amatures like we see from LonestarCDL and the OCDO crowd.