TexasCHLforum.com

To All CHL Holders:

Not matter what your stance is on Open Carry it seems like it would best to place ourselves at the active end of the OC issue, and not the "reactive" end. Just sitting around and opposing OC and Constitutional Carry because you are afraid how it could affect your CHL rights doesn't seem like a great course of action to me; in fact it seems like a course of action that has a higher probably of leading to our rights actually being affected.

Just like your community, neighborhood, church, and your family; not participating in any of these and just sitting by the sidelines is a good way to insure you won't be happy with the results.

I for one would like to see the TSRA and the NRA take a proactive role in creating a bill that will protect the rights that they fought for so hard for in the 90's. As proven by comments here and elsewhere there is a certain segment of the OC crowd that doesn't care about us; doesn't care about the rights that have been fought so hard for; and has little or no interest in creating a bill that would preserve the relatively good CHL laws we enjoy in TX.

speedsix wrote:...I have been digging to see how long it's been legal in VA to open carry...and haven't found it...

I am on the backside of 40, I can't remember a time when is wasn't. In fact OC'ing at the age of 18 was (and I believe still is) OK which seems incredibly contradictory since you can't purchase a handgun at this age.

Someone may prove me wrong here, but I don't believe it was ever made "legal" to OC in VA, as it was part of the VA constitution. I think the places where you can't carry have been made "illegal" over the years.

IMHO, Open Carry is just not a big deal. We should have it, as it is a right that is afforded to us by the Constitution. If exercising this right makes someone else uncomfortable, that is just not my problem.

I am sure there were quite a few men uncomfortable with women's suffrage.

I am sure there were quite a few folks that at the time were uncomfortable with slavery being abolished.

I am sure some folks are uncomfortable with 18 years old's voting.

etc. etc.

At the end of the day, even with open carry, so few will practice it I just don't see it as being a big deal. Coming from VA, where open carry is legal and in theory practiced, I don't think I have seen more than a 1/2 dozen people OC'ing total...ever.