Texans Respond to License to Carry

[Ruark]

If sight of the weapon is the only concern given in a 911 call, dispatchers will explain to citizens that Texas is now an open carry state. The police will dispatch an officer as long as the person expresses concern...

Boy, the MDA bimbos will love that.

[oljames3]

Announcements, discussions, and presentations concerning License to Carry a Handgun in Texas are increasing in frequency. I started this thread to demonstrate that we did not need to berate each other about informing business owners concerning their signage. The word was already getting out. In fact, the discussion has only increased. I have not been posting every reference, only a sample. That sample has grown so that, even though the post gets longer, I am only showing a very small sample of what is readily available.

Many police departments have held one or more open forums for citizens and businesses. There are three of which I know that are happening today: Fort Bend county, the city of Round Rock, the city of Elgin. I'll be attending both sessions in Elgin, Texas, today.

The law concerning carrying a handgun in Texas is not a secret for us to keep. Discussing the law in a civil manner can only benefit us as we go about our lives.

KOGT | Council Bans Guns - KOGT
http://kogt.com/news/council-bans-guns/

Fort Worth News - Law enforcement set open carry classes in East Texas
http://www.fortworthnews.net/index.php/sid/239427897


Fort Worth News - Law enforcement set open carry classes in East Texas
http://www.fortworthnews.net/index.php/sid/239427897

Marshall ISD considers signs to exclude open carry - Longview News-Journal - Longview, TX
http://www.news-journal.com/news/2015/d ... pen-carry/

Restaurants undecided on open carry - Story | KRIV
http://www.fox26houston.com/news/local- ... 8931-story

Local gun sales and CHL requests are increasing - KFDA - NewsChannel 10 / Amarillo News, We...
http://www.newschannel10.com/story/3074 ... increasing

County addressing effects of open carry law - News - Houston Community Newspapers
http://m.yourhoustonnews.com/east_montg ... l?mode=jqm

Panhandle officers prepare for open carry law | News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KVII
http://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/panh ... -carry-law

Herman: Texas Land Office bans, then unbans concealed weapons... | http://www.mystatesman.com
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/lo ... ale/npjrR/

Nederland Council passes handgun prohibition for city facilities | Port Arthur News
http://m.panews.com/2015/12/15/nederlan ... acilities/

Fort Bend Sheriff's Office: “Open Carry” informational meeting - Dec 16
http://www.texaspolicenews.com/default. ... group=Home

Commissioners unclear on open carry in courthouse, county offices
http://www.reporternews.com/news/local/ ... l?d=mobile

Montgomery County officials voice worries over open-carry law - Houston Chronicle
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighbo ... 701402.php

[oljames3]

Too much happening. Going to shorter format, quicker to post.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morn ... -laws.html

http://abc13.com/news/new-concerns-over ... s/1124998/

http://communityimpact.com/2015/12/16/s ... -meetings/

http://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/news/ ... courthouse

http://kfyo.com/chad-hasty-previews-gun ... cil-video/

http://www.freestonecountytimesonline.c ... :community

https://www.roundrocktexas.gov/event/te ... c-meeting/
Time Warner Cable Channel 10

http://www.trivalleycentral.com/opinion ... 77c4e.html

[Vol Texan]

Announcements, discussions, and presentations concerning License to Carry a Handgun in Texas are increasing in frequency. I started this thread to demonstrate that we did not need to berate each other about informing business owners concerning their signage. The word was already getting out. In fact, the discussion has only increased. I have not been posting every reference, only a sample. That sample has grown so that, even though the post gets longer, I am only showing a very small sample of what is readily available.

Many police departments have held one or more open forums for citizens and businesses. There are three of which I know that are happening today: Fort Bend county, the city of Round Rock, the city of Elgin. I'll be attending both sessions in Elgin, Texas, today.

The law concerning carrying a handgun in Texas is not a secret for us to keep. Discussing the law in a civil manner can only benefit us as we go about our lives.

oljames,

Thank you for this posting. I've been watching this thread for some time now, because you inferred the same in your previous posts (before this thread), and again in the opening message of this one. I'm glad you brought this idea back up again.

After four months and 200+ postings, you have not convinced me of your original argument, because the premise of the comparison is flawed. Just because lots and lots and lots and lots of people are talking about it, that does not mean that I am benefited because some yahoo goes up to a business and informs them that their sign is invalid for concealed carry.

If I carry in business x for years, and then thousands of other folks talk about guns around the state, but business x does not change their gunbuster sign (because they think it works against me carrying), then all is OK. But if you walk up to that one specific business and inform them that their 30.06 sign is not valid and not enforceable, and they decide to change...then you have made my regular excursions to business x less safe for me.

I don't care if you post thousands of articles about thousands of people hundreds of miles from me talking about guns, it has no bearing on me. What does matter is when one of my fellow forum members (which was your original premise) takes the knowledge that we gain on here and in our CHL classes and further informs specific businesses that I frequent. This unending string of articles that you've posted for four months does not support your original statement that it doesn't matter when we inform businesses ourselves.

[Glockster]

County addressing effects of open carry law - News - Houston Community Newspapers
http://m.yourhoustonnews.com/east_montg ... l?mode=jqm

Currently, the licensed carry of concealed weapons is prohibited in county buildings. In 2012, Commissioners Court agreed to allow only employees who are licensed to carry a concealed firearm with them on county property.

“Recently, our governor issued a memorandum opinion that basically stated if you have a multi-use building, that is not the ‘premises’ of the court,” said Dunham, adding her office has requested an opinion on the subject from the Texas Attorney General’s Office. “We wanted to make you aware … possibly, even openly in these buildings, people would be authorized to carry and the county would be prohibited in telling them they couldn’t.”

Therein is much of the problem - that they seem to believe that they actually had the authority to previously ban firearms, and that this is all new and part of changes brought by OC. It's as if nobody in the news actually reads the law or understands the code to be the ones saying, wait a minute - it wasn't legal then and still isn't now.

[oljames3]

... What does matter is when one of my fellow forum members (which was your original premise) takes the knowledge that we gain on here and in our CHL classes and further informs specific businesses that I frequent. This unending string of articles that you've posted for four months does not support your original statement that it doesn't matter when we inform businesses ourselves.

Howdy, Vol Texan, and thanks for your response. Please feel free to call me Lee. Sorry, I did not have expressed myself as well was I wanted. My point is that we should not be attacking each other. I have no control over your perceptions and am not attempting to alter them in any way. Nor am I exhorting either action or inaction of any kind. I have felt, and continue to feel, that we benefit when we know what is being said about both open and concealed carry outside of our own circles. The volume of information has increased dramatically this week and will probably continue to do so. I don't know that I can keep up the pace. I think I'll have to cut back.

Your concerns are valid in that change is coming. I think I see this change as more inevitable than do you. I am certain that I do not take it as personally offensive. I don't know if discussing inadequate signage with business owners is good or bad. I do view it as unnecessary and, thus far, have chosen not to do so. I am confident that enough information is readily available for business owners to make their own decisions without my help or that of anyone else. I do feel that browbeating each other over the issue is bad.

I must admit to being somewhat disappointed in some of my fellow Texans. Most of the reactions I have seen in the videos of places such as Houston, Abilene, and Fort Bend county have been, for the most part, reasonable. The business in my own city, in some cases, seem to be leaning toward emotionally driven restrictions. The Chief of Police gave a good, fact based presentation to a group of about 30. A few present were, shall we say, argumentative. It felt more like they were arguing politics or religion than facts and realities.

Still, I have confidence that Texans will adjust at least as well has have the Okies.

[chandler583]

I have another concern that with the new media attention, we will have more businesses post both 30.06 and 30.07 because of the renewed conversation. Whereas previously it was more of an out of sight out of mind scenario. I could be wrong, and only time will tell if that concern was/is valid.

[locke_n_load]

Nederland Council passes handgun prohibition for city facilities | Port Arthur News
http://m.panews.com/2015/12/15/nederlan ... acilities/

From the article:

The Nederland City Council approved a resolution regulating carrying of handguns in their facilities and polling places in accordance with HB 910 at their regular meeting on Monday afternoon. HB 910 or the Open Carry Law approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott specifies locations a municipality may prohibit the carrying of handguns through proper notice, according to the resolution.

Anyone live in Nederland or Beaumont that can take pictures of the signs that Nederland City plans to put up on their City facilities? Obviously they can't read.

Also from the article:

“The Nederland City Council supports the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, but deems it necessary to utilize the prohibitions provided by state statute,” it read.

No, they actually don't.

[joelamosobadiah]

http://www.kcbd.com/story/30781199/some ... open-carry

Favorite quote from the article:

"The law doesn't address keeping the gun in the holster, so as one of my friends has said, you could have it in a big gulp cup on your hip and you bend over and it falls out on the floor, possibly discharging if it's not a modern firearm," he said, "Or some other patron could have grabbed the gun and taken off."

[hovercat]

Colt corrected the dropping problem in 1907.

[oljames3]

13 days to licensed open carry in Texas.
https://countingdownto.com/countdown/ev ... 19c43f2239

News reports and other articles are appearing in greater numbers each day. From now to Dec 31, I'll just be posting the more interesting articles that show who law enforcement, local government, and the non-carrying public are reacting.

New reports continue to frequently contain errors.

http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/2015/12 ... -gun.html/

http://www.newschannel6now.com/story/30 ... y-concerns

http://blogs.hrhero.com/hrnews/2015/12/ ... carry-law/

http://www.ktre.com/story/30781199/some ... open-carry

http://sanangelolive.com/news/san-angel ... ry-gun-law

http://fortworthtexas.gov/news/2015/12/open-carry/

[oljames3]

http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-p ... pen-carry/

https://roundrockisd.org/rrisd-releases ... gulations/

http://kxan.com/2015/12/20/police-partn ... carry-law/

http://www.ammoland.com/2015/12/dallas- ... z3uvGZNo71

http://www.roundrocktexas.gov/news/poli ... ng-dec-21/

http://www.news-journal.com/news/2015/d ... carry-law/

http://www.uvaldeleadernews.com/node/3559

[oljames3]

http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants ... aw-8008694

https://www.newsradioklbj.com/news/aust ... -carry-law

http://www.newschannel6now.com/clip/120 ... y-concerns

http://www.captainsjournal.com/2015/12/ ... pen-carry/

[VoiceofReason]

There are probably going to be a lot of disappointed people when the law takes effect and it turns out to be a huge anticlimax. I hope the letdown doesn’t send some people over the edge.

[der Teufel]

https://communityimpact.com/2015/12/16/ ... ing-jan-1/

However, Austin Police Department Commander Andy Michael said he is not worried about unintended consequences stemming from the new laws and does not anticipate significant changes to enforcement policies unless the armed individual is acting erratically or is near an area where firearms are banned.

“We have no intention of asking for a license based solely on the fact we see somebody openly carrying a weapon,” Michael said.

. . .

H-E-B already permits concealed carry, but the Texas-based grocer will not permit open handgun carry, spokesperson Leslie Lockett said.
Whole Foods Market has not allowed firearms since the company was founded, according to spokesperson Rachel Malish, and that policy will remain.
--