Open Carry

[LarryH]

It's that pedantry again.

Isn't there a lotion or shampoo to treat that with?

No, it's a series of injections, that you have to repeat every five years -- hurt like the dickens.

[The Annoyed Man]

It's that pedantry again.

Isn't there a lotion or shampoo to treat that with?

No, it's a series of injections, that you have to repeat every five years -- hurt like the dickens.

How appropriate for bdickens!

[SA-TX]

The amazing thing is that this discussion has gone on for 5 pages...Which tells me people are still scratching their heaqds and wondering why this issue has not been resolved (in our favor)...

Regardless of the very knowledgable and technical pros and cons of this issue, I have been one that would still like to see it resolved and Texans having the choice to exercise their right without scrutiny or critisism...

What started out last time with a good effort was torpedoed by proponents that were impatient and immature in my opinion, and that pretty much killed the effort, and it is unlikely to be carried again anytime soon...

So what do we do now???

Carry concealed!!!

I'm good with that...

How do we get beyond the past? Unquestionably the approach taken didn't work. Can't we learn from that and move forward in a positive way? Are we really taking the view that because mistakes were made last session that should be the end of it? Texans have lacked this particular type of freedom for over 120 years. Heck, we lacked most legal handgun carry for over 110. I'm still amazed and astonished at this.

That having been said, I'm a practical guy. I definitely fall into the camp that thinks baby steps in the right direction are valuable. Is there ANY change to current law that even moves us toward OC that the readership here would support in large numbers?

Removing firearms from being mentioned in the Disorderly Conduct statute, for example (SRothstein explained in another post how even openly carrying on your own property, because it could be a 'public place' though privately owned, might give rise to the charge & the prosecution would try to show that your actions were 'calculated to alarm' the public)?

OC on private property with permission?

I ask the question with complete sincerity: is there ANYTHING that this important group of active gun carriers can agree on that move the ball forward even a little? To continue with the football analogy, we are looking for first downs at this point, not touchdowns.

SA-TX

[nitrogen]

Would anybody on the forum that has lived in an OC state care to share their experience?
I lived in New Hampshire for 18 years and never knew it was an open carry state. I never saw anybody open carry.

Seeing someone open carry in Arizona started me on the path to being pro gun.

long story short: I freaked out when I saw someone, I was enlightened, and I started thinking for myself.

[OIF_VET]

I lived in Georgia, stationed at Hunter Army Airfield, for approximately 4 years. I Open Carried in Savannah almost every day and every where. Sometimes I would get a stare or two. Nothing other than that though. I did have a Police Officer jokingly ask if I was seling my handgun. I politely asked him if we could do an even trade then we parted ways. All good in GA. Texas should allow open carry. My revolver never jumped out of my holster and shot anyone.

[G.A. Heath]

I find it interesting that the open carry crowd can be so rabid. I make no effort to hide who I am, and my email address is easy to guess (its gaheath@gaheath.com). I was even willing to follow up with Charles Cotton's advice that he has repeatedly offered regarding starting a Texas based organization. With that in mind what I assume to be a crazed minority have seen fit to send email that borderlines making a threat. I did in fact have an off the record conversation with a local law enforcement officer due to some of the communications. With that said I have decided not to support the current Open Carry effort in Texas as I do not wish to associated with such people. In summary, they really know how to make friends.

[drjoker]

Maybe we could sneak open carry in by passing a law that says you must be a CHL and are also carrying something that can possibly be used to conceal a handgun such as a garment, a fanny pack, or a purse. It will sound like a law only designed to protect someone who inadvertently prints the weapon, but it is actually legalizing open carry. I mean, unless you are a nudist who is not carrying a purse nor fanny pack, then you will not be breaking the law.

[maximus2161]

....

Bottom line, the chance of open carry ever passing in Texas is slim to none, and slim left town. .....

That was funny lol!

Im grateful we have concealed carry in Texas. While open carry as an option would be nice and I would support it....would I personally open carry? No. MAYBE in a rare case who knows. But Keith makes good points. Id rather see more effort be spent on less CCW restrictions. Campus carry, employer parking lots, etc. Given the option to have both would be nifty...but if its one or the other...concealed. Just my 2 cents.

[OIF_VET]

Just to add to my previous quote, I prefer to conceal. I only OC'd in Georgia when it was just me and my daughters . I concealed when I was by myself. Either way, im greatfull just to be able to carry.

[glbedd53]

I think Keith make realistic points, not necessarily good ones.

[Keith B]

I think Keith make realistic points, not necessarily good ones.

They are good points, just not ones open carry proponents want to hear.

[glbedd53]

I'm almost sure I wouldn't want to open carry. But I do believe it is our constitutional right. The part of the 2nd where it says "bear" arms. It doesn't say anything about concealed. I'm no more likely to go on a murderous killing spree if I OC than if I CC.

[rosebud99]

personally, i would not OC.. but would love to see the campus carry(wife and 2 kids are students) plus the parking lot bill go through.

[tacticool]

It's frustrating to realize that most Texans are not pro gun enough to accept open carry.

If we want to sugar coat it, we can say they're "not comfortable enough with guns" to tolerate open carry, but it boils down to the same thing. If people got upset whenever they saw an interracial couple holding hands, and tried to pass laws against it, we could say they're "not comfortable" with it, but it doesn't change the facts.

[stevie_d_64]

The amazing thing is that this discussion has gone on for 5 pages...Which tells me people are still scratching their heaqds and wondering why this issue has not been resolved (in our favor)...

Regardless of the very knowledgable and technical pros and cons of this issue, I have been one that would still like to see it resolved and Texans having the choice to exercise their right without scrutiny or critisism...

What started out last time with a good effort was torpedoed by proponents that were impatient and immature in my opinion, and that pretty much killed the effort, and it is unlikely to be carried again anytime soon...

So what do we do now???

Carry concealed!!!

I'm good with that...

How do we get beyond the past? Unquestionably the approach taken didn't work. Can't we learn from that and move forward in a positive way? Are we really taking the view that because mistakes were made last session that should be the end of it? Texans have lacked this particular type of freedom for over 120 years. Heck, we lacked most legal handgun carry for over 110. I'm still amazed and astonished at this.

That having been said, I'm a practical guy. I definitely fall into the camp that thinks baby steps in the right direction are valuable. Is there ANY change to current law that even moves us toward OC that the readership here would support in large numbers?

Removing firearms from being mentioned in the Disorderly Conduct statute, for example (SRothstein explained in another post how even openly carrying on your own property, because it could be a 'public place' though privately owned, might give rise to the charge & the prosecution would try to show that your actions were 'calculated to alarm' the public)?

OC on private property with permission?

I ask the question with complete sincerity: is there ANYTHING that this important group of active gun carriers can agree on that move the ball forward even a little? To continue with the football analogy, we are looking for first downs at this point, not touchdowns.

SA-TX

Yes, there are things we can learn from this, and we have...

No, any changes to the law could jeopardize (put at risk) some aspects of carrying at all, in any fashion in this state...

Our group of active gun carriers have been going at this issue for years, and there are two distinct camps...Both make valid arguments for and against the issue, and there are good reasons on both sides to support their opinions...The problem is we are probably not going to get this approved (legislatively) anytime soon...So for the time being lets formulate some good relations with our elected officials, be compliant with the existing law(s), and work to promote the expansion of those laws, in how you say, "baby steps, first downs"... (I like that)