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With the looming advent of LTC open carry there will be more situations where people will be wearing various forms of some badge thinking it is of some use in easing the anxiety of anyone seeing them with a gun.

It seems to me that the idea of an identifying "badge" of sorts might have it merits.

Perhaps a state issued insignia (not so much a badge, although maybe the state might decide so) that can be attached to the belt or holster. It would have to be official, not subject to counterfeit, and available only to LTCs. It might not be made mandatory to wear one (or maybe it would) but any form of badge or insignia would be prohibited unless it was the official state LTC insignia. This would offer a easily recognizable sign of an associated license. A simple education campaign by the state would expose the public to this idea, but most importantly it would offer an immediate id to an approaching LEO. It would have to not be easily confused with a law enforcement badge.

Just thinking out loud.

tex

Don't think so loud! Just kiding!

I would think that if not the lawmakers, then the policy maker's at DPS, have thought that issue through to its final conclusion. And the conclusion, IMO, is that no ID of any kind is needed or justified.

Just my $0.02 worth.

How would you control who was wearing such a badge?
If a non licensee can get one, what good is it?

For me, no thanks. YMMV

thetexan wrote:With the looming advent of LTC open carry there will be more situations where people will be wearing various forms of some badge thinking it is of some use in easing the anxiety of anyone seeing them with a gun.
It seems to me that the idea of an identifying "badge" of sorts might have it merits.
Perhaps a state issued insignia (not so much a badge, although maybe the state might decide so) that can be attached to the belt or holster. It would have to be official, not subject to counterfeit, and available only to LTCs. It might not be made mandatory to wear one (or maybe it would) but any form of badge or insignia would be prohibited unless it was the official state LTC insignia. This would offer a easily recognizable sign of an associated license. A simple education campaign by the state would expose the public to this idea, but most importantly it would offer an immediate id to an approaching LEO. It would have to not be easily confused with a law enforcement badge.
Just thinking out loud.
tex

Good luck with that! Bad idea IMO.

thetexan wrote: It seems to me that the idea of an identifying "badge" of sorts might have it merits.

tex

Oh it has merits all right. My first day in uniform, badge all bright and shiny, got me cursed out at WalMart because I helped a woman with small children and a huge basket of groceries at the checkout.

Wearing a badge in plain clothes is also a treat. You look like the local NARC.

RoyGBiv wrote:How would you control who was wearing such a badge?
If a non licensee can get one, what good is it?

For me, no thanks. YMMV

You don't. Just like you don't keep non-LTCers from carrying when they are not supposed to.

tex

Badges?! We don't need no steenking badges!

Every other state with legal OC manages to do it without badges, what makes you think Texas is any different? Sure there'll probably be some initial problems, but I imagine they'll be resolved by the next time the legislature meets, which would be as soon as any new laws could be passed, so it'll be a moot point.

If some member of the general public is freaking out about legal OC then I doubt they would be familiar with the law or what your proposed badge would look like, so you might as well get a badge from a Cracker Jack box and wear that.

CleverNickname wrote:Badges?! We don't need no steeking badges!

Every other state with legal OC manages to do it without badges, what makes you think Texas is any different? Sure there'll probably be some initial problems, but I imagine they'll be resolved by the next time the legislature meets, which would be as soon as any new laws could be passed, so it'll be a moot point.

If some member of the general public is freaking out about legal OC then I doubt they would be familiar with the law or what your proposed badge would look like, so you might as well get a badge from a Cracker Jack box and wear that.

A brand in the middle of the forehead? Or a tiara?

No.

I kind of like this T-Shirt and other "wearable art"
http://www.cafepress.com/dd/30042365" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CleverNickname wrote:...
Every other state with legal OC manages to do it without badges, what makes you think Texas is any different? ...

This. Exactly. This was the answer to a whole list of "OMGs" that were thrown at OC (and campus carry) during the legislative session.

howdy wrote:I kind of like this T-Shirt and other "wearable art"
http://www.cafepress.com/dd/30042365" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All those shirts will be obsolete come 1 Jan.

Bad idea

Well THETEXAN your thinking outloud got responses.

does that answer the th inking part

There are many reasons an insignia or a badge is a bad idea, but one of the considerations is: Why add more complexity?

We truly do not need insignias or badges.

Once some time has passed, O.C.ing will fall into the ho-hum category.