Are any other states more lenient about carrying than Texas?

[seamusTX]

It's my understanding that Georgia concealed-carry holders generally ignore that law except for events with controlled entrances. Concealed means concealed.

Many states are more permissive than Texas. In New Hampshire, the only prohibited place is a courtroom. Vermont and Alaska also have very few restrictions. Most of the western states allow unlicensed open carry, but they have a patchwork of laws, mainly about schools and places that sell alcohol.

- Jim

[anygunanywhere]

Lots of other states are more lenient than Texas. Truth is, Texas is less lenient than most states, IMHO.

Regarding carry overall, no open carry.

Look at Vermont and Alaska where no permit is required at all.

Pennsylvania and a few others allow carry in bars.

With regards to overall attitudes, Texas has more no gun signs than anywhere I have traveled, bar none.

Texas has a long way to go before I will consider my home lenient with respect to firearms.

Anygun

[stevie_d_64]

I believe Texas, ironically, as much as we discuss things in regards to the interpretation of the law and what it says you can and cannot do...

Texas really does have some very well "defined" and well understood laws, and folks like us do an excellent job of being prepared and knowledgable about these issues...

And we have a great contingient of active folks in this forum that go out and shake the trees to keep our legislators hopping on what they need to be doing to protect and keep the law from becoming too difused and confusing...Almost constantly...

We (I know I do) sometimes scratch our heads from time to time...But for the most part we do a very good job of knowing our neck of the woods extremely well...

Charles would agree that we are still heading in the right direction, and every little bit we do to keep the people who can make or break the movement on their toes, so much the better...

Thats what has made Texas a desireable place to be in regards to respecting your right to keep and bear arms...

"You ain't seen nothing yet." applies real well in this state...

As far as other states are concerned...Sure the Alaska, Vermont, NH, Utah and other open carry type states do have an attractive draw to them...And whats really good about that is that Texas has got reciprocity with a lot of them...Thats what makes it good for everyone...

[cbr600]

deleted

[frankie_the_yankee]

Anyway, are any other states other than Utah more lenient than Texas? Or do we really call it "The Great State of Texas" for a reason?

I think there are many states that have more restrictions on carrying than TX.

You have to look at the big picture. In RI, you can carry into bars or almost anywhere, but permits to carry are very difficult to get. The AG can deny your permit based on nothing more than his "discretion".

So is RI more "permissive" than TX or less? I would say TX is much more permissive. In fact, it's not even close.

Limiting discussion to just the "shall issue" states I think TX stacks up rather well. Sure, you see 30.06 signs here and there. But at least here the signs have to be in a standard form and be prominently posted. In many other states, any kind of sign will do.

Sure, some states allow open carry. Big deal. When you've read one story saying, "I OC'd today at Wal-mart, Taco Bell, and Home Depot. I got a couple of strange looks but no hassles.", you've read them all.

Another thing I've noticed living here the last (almost) 7 years is that an awful lot of Texans seem to like guns. It ain't like that in the Northeast, believe me!

But the big thing here, and what makes TX "great" IMO, is that Texans have a strong belief in individual rights, property rights, and especially the right to self defense. Even before the castle doctrine law, Texans acting in lawful self defense have tended to be treated well by the law, (civil and criminal), the police, and the society at large.

Look at what happened to that reporter that recently did the ambush interview on the guy in Dallas who had to shoot 2 BG's in the span of a few weeks. A couple of days after the interview the public outcry was so great that she ended up being canned.

Show me another state where something like that would happen, and that quickly.

To me, the bottom line is what happens if you have to use the gun. It doesn't do any good to be allowed to carry a gun into some particular place or other if the legal system is going to crucify you if you are forced to use it.

I think that in this respect, TX is by far the best state to live in. It really is "the great state of Texas".

I love it here.

[Liberty]

I think Alaska and New Hampshire are pretty gun friendly. You don't need no steekin' concealed license to carry in Alaska, I think New Hampshire practically gives em away,

[charlie12]

Our gun laws are pretty good in Louisiana

[Loudonyankee]

Despite the stereotype, TX gun laws aren't that gun friendly compared to some other states. Unfortunately that is all too common with most southern states that seem to make a game out of coming up with long lists of places you can't carry when they issue your CHL. I lived for years in NH and it is the most gun friendly place (except for VT) I have ever seen. In NH:

Open carry is not only legal, but a civil right that the state AG has stated can not be questioned. (no license needed)

For a license to carry (resident), it costs $20, there are no figerprints, photographs, safety courses, registration, and the application is only 1 page and must be issued or denied within 2 weeks or the police chief is personally civily liable.

No license is needed for loaded open carry or concealed carry of an unloaded firearm.

The only state restriction on carrying is that you can't carry into a court room. It is perfectly legal to carry into bars, restaurants, churches, police stations, etc. It is also legal to drink in a bar while armed.

"No guns" signs carry no legal weight unless you don't leave when requested, then you are tresspassing.

Complete state pre-emption of all local gun laws.

The only area where TX is superior to NH is that you are not allowed to carry a loaded, concealed weapon in a vehicle without a license. You can have it concealed on you without a license if it isn't loaded, though. The trick is to just keep the loaded magazine in a different pocket.

[Liberty]

The big difference between New Hampshire and Texas is that New Hampshire has always been that way and Texas is moving toward that direction. Like most newbies who discover new things, we are very enthusiastic. Its always been like that in New Hampshire and Alaska, and they are pretty lacksadaisical about the freedom they enjoy. It's sometime hard to know just how good you have it when you've always had it. New Hampshirites though just have to drive south a bit to find out just how bad it can get.

[Sailor]

Utah...I just took the Utah "Concealed Firearms Permit" class from "Marty," a member of this forum, and it was a real eye opener. In Utah you can carry in schools, bars, etc., but not in the Mormon Church. Teachers are allowed to carry in school. Teachers cannot be charged for the CFP class. Also, if you have a Utah CFP you can carry open anywhere you can carry concealed. During hunting season, if you have a hunting license, you can carry open w/o a CFP. Also...if you have a Utah CFP and you lose your Texas CHL to some administrative suspension....you still have your Utah CFP. Seems like a great deal to me....Thanks Marty for the class.

If I have misstated anything here I'm sure Marty or another Utah scholar will set the record straight.

Cody