The long and arduous fight for open carry in the Lone Star State is over. “As soon as possible,” Gov. Greg Abbott will sign a bill into law that will lift the ban on open carry in Texas.
Like with concealed carry, one will have to obtain a permit that involves passing a background check and receiving gun safety training before one is allowed to openly carry a handgun.
The final version of the open-carry bill cleared the state House by a margin of 102-43, and the Senate by a margin of 20-11, with most Republicans voting in favor of the bill and most Democrats voting against it.
“We think of Texas being gun-happy, but we didn’t afford our citizens the same rights most other states do,” said one of the sponsor’s of the bill, Rep. Larry Phillips (R-Sherman).
Open Carry just passed in both the Texas House & Senate. Next destination: My Pen. #txlege #tcot @NRA
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 29, 2015
Of course, not everyone was happy with the result. Gun-control advocates, who fought open carry tooth and nail, expressed their frustration.
“This session has been an alarming show of politicking that caters to a gun lobby agenda,” said Sandy Chasse with the Texas Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “As a gun-owning Texas mom, this is not the Texas I want for my family or community.”
It’s great news for Texas, for the Second Amendment and the advocates who worked tirelessly in pursuit of their goal. But if we’re being honest and being real about it, open carry is an antiquated form of carry. Personally, if given the choice, I’d much rather carry concealed. I have a feeling I’m not the only one. I don’t want to poo-poo the progress they made here, because it is significant and it is important that one has a choice in the matter, but who would prefer to carry openly when one can carry concealed?
From my perspective, the greatest thing about legalizing open carry is that if you accidentally show or present your firearm while carrying concealed you won’t get busted by the police. I guess that sounds a bit harsh, but I’m just being honest. What are your thoughts?
This was a farce to passify the less than awake majority.
Passing a bill requiring that you obtain a license to exercise a fundamental right (open carry handgun) is . . .
. . . a step in the WRONG direction. By passing this, legislators gave consent to criminalizing a right.
DRAIN THE Texas SWAMP
You give away a tactical advantage when you open carry. I would never open carry unless I am out in the wilds hunting and then I would carry my .357 in an open carry holster.
native Texans don’t need advice from a person that moved here 6 months ago from mass. if you don’t like the TEXAS traditions don’t try to twist it around & turn it into a big mass move to another state to spread your BULLSHIT.
You Texans need to issue entry visas to keep the prog facists out. But then so do we Missourians
And if I desire to move to texas I got birthright status on account one of my blood kin died in the alamo.
But missouri needs freedom voters.
I too personally prefer to carry concealed. But, when working in the barn or field, on the fence line, I carry a revolver slung low loaded with snake shot among other things. Then on occasion I need to run to Wally world or the feed store and I don’t necessarily want to stop and strip off my belt, knife and such like so it’s a convenience to just up and go like I am.
I agree, I would rather carry concealed as well! There is something obnoxious about carrying your firearm around all day on display that just doesn’t sit well with me! Guns make for a polite society, and criminals become cowards in the face of law-abiding citizens carrying!!
if you TEXANS don’t wake up & get smart, repeal of the open carry law will be in the near future. don’t be a wuss stand up to the a- holes who de-cry the open carry law. blood would run in TEXAS streets was the battle cry of the voters who spread this cry wolf movement, remember when cc voted on in Austin. same bs. if you don’t USE IT you LOSE IT. use you constitutional right & LAW approval to OPEN CARRY. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YRS A FANNIN COUNTY LIFETIME RESIDENT 76 YRS VOTED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHILE CARRYING A COLT PYTHON OPEN CARRY FOR EVERY ONE TO OBSERVE NOT ONE NEGATIVE COMMENT WAS MADE & WAS OBSERVED BY APPROX. 50 VOTERS.
As a citizen of Texas, I am absolutely in favor open carry. I, personally, would never choose to carry openly because I don’t want the “bad guy” to know I have a gun until he is looking down the bore. Before open carry, you could be arrested for brandishing your weapon if it could be detected in any way while you were carrying it. Even if the bulge could be seen under your shirt or jacket and identified as a gun. Now you don’t have to worry about this. Yes, you can strap on a weapon and carry it openly in Texas but that just makes you the first target of the bad guy who wants to shoot up the restaurant or theater that you are in. It’s just better, in my opinion, not to let the bad guy know that you are likely to be the one who has the ability and will be the one who will stop his insanity. Get your carry permit, carry your gun of choice to protect yourself and your loved ones but keep it out of sight. It’s just the right thing to do.
just a couple words about this open carry. Im an absolute 100% gun owner, and gun lover, Im kind of on the fence about open carry. Open carry means you can sit down in a restaurant and put your gun on the table.
i use the term restaurant loosely meaning Mcdonalds. lets say you and your buddies go to mcdonalds and one of you puts your gun down on the table and a kid walks by and grabs your gun off the table and of course being a kid, thinks its a toy gun and starts shooting up the place. of course that would be far an few between, BUT, its something that could happen.
I’ve spoken to many police about this, and they dont like the open carry at all. Now a lot of there time would be spent stopping you to see if your legit. Most people who carry a weapon dont even know how to use it. never mind carrying it exposed.
think about how easy it would be for someone to grab that gun from you in a scuffle, carrying packages, it gives the bad guy a better chance to take your weapon away from you. Definitely certain situations its great to be able to carry open, but in an in town or in city situation, i dont think its a good idea. Im glad for any positive gun law to be passed, but open carry isnt at the top of my list, how about we get these douche bag states to even let a person carry a weapon in the first place and im not even talking about a gun,
Lolol. Open Carry doesn’t mean putting your pistol on your dinner table. Lolol
I would like to know who his instructor was. Maybe a mail order LTC. 100% gun owner but doesn’t know the law.
PERHAPS YOU NEED TO PRIOTIZE A NEW LIST. DONT EVER PULL A GUN IN PUBLIC UNLESS THE YOU HAVE NO OTHE CHOICE. LAYING YOUR GUN ON A TABLE IN MCDONALDS DOES THE PERSON WHO DOES THIS HAVE A CCL?. I WOULD THINK NOT.
RE: [[ Open carry means you can sit down in a restaurant and put your gun on the table. ]]
It seems far too many people think like this — that liberty comes absent responsibility.
Open carry does NOT absolve you of liability for reckless conduct.
If you’re going to hang it on your hip then learn some weapon retention like the cops do.your duty is to see your weapon don’t fall into the wrong hands.if a bullet you fire kills a innocent the bloods on your head.should be same for your weapon excluding a break in and gun safe breach.
“a gun lobby agenda…”
The anti-gunners (Everytown, Moms Demand, etc) cannot even figure out who the “gun lobby” actually is. They (quite mistakenly) think it is the NRA, although the real, active lobbying group for firearms manufacturers and retailers is the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).
But politicians – who are world-class experts in self preservation – had damnably-well BETTER pay attention to the true “gun lobby” that consists of ninety million (90,000,000!) honest, law-abiding, adult gun-owing citizens… who actively VOTE. Anything less is (for most politicians) political suicide.
Anyone that thinks the NRA of 2017 is not a shill of the gun industry, not a part of the whole gun industry lobby, has not been paying attention. I don’t even remember exactly when the change occurred – the NRA of my youth was interested in gun safety, competition, record keeping, and such. The NRA of the post-1970 period is interested in ginning up fear of every fictional bogeyman they can make up, no matter how ridiculous they make themselves sound, and the NRA is interested in enhancing gun sales no matter how screwy they have to make the rhetoric of their leadership.
I mean, Google “gun nut guitar player” and the first item on the list is Ted Nugent, NRA board member and well known as a gun nut. Most people would be embarrassed to spout in public some of the wild NRA claims of recent years… It is sad for me to say this, because I once was a loyal NRA member, but today I want nothing to do with the NRA of today, or with any of their positions, public or private. They could not go back to the NRA of the fifties no matter how hard they tried, because they are so financially would up with the needs and desires of the US gun industry.
Just ask Larry Potterfield, or Ronnie Barrett, or the guy who owns Brownells… all gun industry owners and wealthy leaders, all current or former NRA board members, like many other gun industry movers and shakers, they all are using the NRA as one part of a multi-pronged effort to change gun laws in the US to make sure they enjoy more gun sales and bigger gun industry profits no matter if the market starts to down turn as the older guys, the main multi-gun-owning crowd in America, guys who started shooting their single shot .22 rifles way back in the fifties, all start to die off – and the gun industry only has pink firearms to try to entice squealing females, and the sales to men of the huge market of profitable accessories for the Barbie-doll-like black rifles, plus the never-ending discussion of whether or not a ‘modern sporting rifle’ is the same as a ‘semi-auto military assault rifle’, or not, (the talk of which keeps those rifles in the public eye, free advertising of a sort) and the hopes that they can somehow make so many people fear so many things that younger people will buy multiple guns like their grandparents did. Even school age club target shooters are switching to compressed air pellet rifles due to the backlash against kids shooting even the low-power .22 rifles and pistols in clubs and school and even college-level and Olympic sports and activities.
Right now the guns which sell all have military-like features, have Barbie-doll like accessorizing, and have fear of bogeyman or zombies or social breakdown driving their sales, plus the never-ending theme of the government coming to burst down your door and confiscate your firearms, or heaven forbid, close the gun show loophole that makes it possible for anyone who looks of age to buy any weapon on sale without even producing identification, though lately gun show pros have started recording their customer’s driver’s licenses, more for their own protection against BATF claims they might have sold to out of state or underage people than anything else.
So go ahead and claim the NRA is not part of the gun industry lobby, ha ha ha, and stick your head farther in the sand and drink another gulp of the Jones Temple Kool-Aid.
There is no gun show loophole. Lol. You are retarded.
Johnny Alamo: Well, I have no problem with you continuing to carry and use your muzzle loading flintlock. Just, please, don’t interfere with my carrying a firearm equal to that which the armed services carry which is what the original intent of the 2nd Amendment was. Our forefathers had no problem with private citizens owning canons, the weapons of mass destruction of the day. Many trading posts on the frontier had a swivel gun which was either a very large shotgun mounted on the wall or a small canon mounted similarly, depending upon how one defines large shotgun or small canon. As for “well-regulated” meaning government intrusion, in order to effectively oppose the “well-regulated” British army, the colonials had to be able to get troops massed in proper order to effectively combat the British army. Well regulated means well drilled. Remember the story about Baron Von Stuben arriving from Prussia to drill the troops at Valley Forge? That was because prior to his arrival, our side was mostly disorganized rioters breaking and running as soon as the Brits reached their positions. Effective musket fire required massed formations which had to be drilled in order to effectively move troops into position on a battlefield. Just ask any drill instructor how difficult it is to move a platoon of perhaps 60 recruits in the first few days of recruit training. Now, try to move a 1,000 men with a similar lack of training. You can herd cats with greater success.
I will drop my membership in the NRA the minute I read that the Democrat minority leader tells his side of the aisle, “This week we want to rescind at least half of the 20,000 laws pertaining to gun ownership.” And the House minority whip says, “We are going to do you one better, we are going to remove all of the 20,000 useless laws relating to gun ownership.” Until that time, I will continue to maintain my membership in the NRA, GOA and 2nd Amendment Foundation, thank you.
Someone plainly doesn’t know the difference between the the NRA and the NRA-ILA, They are closely associated but not the same thing. That’s okay, a gullible Regressive more or less doesn’t change anything, if he wants to be a victim that’s on him.
The stupid is strong in this one
amen brother
The right to bear arms is irrelevant. If your state requires a permit, then you are required to have a permit. If your state requires you to carry concealed, than you have to carry concealed. Your constitutional rights are no longer rights if your state has laws on the books voiding them. You may challenge those laws in court, but you’ll just end up poorer and may end up with your state permit revoked, or if you do not have one, end your chances of getting one. Is that constitutional???or is it the way it is????
Completely agree.
Codifying unconstitutional restrictions into state law is NOT something to be celebrated like this one REQUIRING you to obtain a license to openly carry a handgun (making criminal if you don’t) .
OK we won that battle. Now, let us work on being able to carry ANYWHERE!
AMEN!!!
Raymond
I live in Florida and we do have a law that will allow a pass on accidental exposer of your firearm. IE if your shirt becomes un-tucked and people or LEO see your firearm you wont get arrested.
I am a volunteer officer with our local sheriffs department and have been on those calls and yes we did ask to see their concealed deadly weapons license. The only ones who got in trouble are the ones without it or have it but not on them.
Tj
I live in Florida and have never heard of a concealed “deadly” weapon license.
right
Open carry is the worst thing a 2nd amendment or gun advocate can do. It scares too many voters. It’s unsafe, unsocial, and bad for the cause. I’ve never met an open carrier yet who didn’t have at least one screw loose! Most of them don’t know the 1st thing about weapon retention, de-escalation, etc and can never hope to be so continually hyper aware as to not be a hazard to the community. It just harms the gun owner cause. Just because something may be legal does not make it a good idea.
I think that we need to go back to following the constitution and the bill of rights EXACTLY as they are written. If you have to ask permission (get a permit) then that infringes on your right to keep and bear arms. If they can tell you where or when or what kind of gun you can carry, or any kind of weapon at all, that infringes on your right to keep and bear arms. If they can tell you how many you can own, or how much ammunition you can have or what kind of ammunition you can have, that infringes on your right to keep and bear arms. There are no legal gun laws in this country save those that make it illegal to use one in a commission of a crime. Since the crimes are already illegal any such law is a useless waste of paper.
I tend to agree, but there are times when letting someone know you are likely to be carrying or have gun handling and shooting skills is useful.
Last year I had occasion to host an open house for a special purpose that had nothing to do with guns, but would bring folks into my home that I didn’t know, something I rarely do. My wife mentioned that she was a little concerned about total strangers coming into our home and knowing where we live after reading a news report about a home invasion where the homeowner and wife were killed for no apparent reason. So, not wanting to make us a target on the off chance that someone might see an opportunity or more likely mention something they saw or experienced where it could be overheard by others more likely to attempt a break-in or home invasion, I took mild preventative measures.
I made sure no guns or gun related items were visible anywhere in the house where guests wandering about might see them. The rooms with my gun safe and gun related stuff were locked. I did however make sure some indicators of our gun handling and shooting experience were displayed where most would see them, if only in passing, but not in an ostentatious manner. Two pictures of me being presented local top shooter awards along with a small collection of USMC shooting awards, medals and a picture of my wife and son in full shooting gear and standing with others the same during an event were arranged in a kind of family and friends arrangement with other pictures.
Modesty was the response tool of the evening whenever anyone mentioned one of the pictures or items and whenever someone who seemed anti-gun commented as to why we have guns, like guns or own guns; the only answer was always to insure we could protect our family and others from those who would harm us, a leadership trait impressed upon us by my thirty years in the Marines.
The word spread a little and sometime later a neighbor mentioned to me that he felt a little safer knowing that a responsible and experienced gun owner lived nearby.
Everyone has different experiences and circumstances that they can use in different ways without walking around town with a gun on our hips, this was just one of many that I think worked for us in at least a limited way, which is better than none.
this is a downfall of the gun owner, certain people let seeing a gun on your hip gives them the right to dis- respect your space & use character abuse language. stand up, open carry, let them get use to no harm comes from a indiviual who belIeves in the 2ND AMENDMENT.
Thanks for the years of dedicated service and your common sense . Some need to be reminded as to why the 2nd amendment exists ,which is to protect us and the 1st amendment both.This is not lost on a soldier ..
Intelligence does not equal wisdom that’s for sure. Semper Fi
Not an issue for those of us who reside in Maryland. Almost impossible to get a permit to even carry concealed let alone open. Situational awareness has been my only means of uneasy self defense for 42 years in this state. I feel much more comfortable across the river in Virginia where my Utah license is recognized and I am able to carry concealed. Even DC has the potential for carry now with the Federal Court ruling. One can hope.
I live in Oklahoma City. For several years, our state allowed ‘concealed carry’ only.
We did not experience a problem with anti-gun or overly-aggressive actions directly by police, but we did develop a problem caused by anti-gun individuals who filed formal complaints at ANY opportunity (including the most minor of accidental display – or even barely-perceptible “printing” – of a concealed weapon). The result was a huge and costly backlog in our courts.
The public pushed (and a large additional push came from law enforcement and courts) for relief from this ridiculous, expensive, and unneccessary backlog. Several years ago, our legislature wisely passed ‘open carry’ legislation – the state’s one Handgun License now covers both modes of carry – in practical response to the “nuisance factor” of the anti-gun minority. The court backlog has since evaporated.
Very few Oklahomans actually choose to open carry, but it’s nice to have the option to do so – and the freedom from anti-gun harrassment – available.
Welcome to the club, Texas!
I think you make an excellent point about the hassles from anti-gunners attacking those who conceal carry, but have the inadvertent “display” of a firearm. I’ve heard many similar stories elsewhere. This bill will help Texans resolve that issue, although this point alone hasn’t gotten nearly enough press.
I have often thought that concealed carry is preferable in most cases, but then again, I’m in urban settings most of the time. When I’m in remote areas, open carry is preferable. Jerry Miculek did a great video on this subject and I encourage everyone to check it out. Just web search his name and concealed vs. open carry – it should pop up.
Huh?? Open carry illegal? I must be stuck in a time warp or something. I’ve open carried a handgun in North Carolina since age 12 running my trapline and pretty much any time I’m in the woods without a long gun. I’ve never had an issue. It is a tool-of-the-trade. I always thought as long as you were not “causing a fray” it was legal. My understanding is it was the only way to legally carry prior to the Concealed Carry laws. Is this just a Texas/Florida thing?
Guess I should have Googled before commenting–North Carolina does (and always has) allowed open carry. The thought of Texas outlawing the practice just blows my mind–maybe New York, New Jersey or California, but Texas???
I’m right there with you Unc. I’m in WNC and have my CHP. I carry concealed most of the time. In our little slice of heaven though we have Black bears that have come right up to the gate five feet from the front door. On Thurs. 6-11-15 One was one the porch of a neighbor at 11:30, a bright sunny day Just last week a lad, visiting and hiking here, from Ohio was attacked while sleeping in a hammock. I know that that is exceptional behavior for the black bear. Still there are enough circumstances that can suddenly be life threatening. So I’m grateful I can open carry my .44 mag. and it doesn’t cause a stir and when the local PD or sheriffs deputy drive by they just wave a friendly hello.
Mitch,
I ware tee shirts everyday.I carry conceal.
I purchest a beltester and I carry a number
45 even at work.
I am glad open carry has passed in Texas. I believe how you choose to carry your firearm is as personal a choice as the gun and caliber you carry people will see which way fits their lifestyle the best. In regards to open carry I’ll probably conceal carry but if I am on my friends hunting lease I like the option of being able to go into town without having to switch to a concealed holster.
This bill, if it becomes law, protects concealed carry users from being arrested for brandishing a gun if their concealed gun shows through their shirt by imprinting, bright light, etc, or just seen checking their guns condition.
So this is a victory for all gun carriers, concealed carry or open carry.
And putting a stick up the nether regions of gun grabbing fascists is just one more pleasant plus.
This guy is one reason we have a tough time with the 2nd A argument. We really don’t care how YOU what to carry, Mr.or Ms. Blannerberry. It gives the rest of us a CHOICE. Remember choice?
a permit for open carry? texas is such a sissy state.
So does this mean you are for permit-less open carry? Some people should not be allowed to own a gun let alone carry one open or concealed. The permit weeds out those individuals. It is STUPID to not do this.
No, it is stupid to punish the entire gun carrying population for the *possible* harm of a criminal.
Felons still wouldn’t be able to open carry, so bust them and don’t take the rights away from the rest of us.
Hooray. Please run for office! Thank you, R Cheek.
I think you are absolutely correct (some people) such as the criminals, as far as I recall people that carry have to be trained by a license instructor and have a permit to carry and of course having common sense is a plus, but you will have the ones that will do stupid stuff, even the bests trained individuals or forces will make mistakes when handling a weapon, look at the incidents surrounding our police forces supposed to “serve and protect” look at their latest statistics, but nobody is perfect, but that stupid person might be the one saving your or live one day. Let’s take a look at how many incidents have occur such as murders, or maybe accidental killings, from licensed firearm owners (law abiding citizens with common sense) I’m pretty sure you will find some, but I assure you that they are mostly attached to a self defense, or to intercept and disrupt a crime in progress action. Let’s take a look at how many citations have been issued by law enforcement to this same law abiding citizens because during a traffic stop and while raising their arms as instructed the gun is exposed or printed. You will be surprised, and is nothing but harassment and law enforcement knows they can use that loophole and get away with it. I support the constitution, and if you do then you should support the laws as long as they won’t interfere with the constitution given rights. The people of USA should not be intimidated by the government, if a US citizen supports the constitution, then that citizen deserves the support of other citizens, if you feel intimidated by another citizen carrying a weapon out on the open, don’t be, be assured that He/She given the chance will put their lives at risk to save yours! be afraid of the one(s) that’s is pointing the weapon at you! and if that have ever happened to you, then you would understand what I’m trying to say here. I know haters have their own opinion and should feel real good because we still have the right to disagree and are still entitled to it, but beware if you want to keep it that way for a little longer support the law abiding citizens and join their cause.
I have had a CHL for years, and this new law suits me just fine. It covers me for that accidental exposure and makes it a lot more comfortable to carry in the summer. Open carry???? Not for me, I just don’t want to deal with the little old ladies at the grocery store.
I’m the little old lady in the grocery store. You might be surprised how many of us carry!
There you go. I like to be your friend and we can both go grocery shopping while packing 🙂
YES! A woman after my own heart…
Did the haters use the “There will be blood in the streets if we pass this!” line…..?
yes
Here in Florida open is still a no-no. However I would like it here so that accidentally exposing a weapon wouldn’t get me in trouble.
And that IMHO is the main reason to have open carry: avoid wardrobe malfunctions resulting in arrest.
Precisely! In Texas, we have hot weather and warm weather. Shorts and sleeveless Tees are the uniform of the day. Try carrying a 1911 concealed in that outfit.
According to the CCW class I just took in Manatee County, accidental exposure is not punishable by law. Now there is always grey area with that but basically; You are reaching for something in the grocery store and you briefly expose your concealed weapon and a clerk sees it no biggie. Wave it around or purposely have it exposed to intimidate or whatever trip you are on then expect the loss of a few rights.
I personally am fine with concealed carry only although the right to “licensed” open carry doesn’t bother me, I can see the benefits of both. By “licensed” I mean as equally trained and checked out as CCW, no more and definitely no less.
If you have to obtain a “license”, then it is no longer a right! It has become a “privilege” and the Gov. can take away a ”privilege” anytime it wants too! The 2nd amendment guarantees us (or in other words – it is codified into law… ) our right to “…keep and BEAR arms.” You can’t bear arms if some law “prohibits” you from carrying said arms on or near your person! While I do have a CCW for my state of residence (and some neighboring states…), I do on occasion participate in open carry!
Ideally, we shouldn’t have to obtain a “permit” at all to be able to “…keep and bear arms.” The “right” is inherent in the natural law or God given right to self defense!! Even Christ believed and preached this, when he told one of his disciples to go and sell his cloak/clothing and buy a sword (St. Luke 22:36).
Nicely said Dale
I open carry in Oregon where I live now. I used to live in California, was a native. They took all my rights away there for self protection. I think it is important to open carry, so people are used to seeing a weapon that is not paving the streets in blood. We used to carry long guns in our truck windows everywhere or walk across town to a friends house in the bay area in Ca. no one thought anything of it. When we removed them people got scared of guns and took ours rights away. I carry a concealed carry 9 opened in Oregon nearly everywhere I go now.
I usually get nothing but compliments from people thanking me for carrying. I believe in the 2A and the constitution as it was written. Get the Government /Politicians off the backs of it’s good law abiding citizens.
Agree with the author. The previous law was written without any common sense. Lots of concealed carry holders took chances by carrying their gun legally. If a coat accidently was whipped open by the wind or anything else happened technically some jack wagon cop could throw them in jail. And I worked with enough of them over the years to know that there are a lot of them that literally are scared of criminals but will jack up a law abiding citizen on something that violates the letter of the law even if the intention wasn’t there. With the open carry being legal this eliminates those arrest and people won’t have to sweat carrying their gun. I personally don’t care to open carry since it does make you a target. I carried openly while on duty for 35 years but you didn’t see a gun when I was off duty. If a criminal plans on robbing or killing someone and you’re standing there with your gun on, you’ve just become the first target if he decides to go off the deep end.
Bottom line great that it was passed. I haven’t had a chance to read the college carry law yet but hope it was written by people with common sense.
Shame the ‘stop and harass’ clause was omitted. Many small town wanna be cops will be stopping anyone they see with a gun to make sure they have their permit. They have nothing else to do in the first place other than write tickets and screw over the citizens and this will give them one more reason to annoy people. Maybe after these next two years the complaints will be strong enough for the legislature to add the clause. Granted any lying cop can invent PC. Seen it done many a time.
Great thing is we made progress against the ignorant democrats and their socialist handlers. Lots more needs to be done.
Very solid points. I tend to agree here with your comments, as experience in your field gives all of us a direct perspective of what’s really going on in the minds of some officers out there. As someone who lives in AZ and sometimes open carry’, I have to agree that sometimes I feel more a target that a potential help to any situation that may warrant. However while concealed, I always feel a better sense of ease while in compromised areas of town. I think many readers here are probably excited to be able to open carry a larger firearm in yet another state, but we should all take this officers direct expierence into account.
Robert,
Over the course of my career I worked for one of the top 3 largest SO’s in TX & I’ve been the only cop in town & a few different sizes in between. We have liars & wanna-be’s everywhere. I’m not here to debate the merits of small town v. big town, but as you yourself said, it’s a moot point, a bad cop will be a bad cop & do a bad job no matter what.
The bill past, let’s all collectively get over this & start to work together to effect the change we want, both in the public & in law enforcement. I don’t see a point in being bitter & divisive.
The right to bear is….the right to bear. Its a RIGHT. R-I-G-H-T. Open or concealed….That’s a CHOICE. Simple as that. Why complicate it. Does the difference between the 2 really need to be ‘splained’ or debated? Why do people have to make life so difficult?
Drains, right to the point, and on target nothing more need be said.
Because, there are PEOPLE involved.
Since Cain & Abel there have been differences of opinion. Some right and some wrong.
But in our democratic REPUBLIC, Fro, peoples opinions often lead to changes in the law that penalize the rest of us, criminal or innocent as well. Gun owners are people too, remember?
100% in agreement, seems to me that people now a days either don’t know the “rights” definition, and forgot how we came about our “rights” I carry since I can remember and has been able to protect myself and my family in several occasions, criminals prey on the weak but once they see a projectile pointing at them inside that barrel, they dance to another song. I have been to many states, and many other countries, and let me tell you, the constitution is the glue that keeps freedom together if you don’t see it then you need to go to one of this other countries and see for yourself, and hopefully you will stay there, we don’t need you here anyways. I love the USA and I love Texas even more. May GOD be with you all but don’t turn your other cheek for no one.
As typical law enforcement is against something in there. Why have the people allowed law enforcement to wedge themselves in between a citizens rights and the exercise of those rights? The only business the police should have in this is if they find someone in the act of breaking a law via violent act or public disturbance (else, they’d use jaywalking as a valid reason to cease your property and restrain you).
I think you have the wrong idea there sir.
The reason TX LE was against the original bill is because a license is still required to carry, open or concealed, but under the original provisions we weren’t allowed to stop any one who was open carrying & ask to see a license, regardless of the circumstances. Once that changed you’ll find, while not heavily reported in the media, nearly all of TX LE got behind the bill. Well except Austin but that’s our liberal bastion so take it for what it’s worth.
We’re all about protecting your rights here in TX. We also need to be able to protect you & your family too. Let’s stop the bickering & work together. Many hands make lite work.
It seems odd that one would have to obtain a permit to open carry. New revenue stream, anyone? Or just another tiny little infringement against the right of the people to keep and bear arms?
Why would LE need to stop anyone who was open-carrying, unless they were engaged in the actual perpetration of a crime? Show me your papers, Comrade?
Appears to me that Texas just passed a law that opens a new revenue stream, and gives broader authority to LE. Very little of this appears to be a win for the 2nd Amendment.
Damon – I couldn’t agree more!!
“Papers please!” Since when does peacefully carrying a weapon give probable cause to stop, detain, and interrogate a citizen causing no problem? Since Texas signed a law saying you can! Why do you, as a LEO, need to ask for their ID if they aren’t doing anything illegal? The only logical reason I can see is just to intimidate them and that, my friend, is some jack booted thuggery.
I agree, the system is fairly dumb, but the voters voted in the legislature & supported the law. Don’t blame me for having to enforce the laws made by the folks we voted into power.
Don’t like the laws? Don’t want to be asked for “your papers”?
Vote in people who will make laws you agree with. Don’t blame LE for having to enforce them.
I think that people should carry whichever way they want to – openly or concealed. There are advantages and disadvantages for both methods. There’s no good reason to prohibit either method. People should carry whichever way they prefer.
I don’t agree that open carry is “antiquated.” While I’ll readily agree that not as many people open carry as used to, there are still folks who do for varied reasons. There are some advantages to openly carriying vs. concealed carrying (notably deterrence, but also a quicker draw and an easier ability to carry a larger firearm).
IMO, the more that good folks open carry, the harder it is to demonize firearms carry. With concealed carry, it’s out of sight and out of mind. With open carry, some folks may be oblivious to the firearm, but it’s certainly not hidden. It allows those who carry firearms to explain why it’s good for folks to carry, and explain the law, and serve as an ambassador for gun rights. (Some folks who engage in what I call “political carry” are definitely not ambassadors for the gun rights movement … but as with any large group, there’s a small percentage of those who do a disservice to the others.)
I think a mix of open and concealed carriers is actually the ideal. The open carriers serve to remind bad guys that someone may shoot back at them. The concealed carriers mean that they can’t be sure who ELSE also has a firearm.
“Some folks who engage in what I call ‘political carry’ are definitely not ambassadors for the gun rights movement … but as with any large group, there’s a small percentage of those who do a disservice to the others.”
These types are exercising their rights under the First Amendment, in which firearms become symbols (expressions) of their status as “free men.” You have a problem with people exercising their First Amendment rights? If so, then why would you expect anyone to support your exercise of your Second Amendment rights? Our rights are inter-connected. You can’t support SOME rights and not others. When you fail to support others, you help create arguments and precedents (or at least concede the field to them) that will be used against the rights you support. Nothing like shooting yourself in the foot.
Do some open carriers behave “provocatively”? Did Pam Geller “provoke” a terrorist attack in Garland, Texas? Did Rosa Parks “provoke” the authorities in Birmingham, Alabama when she sat in the front of the bus? How about the militias at Concord and Lexington? Would you rather they not have been so “provocative”? They did start a war, after all.
Actually if you think about it, the people at Concord didn’t start the war. The British did. If the Muslims weren’t the hateful people their religion has taught them to be, there would not have been any violence at or near the Geller event. Don’t blame people peaceably going about their business with the hatemongers and violence using people. If the bad guys weren’t bad there wouldn’t be any violence and we wouldn’t need weapons. But they are so we do.
Rosa Parks was a marxist anti-white and a terrorist.
Chip, I agree with you whole heatedly.
I Have been carrying on and off the job for over 20 yrs., and the one time my firearm saved my bacon was when I was carrying in the open. Didn’t have to fire my weapon, or even draw it. but when the sleaze ball realized I was armed, he turned pasty white, his mouth dropped open and he ran away yelling sorry…sorry…sorry…
So, while I do carry concealed most of the time, on occasion I do carry in the open. I live in Nevada, where it is legal (in most places) to open carry. What I don’t get about this Texas law – is according to the article, if you want to open carry – you will still have to take a class and get a “permit” to do so. In my view, one might as well get the permit for concealed carry and not waste the money on the “open permit”.
I live in Oklahoma, I open carry a lot of times. In the very least I carry OWB a full sized M&P .40 and it does print sometimes I grab my M&P .45 and carry it the same way (I have 10 and 14 round mags for it). I have had conversations with people about firearms and they don’t even realise that I am carrying a pistol when I open carry.
It’s good to see that the law has passed the legislature in Texas and it will make things much easier. I have dreaded going to Texas as I have to switch to an IWB holster and the retention mechanism I am used to is gone. On top of that if I print I can run afoul of the law. Will I open carry while in Texas, at times probably. Especially when I travel and have to stop to get fuel, I would rather show the punks, thugs and strong arm pan handlers that I have force and am willing to use it than to have to actually do so.
Good luck with that mindset.
I’m all for protect the rights of the people & if this is what they wanted then I support it, but let me tell you a story.
I was at the 7-11 off Harry Heines in Dallas next to UT Southwestern getting gas. A methed out thug came up & tried to car jack me. I took out my gun & he looked me dead in the eye & said “you think that scares me mother f***ker, I don’t give a s*** about your f***ing gun, I’ve been shot before.”
Then he proceeded to pull up his shirt & show me, which is when two more of his friends started circling me up. It wasn’t till I pulled out my badge & radio they beat feet.
I’m a SWAT officer, former Marine combat veteran, & a licensed police firearms instructor & even I don’t like 3-1 odds against dopers.
Now imagine they knew I had a gun. So then, instead of coming up to me & telling me they’re going to jack my car the one of the 3 who didn’t look like a doper walks up to the trash can next to me at the pump like he’s throwing something out so he can get the drop on me first.
I’ll stick to the gray man approach. I would suggest anyone with common sense do the same. We all have off days, we’re not always as situationally aware as we should be & none of us is John Wick. Why give the bad guys one extra edge.
In other words, your concealed weapon didn’t help you avoid an incident, and it’s likely an open-carried weapon wouldn’t have either. Lesson of the story – don’t rely on merely showing a weapon to prevent an incident. However, this is not an anti-open carry lesson. Because although it is true that in this situation the known presence of a weapon didn’t help prevent or stop the incident, in some situations the known presence of a weapon will stop an incident. Open carry can prevent incidents that concealed carry can’t. Does open carry sometimes invite an attack? Yes, it does, sometimes. Does concealed carry sometimes dissuade an attacker. No – never. (If your weapon is glimpsed or if you display it, it’s no longer concealed.) Does concealed carry give the defender a tactical advantage when he or she suddenly produces a firearm? Yes, it does – but only after the defender has lost the strategic advantage of not being attacked in the first place. Know that both forms of carry have advantages and disadvantages and that there are tactical and environmental considerations that may favor one over the other; carry and conduct yourself appropriately for those considerations. (From a concealed carrier who will be carrying openly today due to the specifics of the environment I will be in.)
Excellent post, TX LEO. In the state where I live, most of the “open carry” knuckle-heads, wear cheap belts and even cheaper floppy holsters and the cheapest drop-leg “tacti-cool” holsters they can find. Apparently, weapons retention isn’t even on their radar at all.
Yes, the grey man IS the best approach, first, last and always. While “open carry” is popular with the self-annointed Rambos, and Rambo-ettes, they never conceptualize that the thugs and thugeettes are far better experienced at taking THEIR firearms from them, then they are at keeping control of them.
They always twist the truth to the fact that in my opinion only, they are too lazy to obtain a concealed weapons permit, and even lazier in their weapons retention and safety personal protocols. So be it.
Let them get their handguns taken from them, since most refuse to comprehend that they are not a legend in their own minds.
When he pulled up his shirt you should have asked if he thought he could survive being shot in the forehead.
As a former Florida and California LEO, I could not agree more. We do not yet have open carry in Florida, but I think we may have it eventually. There may be a time and place for open carry, but for the most part, I would prefer to keep a low profile and my pistol concealed.
That’s an excellent post and a carefully reasoned position, TX LEO. I’m a former California and Florida LEO, now retired and living on the Space Coast. We do not have open carry in Florida, but we do have very liberal concealed carry, castle doctrine, and stand your ground laws. We may eventually get an open carry law which will make some of us more comfortable about inadvertent printing or exposure of a concealed weapon. It is my personal preference keep my weapons concealed in most instances. Open carry may seem cool, but it does draw unnecessary attention while it does not necessarily deter attacks. It merely makes for a more stealthy attacker. To avoid confrontations and attacks, I prefer to keep a low profile and rely on training, situational awareness, and gut instinct honed from years of experience.
Your tweakers must be really different than the tweakers I’ve encountered. In 30 years on the street, I’ve never met a Tweaker who would even try to have a conversation before they committed their nefarious acts. Ours usually go after small, easily fenced items obtained without interaction with others. (Burglary of a car or a residence is much faster and less dangerous for the average tweaker.) The really paranoid ones aren’t violent to any end, they’re just violent. I’ve never seen coordinated attacks involving 3 tweakers; they aren’t known for cooperating to steal from or attack others–what would they do with a car? Mostly they just want to be left alone to get high.
Why didn’t you shoot him some more and stop him from carjacking people?
“What are your thoughts?”
This:
“From my perspective, the greatest thing about legalizing open carry is that if you accidentally show or present your firearm while carrying concealed you won’t get busted by the police.”
Now I will carry a larger frame side arm concealed I am more adept at using instead of a smaller pocket gun. I won’t have to worry about accidental exposure even though current law is supposed to safeguard CHL holders from that possibility.
Because of this new law there is no quibbling over revealing a firearm accidentally while on my person.
“You think that scares me mother f***ker, I don’t give a s*** about your f***ing gun, I’ve been shot before.”
Well, obviously a case where he needed to be shot again. For the last time. And his friends, maybe for the first time. I’ve no problem “thinning the herd” of those who would rather prey on the herd than be a part of it.
Eric, I wholeheartedly agree with. Unfortunately I didn’t have the safest backstop as I would’ve been shooting towards the 7-11 storefront.
I’ve thought & rethought that incident to death (no pun intended).
I suppose that’s a different conversation all together though.
Why do we give these thugs any warning? Do they give a warning, “HEY I’MA gona rob you mother****er”. When it happens, two to center mass one to the head, and tell the officer,”I feared for my life.” Repeat this over and over and nothing else this until your lawyer gets there. “When in doubt empty the magazine, reload and stand by. “
He is a cop and he had a radio. He could have just shouted “10-13! 10-13! (or whatever is appropriate for that locale) and 5-10 (30, if he’s in Cleveland) of his cop buddies would have showed up, shortly.
I would have got in my car and left, then watched until backup got there. I wouldn’t have shot toward a crowded convenience store for any amount of money; particularly since he had obvious other, safer solutions.
I am retired war vet in Texas haven’t been convicted of a felony, have owned rifles sense I was 8y/o and pistols at 12y/o was taught to shoot before that. I carry and know the 3 step principle to having a handgun in my car. Where in the 2nd amendment does it say I must be certified or even registered with local,county,state or the federal government to have a weapon of any sort being its a legal weapon. That was never the purpose of the 2nd, it was to protect yourself from the government; ie government for the people by the people and when it fails that was the purpose of our founding fathers,to resist the power the government takes over the people. I am not saying now but if you look at the government now compared to 100 years ago I think we are getting closer every day towards government control of everything from gun rights, illegal aliens,( 5 buses a day stop year to feed illegal being released on the border, and they found 40lbs of heroin on one buss) religious freedoms, personal property rights, abuse by police especially under the 4th and 14th amendment. Hell I live accross the street from a police station and have never had anybody call the police on me but when the cops are there its just a matter of time till theyre looking for somebody to fuck with and I’m in their line of site at me or my kids for somebody to screw with, currently I’ve been through 5 different police forces 3 that I’ve had to take personal action against by either calling the DOJ/FBI to running for city council. Thats a friggin joke to have to go that fare to protect yourself from your own police. Initially the chief pulled out his weapon on my 16 y/o son for looking at his wife, this was in my yard released him just to have another officer pull him over a mile away to continue the abuse. Turns out it wasnt even my son it was the boy in the passenger seat looking at his child bride, thats when DOJ came in and turns out the chief wasnt even a license police officer. the last time I was working on a motor in my drive way and this asshole cop threatens me if I do it again (rev up the motor) he was taking me to jail at 3 in the afternoon, I tried to introduce my self and explain I was just working on a motorcycle and try to de escalate the problem and he tells me ” I know who and what you are”, guess I should have asked him what that meant. I went straight to his boss and informed him of what the law was in the city about noise in front of everyone in the city hall , 3 days later he quit and the asshole that threatened me was put in charge. THIS IS GREAT just another flunky that cant get a job so he is working in a town of 550 people.