TexasCHLforum.com

Rrash wrote:Does anyone know of any Sherriff, LEO, or politician that supports the "in your face" OC strategy?

I am not excusing the OC actors. I do understand what they are trying to do. I do think it can be accomplished through more measured and calculated actions, but to think that it can be done without alarming anyone is naive.

Anygunanywhere

jmra wrote:

Jason K wrote:I support OC. I used to support OCT, but they've become tasteless glory hounds that the anti-2A's can use as bad examples. They're not useful to the OC cause anymore.

I like the Campus Carry movement's "empty holster" campaign as an example of tasteful, non-threatening, and effective protest. And CC seems to be gaining more ground nationwide. OCT should look hard at their tactics.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

canvasbck wrote:Let me get this straight, a couple of dozen mouth breathing jerks behaved in a way that irritated a couple of dozen legislators (could be less could be more , I don't know). I'm assuming that said legislators are being made aware that the buffoons do not represent the vast majority of CHL holders.

Texas CHL holders, as a group, have been proven to be the most law abiding among all citizens. More law abiding than those who write and those who enforce the laws. CHL holders have overwhelmingly spoken out against the tactics employed by over zealous OC supporters (at least on this forum). The majority of CHL holders either support or do not oppose OC but the actions of a few mouth breathers will prevent reasonable legislation from passing because they irritated the wrong folks? The difference between a law abiding CHL holder and a law breaking CHL holder will remain the presence or absence of a peice of cloth because one shunned chapter in one movement didn't behave the way they were told to.

For reference, I support OC. I think the guys parading around with ARs are making fools of themselves. I don't want OC because I want to parade around and have folks look at me. I want it to pass because I find the concealment requirement to be silly. "It's only legal if we can't tell your doing it". It would also be convenient to just go to lunch after an IDPA match without either changing clothes or disarming. (I won't go out to eat in my pink vest)

I wish only a couple of dozen people in and outside the Legislature were upset. Calls from constituents who were present as well as those who saw the numerous negative TV new reports are demanding that something be done about "those people." You are correct that the demonstrators are not representative of all CHL holders and not all demonstrators are acting inappropriately. However, to the voters who are contacting their elected representatives, the people who are causing them fear or concern are the very people who will be most likely to open-carry if a bill passes.

Right or wrong, this is how open-carry demonstrations are being viewed by the public and it's harmful to the cause. I'm not arguing their evaluation is correct; I'm saying damage is being done on a scale much larger than ardent open-carry supporters are willing or capable of admitting.

Chas.

canvasbck wrote:Let me get this straight, a couple of dozen mouth breathing jerks behaved in a way that irritated a couple of dozen legislators (could be less could be more , I don't know). I'm assuming that said legislators are being made aware that the buffoons do not represent the vast majority of CHL holders.

gigag04 wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote:After Making National Headlines Group Promises "Greatest Open Carry" Rally Ever Seen

I think I'm just going to go fishing.

Chas.

What a bunch of mall ninja, wanna-bee operator, arfcom reading, magpul tacticool, video game warrior, mother's-basement-dwelling, goofballs.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:After Making National Headlines Group Promises "Greatest Open Carry" Rally Ever Seen

I think I'm just going to go fishing.

Chas.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:I can't go into detail, but if the current tactics continue, then open-carry will be DOA in the 2015 Texas Legislative Session. The legislative response is bad and getting worse and it's not because our friends in Austin are anti-gun as some will scream from the rooftops.

Chas.

MadMonkey wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote:I really haven't heard anyone claim they were carrying a rifle or shotgun into a store to exercise their constitutional right. Oh, perhaps there was one or two who said that on camera, but I really don't recall.

The overwhelming majority of people who are carrying long guns into stores in Texas are doing so to promote passage of open-carry of handguns, or so they claim. So the real question is "does this help or hinder passage of open-carry?" The clear answer is that it is hurting the cause, even though some will claim otherwise. The negative media coverage combined with pro-open-carry elected officials and their staff asking for such tactics to stop should be all the proof anyone needs. I can't help but wonder if part of the reason these in-your-face tactics haven't stopped is because of a division among open-carry supporters on the issue of licensed v. unlicensed open-carry.

Chas.

Those folks don't seem to understand that even if you're OC'ing a rifle around fellow gun people, the best case scenario is getting a neutral response. At worst, you're going to cause a panic.

I'm 100% for OC rights, but this is not the way to get support. They're looking for a reaction and an argument, and don't realize that they're doing EXACTLY the same thing that they rail on people like Westboro for doing.