TexasCHLforum.com

anygunanywhere wrote:
I feel so dirty.

Anygunanywhere

Anyway, one thing I've thought of. On the one hand we're saying that no one would do it anyway, but on the other hand we're saying that all the complaints would cause a bunch of stores to post up signs. I'm not sure I buy that one, it's self-contradicting (Sorry Charles, and with all due respect). As I've seen in Kentucky and Louisiana, and as Charles has also noticed on his travels in open carry states, open carry has not been seen by us on those travels. My relatives and friends that live there have never seen it done. Just how many soccer moms does it take to complain to management about guns? If the local flower shop has one complaint per year, is the owner going to post a sign? Maybe, it's the owner and she might know the repeat customer. But wal-marts and other chains? No, too many hoops I would think just to appease to that 1 or 3 per year at most. Besides, as has been seen a couple of times, mgmt would know the law and would hence educate said complainer that no law is being broken (rare, but true). Where open carry would happen the most, is where people are most used to guns, small towns. Also in a small town, people may know you or at least know who you are and that you're a good guy, so no complaints. Out on the street or as for me, on the bus, there is nothing that can be done by complainer except whine away.

But, I am afraid of the repealing of the CHL if open carry allowed strategy that Charles mentions. That's the scary one, and the antis know it. Talk about a hair raising wally walk doing open carry!

Charles L. Cotton wrote:There was a short spot on KHOU Ch. 11 News last night about the petition. They said "the Texas concealed handgun law may be repealed next session. There is a petition to allow people to carry handguns openly and it has over 5,000 signatures."

Obviously, Ch. 11 got it wrong, but it sure reminds me of 1993 & 1995 when opponents of the CHL bills were arguing for allowing only open-carry. Be very careful what you wish for folks. If the media really takes off with this spin, i.e. open-carry only, then this issue could take on a life of its own. I can promise you that the Brady Campaign/Million Mom March will support it, as they will view it as a first step toward turning the clock back to 1994. Combine their support with support by a significant percentage of gun owners and it could become an easy vote for some elected officials.

Chas.

Charles,

By open-carry only, are you saying that some view it as either you open-carry, or you don't carry at all? Why can't the license be amended that you can do either, with the license? Obviously the name change is required, somewhat like Tennesse, but I can't understand the logic that the anti's are using (there's a first....not!) that by allowing open carry, the whole CHL operation ceases to exist. Trying to see it from their point of view, it seems to me that'd be wishful thinking. Louisiana among others have a license requirement to conceal, no license at all to open-carry, probably knowing not many people would have the guts to open carry, which is true since I've yet to see one during my visits.

I think one difference between now and then is that it's a whole lot harder to get rid of this huge mechanism right now than it was to prevent it from being born back then. But, that's just my opinion, and you're obviously in the loop a lot more then we are. I just find it incredible that this is what they're thinking knowing how other states treat the difference.