TexasCHLforum.com

CoolBreeze wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:What's it going to take to shut these OCT folks up? The passage of a "Freedom from Gun Protest Act" which will effectively outlaw the open carry of long guns anywhere except the hunting fields? To think that just a few months ago, we were on track to possibly getting OC passed in 2015, with the support of TSRA and NRA, and good support in the legislature for it......and NOW, just a few months later, thanks to a bunch of boneheaded egotists who simply refuse to understand political realities for what they are, we are not only NOT going to get OC for handguns, but we stand to LOSE OC for long guns.

It makes me want to slap somebody. How STUPID do they have to be?a

I agree with you but if they take away open carry of rifles for a few people open carrying then you aren't losing your right. You never really had the right in the first place. IMO

First of all, it's not a "right" until and unless the U.S. Supreme Court says it's a "right." That's the only opinion of the Constitution that matters.

In the history of Texas both as a Republic and a State, it has never been unlawful to carry a long gun anywhere outside the very few places that are off-limits per state or federal statute. Ill-advised open-carry demonstrations and demonstrators could change that, so you bet we'd be losing something!!

Here's the sad truth. Most supporters of open-carry are responsible and have not taken part in destructive tactics. Unfortunately, there is a small publicity-hungry segment who the media love to portray as examples of all supporters and they don't care how much damage they are doing. Read and listen to some of the comments these people have made and it's clear that they care solely about one subcategory of gun ownership -- the ability to carry openly.

Some, including their leadership, have expressly stated that they will vote out any and all Senators and House Members that do not support open-carry, regardless of their support of other pro-gun bills. Not only is that clear evidence of delusions of grandeur, it proves that they don't care at all about other gun owners and their ability to carry and use firearms. They denigrate anyone and everyone who does not support not only the open-carry cause, but their in-your-face tactics as well. They accuse anyone who calls for an end to destructive tactics of "throwing them under the buss." They make themselves and their tactics the issue and the focus of debate, rather than passage of open-carry. "Throwing someone under the buss" is a phrase that connotes pointing an accusatory finger at someone else to take the blame off yourself. Responsible gun owners and political activists have done no wrong and they/we are not trying to divert attention from our own conduct. They/we are calling for an end to irresponsible actions that are killing the chance of passing open-carry. Even Larry Pratt, GOA President has said carrying long guns in demonstrations is a mistake. (Hear the open-carry discussion beginning at about 24:30: http://www.kprcradio.com/media/podcast- ... -24833458/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; )

Chas.

CoolBreeze wrote:How many people know that MDA have been kicked out of 2 establishments recently for inappropriate actions (wasn't covered by main stream media)? How many people know that OCT released a statement saying they changed their policy and were not carrying inside Target? Their statement says they happened to be in the parking lot of the establishment next door which is shared by target. Their new policy is not to OC in any establishment unless they are invited to by the establishment, to only carry unloaded firearms and strap them on their back. they also stated they would call law enforcement 24 hours prior to any event and to carry signs or banners during any or all events.

Doing anything now is harmful to the effort to pass open-carry and they are aware of this fact. So much harm has been done that the only action that can help is to stop all demonstrations. This isn't my opinion, it's straight from the people who are going to vote on an open-carry bill, if we can still get a sponsor. Even the filing of a bill is now questionable. So it doesn't matter what, how, or where they are demonstrating; doing anything other than staying home is harmful.

CoolBreeze wrote: We are playing into the hands of the anti-gunners by being so quick to judge and react to the emotional response they are trying to elicit.

We aren't reacting to anti-gunners; we're reacting to the destructive actions of supposedly pro-gun people who are making it very difficult if not impossible to pass open-carry. The information I and Alice Tripp have provided about the reaction in Austin is not our opinion, they are the opinions held by Texas Senators and House Members. We aren't reacting, we're reporting and the message is falling on deaf ears.

Are the MDA misleading and outright lying about open-carry events? Are the media complicit in this deception? The answer to both questions is "yes," but that is irrelevant. Their efforts are working to turn the general public against not only the demonstrators but the concept of open-carry. These are people who previously had no opinion one way or the other about open-carry.

CoolBreeze wrote:They are looking to erode the second amendment one step at a time and you are incorrect if you believe they only want to ban rifles in public. Once they accomplish that they will come after the CHL and other gun laws.

You're correct, there is a faction in Texas that wants to destroy all gun rights, but they will fail on every front. Due to the in-your-face tactics that have made the news nationwide, their best chance is a bill to prohibit the carrying of long guns on private property. The bill will fail, but we'll have to spend political capital defeating it.

Everyone knowledgeable about passing bills in Texas knows that open-carry demonstrations are not only unnecessary they lessen the chance of passing open-carry. They will also result in the filing of anti-gun bills that we will have to fight and demonstrating with long guns will make it much harder to repeal TPC §42.01(a)(8). Everyone will have to decide for themselves why any person or organization would continue to thrust themselves into the public eye when doing so hurts their stated goal.

Chas.

TexasGal wrote:I saw a news story on this wherein a lady being interviewed for OCT noted that Target's comments will not keep out CHLs unless they post a 30.06 sign. The station showed a picture of one to give an example of what sign she was talking about.

That wasn't the result of ignorance; it had to be intentional. If she knows enough about Texas law to make that statement, then she knew her statement would be detrimental to concealed-carry.

Chas.

I wouldn't trust NBC as far as I can throw my car. Based upon the linked article, it appears that Target is asking people not to carry openly, but there's no mention of concealed-carry. Note that the comment about concealed carry in states is outside the quotation marks, so that appears to be NBC's attempt to mislead readers into believing that Target's request applies to CHL's as well.

There's no dispute that the actions taken recently by Target and other companies would not have occurred but for the in-your-face tactics implemented by certain open-carry supporters who care more about their notoriety (or infamy) than gun owners' rights. In spite of the clear and indisputable negative impact on both the general public and the Texas Legislature, they continue down this destructive path. Don't tell me you are supporting gun rights; you are harming the cause and you flat do not care.

Chas.