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I've had an AR-15, scoped .22 and an AK sitting out in the open on a backseat in the panhandle with not a concern for what the cop would say if he pulled me over. That being said, laws are made in Austin, not Amarillo.

I really do support unlicensed open and concealed carry. You're just going to have a hard time convincing me that the time to push for it is right now, and I'm really freaking sick of being called "anti-rights" because I'm not an optimist when it comes to congress and the media.

Pacific Rim Job wrote:I get it now. Some people think that legalized open carry of rifles isn't a problem in Texas, therefore legalizing open carry of handguns in Texas will definitely cause problems. I think we'll have to agree to disagree on that.

You've already got me breaking my "I won't respond to your posts" post.

Legalized open carry of rifles isnt a problem in Texas because NO ONE DOES IT. At least, outside of hunting or rural areas. Thus my "open carry down congress ave" idea.

One more thing PRJ. I was going to send you a PM, but you dont have those enabled. I know the internet is bad at conveying intent and emotion. I mean you personally no ill will, and respect you as a fellow 2A supporter. I just have a different idea about how to go about things with the legislature.

Either you are terrible at reading comprehension or deliberately misinterpreting my post. Either way, this is probably the last response I'll bother with regarding your comments.

I am absolutely, unequivocally, NOT saying we need any sort of law regulating long guns. I'm simply saying if you're not able to open carry a long gun around Texas without getting a bunch of MWAG calls or cops stopping you, then maybe the climate isn't right to pass open carry of handguns.

This is a gradual process. We have years of bad hollywood movies, ignorance, and media hysteria to overcome. We passed concealed carry. No blood in the streets. We were able to pass the "big ugly sign" (30.06) two years later because of reactionary anti gun postings. We have continued to improve gun laws here in Texas. Little steps work here in Texas. Eventually, I'd love to have Arizona style carry (unlicensed, open or concealed). How do you get there? One step at a time.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Quit trying to eat the whole dang elephant in one meal. You'll just get a stomach ache, and there will still be a lot of elephant left on your plate.



As an aside, I have heard before people talk about the "people are unobservant, most wouldn't even notice." regarding open carry last congressional session. I tried it with my fiance. I carried a 1911 in an OWB holster under a sweatshirt to the grocery store. When we got home, pulled the sweatshirt off to see how long it would take her to notice I was open carrying (something I'd never bothered to do around her before). The second she walked into the kitchen, she looked down and said "your gun is showing". I think people would notice. And unfortunately, unlike my fiance (now wife), some would probably be a little more freaked out by it. I'd love to pass open carry. But if it costs me places I can currently conceal carry, no freakin thanks.

As I'm about to hit submit, I notice that I've written you 2 novels now trying to explain my point. If you don't get it by now, well.....

I'm a little confused how I'm the one creating straw men....when you're the one citing Arizona and New Mexico....but unlicensed carry of long guns is perfectly legal right here in Texas. Why even use other states as examples when you have Texas to consider?

I've got an idea. Why don't you go open carry a long gun down Congress Ave in Austin and let me know how that works out for ya. Just to be nice, it doesn't even have to be an Evil Black Rifle, just a good old shotgun or bolt action rifle will do.

Unless you can get away with that perfectly legal activity with no trouble, please don't even waste your breath telling me how no one will notice people open carrying and won't raise a stink about it.

And I'll tell you what I'm threatened by. Its not my fellow Texans openly carrying handguns. Its the commiefornia transplants, and the people who have never been around guns who are going to freak the heck out and either install 30.06 in their own businesses or shriek so loudly that the businesses they visit post 30.06 signs and start denying me my right to conceal carry, just because somebody felt that open carry was the only way to go.

Barack Obama got 43.8% of the vote in Texas in 2008. While we have good gun laws, there are plenty of people in this state who are not fond of the 2A, and don't raise a stink about it currently because THEY HAVE NO IDEA SO MANY PEOPLE ARE CARRYING AROUND THEM EVERYDAY. If you think everyone is going to support open carry because "Its Texas" then you haven't been paying attention to the political landscape at all.

By the way, calling me anti2A (and there's no other way to interpret your last response) is a great way to win me over to open carry.

Let's get open carry passed right now! Because otherwise other gun people will call me anti-rights!!!

Good luck with that strategy.

I look forward to doing all I can to help pass Conceal Carry on College Campus.

As to the OC people, every time someone has mentioned the simple fact that the media will not be our friends in this fight and that in all likelihood, businesses will begin to prohibit carry of any sort so they don't have to deal with open carry, who then resort to calling me an anti rights person, you've lost any hope of support you had from me.

Maybe next time you shouldn't take your lessons in how to deal with people who have a differing opinion from Al Sharpton. Calling me a bigot will only make me angry, not win me over.

Intellectually, I support the idea of open carry being legal. Seeing the type of people who support it and their continued reliance on "reasonable discourse" by calling me a bigot, I'm over it. You can't even manage to win over your fellow 2A supporters....good luck in Austin!

Pacific Rim Job wrote:I vote for same as long guns. It's not a problem in other "cowboy" states like New Mexico and Arizona.

Yep, and I sure see a lot of people open carrying long guns. So open carry of handguns should definitely be the highest and only legislative priority!!!