open carry

[HighVelocity]

I'm not a big fan of retention holsters but noway would I open carry without one. The last thing I need to worry about is some nut trying to grab my gun, just because it's there.

[Bradley]

Not to stir the pot any, but it saddens me when even fellow gun owners would want to deny a person's rights because they're scared of what could happen.

It is no wonder that our rights continue to disappear. People want to limit what others can do despite plain English that says, "...keep and bear arms." Not, "keep and hide in their car." Not "keep and bear with the special permission of the chosen elite." An individual's feelings about open carry should be irrelevant. It is supposed to be protected at the highest levels of government.

I suppose it's all a moot point. Call me a pessimist, but I don't believe the American people have the will to push for change back to the foundations of liberty that our forefathers died for. As long as the politicians ensure cheap beer and readily available big screen TVs, the sheep will never care enough about anything else to fight for it.

[KBCraig]

I am not so sure about open carry and no training and/or qualification process.

Works fine in VT, NH, VA, LA, AK, NM, AZ, WY, ID, UT....

But as someone said, those states didn't "legalize" open carry, they just never made it illegal. Carrying a handgun in Texas (excepting travel and sporting purpose) was illegal, period, before 1996.

I support legal open carry, even if unlicensed. I'm only concerned with what people do, not what piece of plastic they have in their wallet.

[Xander]

I am not so sure about open carry and no training and/or qualification process.

Works fine in VT, NH, VA, LA, AK, NM, AZ, WY, ID, UT....

But as someone said, those states didn't "legalize" open carry, they just never made it illegal. Carrying a handgun in Texas (excepting travel and sporting purpose) was illegal, period, before 1996.

I support legal open carry, even if unlicensed. I'm only concerned with what people do, not what piece of plastic they have in their wallet.

[The Annoyed Man]

I am generally in favor of open carry because I am generally in favor of the loosening of gun laws, even though I would probably still CCW even if open carry were legal. My reasoning in favor of open carry is that there are certain situations, like in your car for instance, where accessing a concealed firearm can be problematic when you least need it to be so; AND, the sight of a .44 cal Hog's Leg on the dashboard could be a great carjacking deterrent. On the other hand, the reason that I would probably not carry openly in most other situations, even if it were legal, is that it is not in my personal makeup to be provocative or "in your face" in a general sense, and not all people are comfortable around firearms. I would rather have one available without having its presence be commonly known or other people making a big fuss about it.

When hunting, I pack a sidearm in open carry for "general principles." But the rest of the time, open carry is not so much of an issue for me.

[gregthehand]

I am in favor of open carry. Mostly for the reason already stated. I too would definatley get a holster with 2 levels of retention.

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

I can see being in favor of open carry strictly as a right we shouldn't have to fight for to be able to exercise. I personally, would not carry open very often at all. I've carried open in New Mexico before, but only because we were hunting, and ran in to town (Jal) to grab lunch. That is the only place in a town I've ever carried open. I've carried openly at our private range, or while hunting in Texas, but always disarm if we go into town here. I like the advantage of surprise that concealed carry gives me.

[Keith B]

...., the sight of a .44 cal Hog's Leg on the dashboard could be a great carjacking deterrent....

I lived for 38 years in Missouri where open carry was not illegal, unless prohibited by local ordinances. Most towns didn't have an ordinance against it (usually only the big cities.)

While it wasn't 'illegal', you had to be extremely careful about it. A handgun laying in the seat beside you was no problem, but on the dashboard of your car could be. Most of these states (and Texas) have laws against 'brandishing' a weapon. If you have it in plain sight and even got into any small argument, it could be construed as that. Road rage comes to mind for me as just honking at someone, and them seeing you with a pistol on the dash is SURELY going to result in a call.

Also, again, while not illegal, strolling around Wal-Mart with a S&W 500 glaring bright on your hip is going to draw a lot of attention, usually a phone call, and probably a LEO who is not going to be happy about having to respond.

I presonaly was very cautious about open carry, even with my badge displayed. I prefered to have it where God and I were the only ones who knew where it was stashed and we could get to it if needed. No attention drawn, no questions asked. If I accidently showed the weapon, it was no different than with a Texas CHL; it was unintentional (not illegal), covered up quickly and I went on about my business, very likely no one would think twice about it as I acted natural.

We just have to remember we are not in the old west. Society today is has folks out there not used to seeing someone with a 45 long Colt straped to their leg. There are uneasy folks that don't want guns around, and we just have to be discreet while exercising our rights so as to make them think that way. Remember, suprise is a vital element in getting the upper hand in most tactical situations.

My 2 cents.

[Liko81]

I've been burned on both sides of the fence on this one. And if you stay on the fence you have to dodge the bullets coming both ways.

On the plus side, open carry without permit is the RKBA at its finest; it would be government recognizing that "shall not be infringed" are not just four pretty words but something that applies everywhere in the country and cannot be overruled at a lower level. States that allow permitless open carry do not have any more or less trouble with people carrying guns and not knowing how to use them than states that allow OC by permit or ban it.

On the minus side, Johnny Gangbanger in Vickery Meadow or Oak Cliff can wear a gun on the street and unless the cops know his face and know he's a convicted criminal, they would have to assume he's legally carrying. The alternative OC scenario is equally unpleasant; OC is allowed with state pre-emption but there is no requirement of LEOs to assume legality; that would allow police to stop anyone OCing on the street and look for anything the person is doing wrong that could be cause for punitive action (ticket/summons/arrest).

I think if Texas modified the wording of the RKBA in its Constitution, or rewrote PC 46.02 to allow OC, it would also have to involve a comprehensive rethink of Texas gun law. Do we continue to ban unlicensed carry in liquor-selling establishments (which would make OC very restrictive; you couldn't even carry in a supermarket in a wet jurisdiction)? Does a CHL count as "licensing" for OC as well in such places? We currently don't have a limit on ammo capacity of a carried handgun, just the practical limits for concealability; do we impose a capacity limit on OC (say 20 rounds like Virginia)?

[casingpoint]

Any restriction on carry is an obvious infringement of the Second Amendment federal right to bear arms. That, hopefully, is on the way to getting sorted out now. Here in Louisiana, open carry has always been the law of the land in a violent and often confrontational society for the simple reason it provides the fastest access to a holstered handgun for personal defense. Partially for the same reason knives are traditionally carried here on the belt. When the Louisiana Legislature was mulling over the aspect of concealed carry with a permit, then Governor Edwin Edwards took the position that if the citizens of his state desired to carry handguns, they should continue to do so in the open, where they would serve as an effective deterrent to criminal activity. Best call he ever made. Perhaps the only good one. I believe there are a lot of concealed carriers and others on the sidelines against open carry who have never drawn a weapon in self defense. Otherwise, they would appreciate it's advantages. Ever see a uniformed LEO with their duty weapon concealed? You need a gun, you often need the quickest access possible. This is not to say there are not times when one may wish or need to compromise that accessibility. I remain compeletly flabbergasted that the State of Texas, with it's long frontier history in which all manner of guns played a vital part, does not now permit the open carry of handguns.

[aardwolf]

Also, again, while not illegal, strolling around Wal-Mart with a S&W 500 glaring bright on your hip is going to draw a lot of attention, usually a phone call, and probably a LEO who is not going to be happy about having to respond.

I'm not sure if I understand the argument. If it's legal, why would a LEO have to respond?

Suppose you're strolling around Wal-Mart openly carrying a Koran. If someone calls the cops, do they respond?

Suppose you're strolling around Wal-Mart openly wearing a crucifix. If someone calls the cops, do they respond?

Suppose you're strolling around Wal-Mart wearing a blue shirt. If someone calls the cops, do they respond?

Suppose you drive 52 in a 55 zone. If someone calls the cops, do they respond?

If the LEO is "not going to be happy about having to respond" the LEO should be mad at the crank who called it in.

[WildBill]

I'm not sure if I understand the argument. If it's legal, why would a LEO have to respond?

Because some people react to situations that are out of their normal comfort level. Some could consider it to be "menacing." A man wearing only a diaper in a WalMart is legal, but I think someone would make that call.

[aardwolf]

On the minus side, Johnny Gangbanger in Vickery Meadow or Oak Cliff can wear a gun on the street and unless the cops know his face and know he's a convicted criminal, they would have to assume he's legally carrying.

A 12ga or AR-15 is more deadly than a 9mm handgun. Texas law allows open carry of shotguns and rifles without a license or training. I don't see any logical reason to prohibit open carry of handguns.

[Keith B]

A man wearing only a diaper in a WalMart is legal, but I think someone would make that call.

Watch it Bill, that may be us someday soon. It 'depends', but I still plan on keeping mine concealed!!!

[Charles L. Cotton]

Someone wake me up if a NEW argument gets posted, regardless which side of the issue it's on!

Chas.