Open carry sighting

[PappaGun]

For the sake of discussion; your friend said they ..."fit the general description of cops (clean cut, young, fit...)...

I used to have some interactions with undercover narc officers. They definitely were not clean cut and did not fit the general description of cops. If she saw them in the same situation her reaction would have been different me thinks.

Personally, I would not have given them a second thought, but plenty of shooters are clean cut, though usually loners and not in a group.

[Beiruty]

Maybe a group of OC advocates looking to be arrested to test the constitutionality of TX gun laws. Just guessing.

[C-dub]

I actually think it is great and wish more LEO's would do this around here. I do see some at On The Border in Bedford and no one freaks out. Hopefully, if OC is ever passed in Texas this might mean that people won't freak out as much as they could. Sure, people take notice, but I haven't seen anyone running screaming in fear out of OTB yet.

[ScottDLS]

With the McDonald decision the SCOTUS "incorporated" the 2A as also applying to acts of infringement by the states.
This means that the WHOLE of Texas firearm law now must INCLUDE RECOGNITION of the INCORPORATED 2A protected substantive fundamental right to carry a handgun on or about ones' person for the purpose of self-defense. According to the SCOTUS a state may still restrict concealed carry of a handgun as a licensed privilege, prohibit firearm possession based upon the existence of a felony criminal record, or mental instability, and restrict firearm carry in specified sensitive locations, but criminalization of handgun carry under the provision of Section 46.02 (a) is no longer constitutionally enforceable. Incorporation of the 2A is the FINAL EXCEPTION - added to a long list of existing exceptions - that for all purposes renders 46.02(a) null and void.

You may be seeing a lot more citizens in "civies" publicly wearing holstered handguns in Texas. Not long ago, I saw one in the Golden Corral in Burleson, Texas. He was casually dressed in a golf shirt, slacks, and a nice wool casual sport coat. The handgun - a Glock , I believe - was briefly visible when he hung his coat on the back of his chair and sat down to eat. I didn't see a badge , and there was no call for a "badge check" to be in order. If such a person has a badge - they aren't obliged to produce it unless they are acting in official capacity.

Many are awaiting further "guidance" from the Legislature, the AG, or the courts. Well, The SCOTUS IS THE COURTS, and by way of the majority opinion in McDonald - the Supreme Court has spoken. The Court has affirmed your right to bear arms (including handguns)in case of confrontation. The SCOTUS is not going to publish a comprehensive , concise edition of 2A handgun carry law for Texas that will be available in paper-back any time soon. Texas' notorious 46.02(a) and 46.035(a) are now unconstitutional provisions of law. Don't hold your breath waiting for the Texas Legislature to enact a provision of law expressly "allowing for the carry of a handgun in plain view"-that probably won't happen . The PEOPLE are going to have to lead on this one, and IT WILL HAPPEN -over a span of time because that's how cultural change occurs.

You may be waiting a long time for your wide open reading of Heller and McDonald to apply to open carry in Texas. Here are a couple quotes from the the majority opinion in Heller, which was incorporated to the States by McDonald.

2. Like most rights, the Second Amendment right is not unlimited. It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose:...

...Assuming he is not disqualified from exercising Second Amendment rights, the District must permit Heller to register his handgun and must issue him a license to carry it in the home.

...Heller conceded at oral argument that the D. C. licensing law is permissible if it is not enforced arbitrarily and capriciously, the Court assumes that a license will satisfy his prayer for relief and does not address the licensing requirement.

Heller still can't carry his handgun outside his home in the District, though he can carry one while work because he is a "special policeman" (basically armed security guard).

[HotLeadSolutions]

With the McDonald decision the SCOTUS "incorporated" the 2A as also applying to acts of infringement by the states.
This means that the WHOLE of Texas firearm law now must INCLUDE RECOGNITION of the INCORPORATED 2A protected substantive fundamental right to carry a handgun on or about ones' person for the purpose of self-defense. According to the SCOTUS a state may still restrict concealed carry of a handgun as a licensed privilege, prohibit firearm possession based upon the existence of a felony criminal record, or mental instability, and restrict firearm carry in specified sensitive locations, but criminalization of handgun carry under the provision of Section 46.02 (a) is no longer constitutionally enforceable. Incorporation of the 2A is the FINAL EXCEPTION - added to a long list of existing exceptions - that for all purposes renders 46.02(a) null and void.
You may be seeing a lot more citizens in "civies" publicly wearing holstered handguns in Texas. Not long ago, I saw one in the Golden Corral in Burleson, Texas. He was casually dressed in a golf shirt, slacks, and a nice wool casual sport coat. The handgun - a Glock , I believe - was briefly visible when he hung his coat on the back of his chair and sat down to eat. I didn't see a badge , and there was no call for a "badge check" to be in order. If such a person has a badge - they aren't obliged to produce it unless they are acting in official capacity.

Many are awaiting further "guidance" from the Legislature, the AG, or the courts. Well, The SCOTUS IS THE COURTS, and by way of the majority opinion in McDonald - the Supreme Court has spoken. The Court has affirmed your right to bear arms (including handguns)in case of confrontation. The SCOTUS is not going to publish a comprehensive , concise edition of 2A handgun carry law for Texas that will be available in paper-back any time soon. Texas' notorious 46.02(a) and 46.035(a) are now unconstitutional provisions of law. Don't hold your breath waiting for the Texas Legislature to enact a provision of law expressly "allowing for the carry of a handgun in plain view"-that probably won't happen . The PEOPLE are going to have to lead on this one, and IT WILL HAPPEN -over a span of time because that's how cultural change occurs.

Interesting take on the decision. I can see where this is coming from, but I dont think I want to be the test case in TX.

[jdh2580]

I was at Jax Grill yesterday. The men that she was speaking of were leaving as I was going in. They all were wearing badges and some had department ID's on lanyards around their necks. Their were various badges, the ones that I recognized where Harris County SO. So they were most definitely legally carrying.

[RPB]

I was at Jax Grill yesterday. The men that she was speaking of were leaving as I was going in. They all were wearing badges and some had department ID's on lanyards around their necks. Their were various badges, the ones that I recognized where Harris County SO. So they were most definitely legally carrying.

With you, katygunnut and all those guys in there .... sounds like a relatively SAFE place to eat

[Katygunnut]

I was at Jax Grill yesterday. The men that she was speaking of were leaving as I was going in. They all were wearing badges and some had department ID's on lanyards around their necks. Their were various badges, the ones that I recognized where Harris County SO. So they were most definitely legally carrying.

That confirms my suspicion that she wasn't looking too closely. I'll have to give her a hard time for not paying better attention.

If this is a typical crowd, then that is definitely a safe place to eat.

[RPB]

I was at Jax Grill yesterday. The men that she was speaking of were leaving as I was going in. They all were wearing badges and some had department ID's on lanyards around their necks. Their were various badges, the ones that I recognized where Harris County SO. So they were most definitely legally carrying.

That confirms my suspicion that she wasn't looking too closely. I'll have to give her a hard time for not paying better attention.

If this is a typical crowd, then that is definitely a safe place to eat.

Like "Code of Silence" Chuck Norris movie... scene "Cop Bar" (I wish that scene had cleaner language, it's hilarious)
two thugs try to rob a bar. Only when the hear a chorus of guns being drawn and see about 100 pistols aimed at them do they realize it's a bar where off-duty cops hang out.