After defeating Democratic state Senator Wendy Davis in a landslide, Texas Governor-elect Greg Abbott said Wednesday that if an ‘Open Carry’ bill is passed by the Texas Legislature, he would sign that bill into law.
via New Texas Gov. To Sign Open Carry Of Handguns Bill Into Law.
That the Open Carry bill in Texas would only cover sidearms and make the Open Carry of Long Guns illegal or restricted from/to range or hunting. And I just have a feeling that exactly that may happen.
I don’t have a dog in that fights since I don’t live in TX, but here are my $0.02.
I’m not a big supporter of OC under most circumstances. It is just too politically contentions. Add to it the issue of anti-gunners SWATting OCers and it’s just too dangerous.
I do make exceptions for activities like, hiking/fishing/futzing around in the wilderness. My rule of thumb is, if it is an unacceptable place to walk around with a 6 inch hunting knife hanging off your belt, keep it concealed.
If TX is going to legalize OC, limiting it to handguns is a good idea MOST OF THE TIME. I’m all for blocking the OC zealots with AR-15s because they make the rest of us gun owners look bad.
That said, I think there should be an exemption for OC of a long gun in a “time of crisis.” Think post Katrina or Ferguson Riots. There are times when having a rifle or shotgun readily available for self defense is reasonable.
OC does help if one inadvertently does uncover…
That’s my feeling about OC. I don’t open carry, and it doesn’t interest me, still anybody who carries a firearm should be in favor of OC laws in the off chance your gun gets exposed, or you don’t do a good enough job of selecting a cover garment.
Also so many times I’ve been caught in the curse of New England Weather. Leave the house with my 1911 hidden under a sweatshirt…and suddenly the temperature rises by 20 degrees and I’m sweating. I’m not much of an OC fan, but if I had a choice to OC or sweat my ass off through the day, I’d have picked OC.
**IF** A bill comes to the governor’s desk. As far as I know an OC bill has never passed the legislature. The COULD change only because Oklahoma has OC, and Texas can’t let that stand.
OK’s OC is handguns only, so I think your point is valid.
Step by Step,
We are slowly taking back our civil rights. Even if it is limited OC, it is a step in the right direction for Texas after too many decades. Take the victory. Keep pushing for more.
I’ll oc a handgun in some local businesses around town, but I live in a really small town where no one makes a big deal of such things
Nice site. Just discovered it last week.
For those of you that do not know, open carry of long guns is already legal in Texas. This would likely address the ‘concealed’ requirement of hand gun carry, per the Texas CHL statues.
Private property owners can already limit access of guns (long and hand) on their property.
They should just copy Virginia laws. We’ve had OC for decades. The limitation on long gun OC just pertains to ammo capacity. Can’t OC a long gun with a capacity of 20 rounds +