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In his post-election speech, Texas Governor Elect Greg Abbott pledged to sign an open carry bill, should one get to his desk. It will. As gunsaveslives.com‘s Don Cannon points out, the only real question is whether the law will allow Constitutional Carry (no permit required) or licensed open carry (permit required). The smart money is on licensed open carry – which is an excellent step in the direction of firearms freedom. Once enacted, I, for one, will wear my gun openly everywhere I go (void where prohibited by law). Result.

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62 COMMENTS

  1. Whew! ‘Open carry’ in Texas. Next thing you know, states will be setting their own speed limits.

    Cats & dogs, liven’ together in sin, and all that.

    • 85 MPH on some tollways in the Lone Star. I just hope there isn’t the stupid class 3 holster restriction with open carry as there has been in past proposals.

    • As long as Open Carry Texas doesn’t go screwing this up with their antics, the bill should move – but a few profanity laced OC marches and a video camera and the opposition will have all the ammo they need to paint OC’ers are unstable loons who fly off the handle at the drop of a hat.

      Somehow I know OCT is going to find a way to screw up the best chance they have at an open carry bill. They’ve done it before.

  2. I’m sorry, but this story is mistaken. I was quite clearly informed that the opencarryidiotschipotleninjasfatpeoplewithbeardsandcamo had totally ruined it for everyone.

        • I will never forget when his third chin would post comments about his third chin… Comedic genius!

        • His pride would NEVER allow him to post under a different name, he left. And good riddance in my opinion…

    • Note the “should one get to my desk.” It is by no means certain that a bill will reach the governors desk anytime soon, and, from my personal, recent discussions with several state representatives (albeit pre-election) there is a considerable reluctance among legislators to support an open-carry bill at this time due, in part, to the negative associations with the more extreme open carry advocates you reference, especially in the major metropolitan areas.

      I hope open-carry does come to fruition, but it, to a large extent, relies on favorable PR which is not being garnered by many of the open carry activists in Texas.

      Legislatively, this is an incremental fight and there are corrections and clarifications to our current state CHL and self-defense laws that need to be addressed first.

      • “favorable PR which is not being garnered by many of the open carry activists in Texas.”

        Citation needed.

        Oh, do you mean the misrepresented propaganda promulgated by MDA and repeated breathlessly at HuPo? They have a credibility problem and carry weight only with their own fruitcake readers/followers.

        They don’t define PR “success” or “failure,” especially when their hysteria is based on falsifying the story.

        • Citation? Really? Deceive yourself if you want, but even here, among some of the most vocal and ardent 2A supporters you’ll find anywhere, there is much negativity express about the in-your-face tactics of some of the open carry movement. Surely, as a frequent commenter on this site you’re aware of that, right? And, if you care to take the time, google the news accounts – it’s quite easy, why here’s one I found in about 10 seconds:

          http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro/20140607-texas-open-carry-movement-raises-passions-threats.ece

          There’s many more examples of this if you care to look. This is bad PR – not only unnecessary, but counter-productive. Doesn’t matter if it’s hysteria promulgated by MDA, left media, or whoever, it’s in response to the attention seeking goofs and wouldn’t happen if not for them (BTW, that is my opinion so no citation needed).

        • “much negativity”

          Only among a vocal minority.

          Been a lot of discussion on this, especially after some of “what really happened” started coming to light. Don’t recall seeing your input.

          Stick to your hysterical delusions if you want…at the end of the day, you have no data that this “negative PR” exists anywhere outside the minds of a few so-called POTG and those at HuPo/MDA.

    • That’s what I was thinking. We must all be dreaming today, because I thought it was “over” months ago when doctored photos were misrepresented by Watts and company.

      • “Don’t recall seeing your input.”

        Not able to reply under your last comment to me, so putting it here:

        You are correct, I did not take part in the many previous “discussions” on the pros & cons of the open-carry activists. I chose not to comment as they inevitably turned into unproductive & emotionally charged tirades, much like our current exchange is becoming. That’s unfortunate and I therefore apologize for the “attention seeking goofs” and the “deceiving yourself” remarks – they were uncalled for. Let me try the high road 🙂

        Now, in general, there are two types of individuals and groups we can call “open-carry supporters or activists.” On one hand, there are those that work within the legislative framework individually, or as part of well-established organizations such as the Texas State Rifle Association, Texas Firearms Coalition, or the Texas Republican Party, which calls for constitutional carry as part of its platform. On the other, are what have been disparagingly called by some Chipolte Ninjas – those whose efforts have focused on public display of firearms. Certainly, there may be some overlap between the two, but a distinction is usually very clear. It is the latter group to which I hereafter refer to as “activists.”

        Now, with that understanding, allow me to clarify my main point: state legislators I have spoken with do not want to be associated with the open-carry activists because of bad PR associated with said activists. We can argue till the end of time whether this bad PR is justified or not, perpetuated by hysterical MDA types, left-leaning newspapers, or a vocal minority of blog commenters, but I assure you it does exist, and it carries weight with the public and the legislature, most who are undecided on the issue. If you have followed the issue closely in Texas you may recall even the NRA admonished Open Carry Texas for their methods, and subsequently, the leadership of OCT asked their members to reconsider their activities in light of the negative publicity they were generating. These are not delusions on my part, but facts of record.

        Know too, that the Texas 84th Legislature, regular session begins Jan 13, 2015. Anyone can roam the halls of the State Capital and stop in any legislators office and discuss whatever they wish with him/her, or their aides, if they are available. I intend to be right outside Room E2.708, Capitol Extension on the morning of that date. Ask for James – together we’ll canvass all the legislators we can locate. We’ll collect data! It’s my contention, based on prior experience, that legislators, both Rs and Ds, are adverse to being associated with the open carry activists as they, in general, have a negative perception of them – but hey, we can let the legislators tell us, in person, if I am correct or not.

        Now, I assume from your moniker that you may not be a Texas resident and likely not available to visit with the legislators. If so, then I ask you to consider the apparent unwillingness of any of our current state level elected officials to accept an endorsement from any open carry activist or seek a photo op with any such individual or group. I certainly don’t recall Governor-elect Abbott associating himself with them or taking pictures with them despite his stated support for open-carry, before, during, and now, after, the campaign. Ask yourself, why didn’t Governor-elect Abbott pose in Chilis or some such place with a guy carrying an AR during his campaign? After all, he is unabashedly pro-open-carry. Was it because of a fear of bad PR or of good PR? Now, if I am incorrect, please provide me such evidence as you may find and I’ll amend my statements.

        It is my contention, my concern, that continued negative PR from open-carry activists will hinder the success of this initiative. Texas has been moving towards open-carry long before the open-carry activists posted their first you tube video or posed for pictures in a restaurant with firearms. When there is a large, undecided, and uninformed segment of voters on an issue, any bad publicity hurts the prospects of legislative success – our success in the legislature will come not because of the activists, but in spite of them.

        Let me offer you one more apology for my long-windedness, an unfortunate by-product of associating with politicians and lawyers I suppose. I hope you’ll give some thoughtful consideration to my comments. I am refraining from posting anymore in this thread. Advocating for open-carry should not be a divisive issue among gun owners and besides this topic, as you alluded to, has already been beaten to death.

        • Well said.

          Gun owners want to be perceived as the good guys. Well, start acting like one then. You want people on your side, stop being so confrontational and beligerent.

          Randomly OC’ing long guns ‘just to exercise your right’ is counterproductive. What message are you trying to send? If you are trying to influence people’s minds, carry a sign explaining what you’re trying to accomplish. Just strutting around with a long gun makes you look foolish.

  3. I’d like to see some teeth to the bill, hammering cities with fines and attorney fees for harassing carriers with disorderly conduct tickets. A charge should be restricted to a specific threatening act, for which there are abundant laws with specific criteria, and not be open to their favorite catch-all citation.

    Nevertheless, the Governor-elect can only sign what passes. The Lt. Governor-elect actually controls the legislative agenda, and he’s not exactly proactively pro-2A.

    • “The Lt. Governor-elect actually controls the legislative agenda, and he’s not exactly proactively pro-2A.”

      Sort of. Any state rep or senator may file a bill. In fact, next Monday will be the first day to file. The legislature won’t meet until the second Monday in Jan though.

      In the house, the Speaker rules and sets the agenda. He/she won’t be elected until the session begins in Jan. As for the Senate, current rules require a 2/3 majority to introduce legislation on the floor. The GOP does not have a super-majority in either house. So they’d have to get a couple of Dem senators to buy off on it to get it on the floor. However…the Lt Gov elect, has pretty much said he’s going to cut the Dems out of leadership roles which will not help anyone’s bill. He also wants to eliminate the 2/3 rule…which on the surface would seem to protect the minority party interests…which it does. What it really does is protect the senate from the whims of the Lt Gov. With the 2/3 rule, the senate can bring it to the floor with or without the speaker. Without it, he controls the floor.

      I still believe that if we do see it, and I hope we do…it will be an extension of the CHL program. It’s a revenue issue.

      • Excuse me. I know Dan Patrick and he is most certainly PRO 2A. In fact, he carries daily like most of us Texas CHL holders. I expect to see a bill up first thing during the next session.

  4. Well, that sounds like near word for word what Dubya said about CC when he ran for Gov, it works for me. And to bring it up in his victory speech? Wow. I never heard it mentioned during the campaign, or I might have voted for him!

    • I heard about it on TTAG before I ever heard the mere mention of it a single time(I dont rarely ever watch TV news, so maybe thats why it was only once) at the end of some coverage on local news.

  5. Looks like its time for me to get a retention holster in eager anticipation! Ill probably still carry concealed 90% of the time in the city but the sheer potential of the ability to do so legally warms the cockles of my heart, maybe even the sub cockles. I wonder if there will still be people trying to OC rifles after this.

    • Probably not. I secretly suspect that the only reason people were carrying rifles so insistently was to highlight the need for pistol open carry.

      • There’s no secret or suspicion – that’s exactly why they were open-carrying rifles. To draw attention to the absurdity that you can carry a loaded rifle, but can’t have a pistol on your hip.

        Or at least that’s what it started out as. I suspect a few of them were just trying to look tough.

  6. Well here is to hoping since an OC bill has been tried numerous times already and hasn’t even gotten as far as the Governor’s desk. Still, it fares better each time, and I think the attitude (in spite of Chipotle mall ninjas with bastardized SKS’s showing off at the low and ready) is better towards it now than ever.

    Hey, maybe legal OC will scare off the libs from moving here that want to take over.

  7. OK Texans, and OCTards. Now for thechard work. Go toneach State Senator and Assmymn, and ask them, on the record will you vote for OC or not.

    Find some to sponsor bill and get it going. And target with news and PR every single NO, that is in a conservative district, immediately, with funding and campaigning, right now for the replacement who promises to vote YES.

    Does TX have a referendum or proposition process to get bills to Congress? Start that too.

    Fer chrissake, no more doofuses in camo carrying black rifles at port arms in Chipotles, ok?
    Just ask Jerry….

    • “Fer chrissake, no more doofuses in camo carrying black rifles at port arms in Chipotles, ok?”

      You did get the memo that those photos were staged and did not alarm anyone in the store at the time, and that they had the manager’s blessing, and that there were even COPS present that did not perceive a threat.

      Right? Right?

      It’s nice to see POTG dictating how others should exercise the RKBA, though…really. No, wait. That’s sarcasm. And disgust.

  8. This is great news! While I probably won’t be able to legally open carry if it is CHL laws because of a stupid mistake I made when I was 17, (I can purchase and own guns, have them in my car, just can’t get a CHL) this is a really good thing! Hope the state senate can get it done.

  9. Texas makes it hard to pass laws, and that’s a good thing in general. So don’t expect it to pass the first time or second time. We had all the floor votes we needed for campus carry last session, but the Dems filibustered it in the senate committee so it didn’t get to the floor. I want campus carry even more than I want open handgun carry.

      • Campus carry would provide the possibility of self-protection in significant new areas, protection which is already afforded elsewhere for the CC person. Open carry will just provide a new method of carry. I’m not sure her wish is anti-liberty.

  10. Licensed OC is kowtowing and it is a step backward. If you have the right to go out and buy a gun, it follows you have the right to carry it. Here in the land of Joe Biden we have constitutional open carry but businesses can say “no guns” and it is prohibited in the state capitol.

    You need a license to conceal, which doesn’t make sense to me but at least I can just wear my pistol and go if I want to. There is no excuse for Texas to accept anything less. Ideally everyone could carry however they want no license required, with some logical exceptions.

  11. This is a terrible idea for CHL holders who train and take personal responsibility for using up to and including deadly force under legal articulation of Title 2 Chapter here in Texas to protect themselves and loved ones. We have the 30.06 sign that anyone can put up to ban guns on their property. Without repealing the 30.06 signage or making it unenforceable, scared business owners will put up 30.06 signage after seeing open carriers.

    This makes those businesses open to the public: GUN FREE ZONES. Scared sheep will do this thereby making all law abiding citizens disarm. Now I, and all other CHL holders have fewer places to go armed. Win battle, lose War.

    This sucks tactically for all CHL holders, open carry or not. Screw open carry without repealing the 30.06 sign.

    • This has got to be one of the most absurd comments on TTAG in quite a while.

      “Without repealing the 30.06 signage or making it unenforceable, scared business owners will put up 30.06 signage after seeing open carriers.”

      You have any proof this will happen, or are you just pulling this out of your rectum?

      I’m guessing the latter.

      Lots of states have OC and that does not ‘scare’ business owners into putting up signs. Here in NC, where the signs DO have ‘force of law,’ they are few and far between, and OC is legal. That’s just one example state.

      If a business owner is anti-gun, they may put up a sign. But I don’t believe for a moment that OC will sway them one way or another. Hell, neither Target nor Starbucks nor any of the other “pressured by MDA” businesses have actually put of signs, and they were forced into the spotlight on the issue of OC.

      Do you have actual statements from business owners that if OC passes they will put up signs? Again, it’s just a guess, but my money is on “No.”

    • Just like every other state where they have open carry!!

      Oh…. ummmm…. wait a minute….

      That’s right: It’s really not an issue in those states. How Do They Do That?!?!

      Face it, Texas gun laws really kinda suck.

  12. how about if they go for open carry, model it after PA’s? (permit only needed when in a car (considered concealing then) and if you got to philthy-delphia)

    I want my Utah permit to work there for OC.

  13. I was born in the occupied states (Mass specifically) but am Texan by choice. My observation is that Texas does everything in some unexpected “Texas way.” Part of this is that Texas lawmakers will pass an open carry bill just for the sheer cussedness of it.

  14. Well, just look what those damn Chipotle Ninja open carriers went and did now. All our rights will soon be down the toilet. Next thing you know, Texans will have to suffer the indignity of constitutional carry.

    • Not a done deal yet, but when it is it will not be because of “Chipolte Ninjas” at all, but is instead is spite of them and result of hard work by many dedicated persons working within the legislative framework. The move toward open carry, and eventually constitutional carry was started long before the first open-carry activist posted a you tube video or took a photo in a restaurant.

      • The prevailing assertion of those who delight in maligning open carriers is that their action will inevitably result in a loss of rights. My comment was aimed at that assertion.

        That said: your assertion that handgun open carry will happen in spite of open carry advocates is equally specious.

        Maybe, one day, we’ll stop eating our own, and simply champion the lawful exercise of RKBA.

  15. It’s about time! It’s about time, that is, for some more Texan talk-mountains-perform-molehills regarding gun freedom. I lived there for years. Glad to be gone for the most part. Meanwhile, in Tennessee, we got very close to almost Constitutional Carry – and there was no campaign or outcry for it, either. Basically every year or two we get another good couple laws on guns. This last summer we got carrying loaded guns in cars with no permit.

    • Hope you get Constitutional Carry in Tennessee soon. That would be fantastic.

      And another one in the loss column for MDAFGSA.

      • As a native Texan who grew up in Tennessee, I have become very spoiled being stationed in Nevada and Virginia, where open carry, car carry and shall-issue concealed carry is the norm and there are few ‘no-go’ zones. Then I return to my home states and am aghast at the backwards, draconian laws that restrict my free exercise of self-defense. In Nevada, I could have a drink or two with my concealed weapon (if you can drive, you can carry (and for a short time I was there, the limit for CC was .10)) and at least in Virginia I can go to a restaurant as long as I’m not drinking.

        Go back to Texas and Tennessee and it’s only a few degrees better than the slave states to my North. Can go into most restaurants, no car carry without a permit, weird transportation laws, etc.

  16. Never thought I’d say this, but I hope there’s some education included, same as the CHL. After seeing the kerfuffle (mental note: never used that word before) stirred up by open carry Texas, it seems too easy to imagine some open carriers ruining it for the rest of us.

    • Everyone who carries (OC or CC) should learn everything they can about carrying firearms and about the law. But to say you should be given a criminal penalty if you do not go to a mandatory class and pay $$ isn’t right either. To say that a state should require a permission slip before you are “allowed” to carry tuns what should be a right into a privilege.

      We shouldn’t live in a world where everything that people “should do” is mandatory and everything that people “shouldn’t do” is prohibited. That’s not a free society. The simple action of carrying a gun around does not harm anyone else. Therefore, it shouldn’t be prohibited by law.

  17. Being a new resident to Arizona after living in Oregon nearly all my life, let me pass along what someone had said when I arrived in my new home state – “Welcome to America!!!”. Yes, it is a little early, but just in case I miss the chance to welcome Texans to free America when the law is signed.

  18. In addition to Open Carry, can we get a repeal of 30.06 so when I visit I can carry my concealed handgun like I do in most other states, without worrying about steping across the wrong threshold and becoming an instant felon?

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